Evelyn St Ormonde Sylvester Nicholas MBE (1855 - 1941)

Born 9 Nov 1855 in Madras, India.

Ancestors

Husband of Millicent Maud (Leslie) Nicholas — married 21 Jul 1880 in Madras, Madras, India

Descendants

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Biography

Evelyn was the seventh child born to Joseph Nicholas and Margaret Raymond in Madras on 9th November 1855. He may well have had a twin sister. A single birth record for a female: Ormond Evalline Nicholas exists for the same birth date as Evelyn. (Evalline then disappears from the record) His parents had a further five children.

Evelyn served in the 4th Battalion Kings Royal Rifles (#4747) and received the Indian (General Service) Medal for his service at the Lushai Expedition 16/3/1892 - 13/5/1892 - The medal citation suggests Evelyn was at this time a part of the Army Reserve.

Evelyn Nicholas was the last custodian of the Seven Wells, Madras (Chennai) (3), a position he inherited from his elder brother Edmund Alban Sylvester Nicholas in 1905.

Holders of the Custodianship of the Seven Wells:

1772-1795ish - Thought to be John Nicholas (hearsay only)

1795ish - 1815ish - unknown passed onto his nephew

1815ish-1858 - Sylvester Joseph Nicholas passed onto his son

1858-1871 - Joseph Ferdinand Sylvester Nicholas passed onto his eldest son

1871-1905 - Edmund Alban Sylvester Nicholas passed onto his younger brother

1905-1925 - Evelyn Sylvester St Ormonde Nicholas

Evelyn had 9 children, all with Millicent Maud Leslie (often recorded as Milly - which has subsequently misred as Kelly). The family was musical, with each of the children specialising on a different musical instrument. Lena played piano and organ, Mally the violin.

Evelyn was appointed as honorary Magistrate in Madras India 1936. This was a fixed term position for 1 year with an extension available for 3 years. Typically it was a position taken by men under the age of 61. In 1936 Evelyn was already 81!

He was awarded an MBE in the 1938 New Years Honours List (2) eight years after his son Dudley was awarded his and 19 after his son in law (husband of Lena) Walter.

Evelyn died in Madras 26 May 1941. He is buried together with his wife Millicent at St Roques Catholic Church, Royanpuram, Chennai.

With Indian independence in 1947 Evelyn's family dispersed. Those with British spouses were able to apply to go to the UK. Those without that sought to emigrate to other parts of the British Commonwealth or remained in India Percy (1 eldest) , Cecil (2) , Harold (7) , Conny (9 youngest) remained in Madras while Dudley (3) , Lena (4), Florence (5), Mally (6), Gwen (8) emigrated to the UK.

Hence Evelyn's progeny are split between UK, Australia and India.

Sources

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 18 May 2021, 10:32), entry for Evelyn Nicholas (PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:GSMF-PJR ); contributed by various users.
• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 26 March 2021, 21:36), entry for Evelyn Nicholas(PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:9JJY-C9F); contributed by various users.

(1) https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/7713236/person/402036136163/facts

(2)

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1938_Birthday_Honours

(3) *http://madrasmusings.com/Vol%2020%20No%2011/the_guardians_of_the_seven_wells.html

(4) *https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1686/images/31794_221427-00111?treeid=&personid=&rc=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=kpT350&_phstart=successSource&pId=1246405