John Allan Cleveland Skinner

[Soon after the birth of John Allan Cleveland Skinner, addressed to the Skinner sisters. His father, John Edwin Hilary Skinner corresponded for The Daily News with great distinction in the Danish war of 1864; a lasting recollection of this campaign is to be found in 'The Tale of Danish Heroism,' which he published in 1865. But who was the writer? Anna and Florance were already married, the four other girls are addressees. One of them, it seems likely, accompanied John and Louisa to Denmark.]

Cleveland

Oct 8, 1865

Dear C(ary), K(ate), M(aude), & Effie,

Aunts for some time (on strength of Walter John, Alex C Willy and young "Hah" we, the undersigned, beg to offer a new "nevvy" to your consideration. He is active and obliging in his way. We back him respectuously to equal his cousins in any account of noise, which they have ever made, while as to his habit of crying we suggest Martin Tupperishly that "all is not trumps that titters." "Cleve" is a nice sort of fellow when sated with what I will modestly put into Danish as Mo'ers maelk. "Cleve" has besides a correct clench of the fist, thumb inwards, from the which I argue great things of his fistic future should he be spared to enter the ring. Were not the "knowledge box" too big we might vote him an infant wonder of the (?)….., as it is he must never fight, remember this, no not even his cousins!

I find on returning from my trip with "capitalists" - there is some comfort in being with Dives when D. pays for all. I find, I say, that L is better and J looking quite strong.

Love, dear sisters,

Affectionately, "(?)ley"

Letter from Allan Chaplin at Ootacamund, India to his mother, Dec 1994:

"I am very glad to learn of Cleve's promotion and especially glad that it came before his poor father's death -- for it gave him great pleasure. The "deputy commissioner" (or the "Dipty Sahib" or the Burra Sahib as called by the natives) is an important personnage in the "Non-regulation" provinces such as the C.P. In the "Regulation" districts the Revenue and Judicial work is not all under one officer - there are a Collector and a Judge -- and the judge is also a star of magnitude".


1901 Census:

See entry for Francis Newman - John, his wife Augusta nee Newman and their children Hilary and John were at the house of Francis Newman, at 39 Beverley Road, Penge, in the Borough of Camberwell, Dulwich Division.