Helen Allfree, jn.

Helen LYON

• birth: 22 May 1788 St. Petersburg, Baltic States, Russia
• christened: 9 June 1788 BRITISH CHAPLAINCY, ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA, USSR
• father: George Lyon
• mother: Hellen

[Source: Russia Births and Baptisms, 1755-1917]

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Helen's future husband: Thomas Robert Allfree was born June 1788, Baptized June 24 1788, Parish of Herstmonceux (recorded in Parish Register), Sussex, England. His parents were Edward and Elizabeth Allfree, both teachers, co-owners and directors of the first UK co-ed boarding school "The Windmill School" in Herstmonceux, East Sussex, England. Several of his brothers and sisters became teachers and established their own schools. Sometime before 1819 Thomas Allfree decided to go and teach in St. Petersburg.

A younger brother (by 19 years) of Russia's Tsar Alexander I was the future Tsar Nicholas I (born 1796). The Emperor's children were traditionally brought up exclusively by English nannies. (See Google books "The Reception of Alfred Tennyson in. Europe - page 120.."). For his first 7 years Nicholas was taught by a Scottish nurse (governess) named Jane Lyon, who taught him his first Russian prayers and alphabet. ([Source: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nicholas-I-tsar-of-Russia].

On February 8, 1819 (O.S.), Tsar Alexander I of Russia reorganized the Main Pedagogical Institute in Saint Petersburg University, which at that time consisted of three faculties: Faculty of Philosophy and Law, Faculty of History and Philology and Faculty of Physics and Mathematics.

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MAY 17 1819 Marriage

Helen Lyon, (30) who was born in the Baltic States, Russia, married Thomas Robert Allfree (30) in St Petersburg, B.S., Russia.

They had the following children:

1820 Birth of son Alexander Allfree

(NB Alexander I was currently Tsar of Russia at this time) Gender Male Christening Date 14 Jul 1820 Christening Place BRITISH CHAPLAINCY,ST PETERSBURG,RUSSIA,USSR Birth Date 12 May 1820 [Source: familysearch.org - Indexing Project (Batch) Number C95001-1; System Origin Russia-ODM; GS Film number 563012, 574494, 576998]

1821 Birth of daughter Helen Allfree

• Birth Date 20 Aug 1821
• Christening Date 22 Dec 1821
• Christening Place BRITISH

CHAPLAINCY,ST PETERSBURG,RUSSIA,USSR [Source: familysearch.org - Indexing Project (Batch) Number	C95001-1; System Origin	Russia-ODM; GS Film number	563012, 574494, 576998]

[This daughter Helen Allfree later married her half-cousin, Frederick C Allfree, son of Edward Mott Allfree. Their grandfather was Edward Allfree of Hurstmonceux.]

1826 Birth of son George Frederick Allfree

Gender Male
Christening Date 28 Aug 1824 Christening Place BRITISH CHAPLAINCY,ST PETERSBURG,RUSSIA,USSR Birth Date 12 Feb 1824 [Source: familysearch.org - Indexing Project (Batch) Number C95001-1; System Origin Russia-ODM; GS Film number 563012, 574494, 576998]

1825 December - Death of Alexander I of Russia, who was succeeded by his younger brother Nicholas 1 of Russia.

1829 Certification of Thomas Allfree as an English Tutor

• Certificated as an English tutor on 29/4/1829 after examination by the Directorate of the Imperial University of St Petersburg.
• For several years Thomas had been the English Master (Teacher) to his Imperial Highness the Grand Duke Alexander, at the Court of St. Petersburgh.

In 1830, Thomas Allfree received a high testimonial from the Emperor Nicholas I and a life pension of 1000 roubles on 21 May 1830.

1831, Tuesday, January 4 - article appears in the Maidstone Gazette's General Advertiser as follows: "Mr Thomas Allfree's Classical, and Commercial School, Grove Lodge, Mount Sion, Tunbridge Wells"

Mr. T. Allfree was regularly educated for the scholastic profession, and having had much experience in the Education and Management of Youth, he claims, with confidence, the patronage of his friends and the public in general. Mr. T. Allfree has spent the greatest part of his time on the Continent - in France and in Russia - and for several years he held the situation of English Master to his Imperial Highness the Grand Duke Alexander, at the Court of St. Petersburgh, and has in his possession very flattering testimonials from their Imperial Majesties. Mr. T. Allfree's course of instruction, embraces the Ancient and Modern Languages, the Mathematics, and every branch of a liberal education. The French Language will be constantly spoken. The Vacations will be at Midsummer and Christmas. financed it through a lifetime pension earned as a private tutor to the Romanoff family.

1832

Thomas Allfree renamed it the 'Romanoff House' School in Tunbridge Wells.

[ Excerpt from: A servant of "John company": being the recollections of an Indian official

By Henry George Keene: "I went to school at "Tom Allfree's", then a favourite place for boys, under the imposing title of "Romanoff House". The principal had been employed in tuition in Russia - it was said in the family of the Emperor Nicholas - and he had married in that country:....he had a good knowledge of colloquial Russian and French, with a very respectable continental connection. Besides boys of high social rank in the British islands, Mr. Allfree often received foreign pupils, lads of good birth from Russia, Prussia, Portugal and even Brazil.

In such an academy the classical training of childhood never slackened, while French and Geography, and a generally extended horizon, became prominent." ]

French was spoken all through the working day, and Tunbridge Wells was a great cricket centre. The author, Henry Keene, became head(boy) of Allfree's (preparatory) school when he was thirteen. The Romanoff School became Rose Hill School.

One source says "Later another school was opened next door by Allfree, called Rose Hill school & later still this moved to another part of Tunbridge Wells. (Lord Robert Baden Powell, founder of the Scouts movement, attended this school 1868 - 70, as well as William Basil Tugwell, and his sons Lewen B. O. Tugwell, Gordon and Maurice Tugwell)"

Another source says about Romanoff House: "Headship of the school remained in the founding family until, on the death of Frederick Allfree, it passed to his widow Sarah, described by Jane Bakowski in her book about Rose Hill as "dress buttoned up to the neck, hair severely drawn back and clearly a strong character".

The school remained in the building on the Commons till 1966, when it relocated to Coniston Avenue.

Another source: "Later known as Vale Towers. Thomas Allfree was the owner of Romanoff House School in London Road, founded by him in the 1830s"

"The prospect from the Common is very extensive, and it commands a fine panoramic view of the town; a striking object in the foreground of which is *Romanoff House, a modern building in the gothic style of architecture. It is occupied by Mr. T. R. Allfree, who has established a classical school here for the education of young gentlemen.

The house makes a conspicuous and picturesque object from the London road and many parts of the common." (Source: 1840 "New Guide for Tunbridge Wells" by John Colbran and edited by James Phippen - p. 143) 1834 - the death of his brother-in-law Daniel McSwiney, husband of Thomas' sister Sarah, who died a couple of years later. Daniel McSwiney died Intestate - his Administrator was Thomas's and Sarah's brother William Alfree of Southfield* Tunbridge. [Source: 1834 Death Duty Register and: http://search.findmypast.com/record/image?id=bmd%2fir27%2f43%2f101&...

(William and brother Thomas lived at Southfield, Tunbridge Wells, during 1834-1838)

1841 Census for Tonbridge Wells, Kent - Romanoff House*

• Thomas Allfree 45 Schoolmaster
• Helen Allfree 50
• George Allfree 15
• Helen Allfree 15
• Herbert MacSwiney (sp) 14 Pupil (and nephew) - son of Daniel McSwiney and Sarah McSwiney (sister of Thomas Allfree)

1851 30 March UK Census: Civil parish: Tonbridge, Town: Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England - Romanoff House

Thomas R. Allfree - Age 54, born Herstmonceux, Sussex
Helen Allfree - Age 58, born Russia B.S. 50 students

Also, at Albion Cottage lived:

Frederick C. Allfree, 41 born c. 1810 Maidstone, Kent,) Clergyman, Church of England "not having care of souls", (Daughter) Helen Allfree, 20, (born Russia, B.S. abt 1831)

Also

1851 UK Census: Civil parish: Tonbridge, Town: Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England Romanoff House

George F Allfree - Age: 27, Estimated Birth Year: abt 1824, Where born: B S, Russia, Head of Household, Teacher of Classics and Mathematics
Spouse's Name: Louisa M Allfree - Age 32 Where born: Newick, Sussex, England 17 Students

In 1852 Thomas Allfree builtRomanoff Lodge on the Common.

1861 appears Thomas had retired to Brighton:

1861 England Census for District 7, The Palace, Brighton, Sussex :

Allfree Thomas R., Head 65, owner/proprietor of houses, born Herstmonceaux

• Allfree Ellen (Helen) Wife 70, born St. Petersburg, Russia
• Verral Elizabeth, Sister 76, surgeon's widow, born Herstmonceaux Verral Emily, dau of Elizabeth, 45, Governess of School, born Uckfield, Sussex Verral Ellen, dau of Elizabeth, 37, no occupation, born Newick, Sussex Verral Fanny, dau of Elizabeth 34, no occupation, born Lewes, Sussex
• Allfree, Alexander, grson 17, no occupation, born Cheltenham, Gloucestershire - son of Thomas' son Alexander. Allfree, Henry, 6 born Tunbridge Wells, Kent
• Allfree, Emily, visitor - 24, born Kensington, (London) Surrey