Margaret Hudson receipt book

1830-1950

Margaret Williams was born on April 6, 1800 in Calcutta, to Robert Williams, a merchant and auctioneer, and his wife, Margaret. Robert Williams died in 1813, leaving his wife to care for Margaret and six other daughters; charitable subscriptions were taken up in India, and donations were solicited in London. At age 16, Margaret married Nathaniel Hudson, a lawyer, with whom she had a number of children. Nathaniel Hudson died in Calcutta in 1846. By the early 1850's, Margaret and her younger children were living in London with her brother-in-law, John Hudson, and other family members, at Upper Lansdowne Terrace in Notting Hill. Margaret Hudson died at age 59, at her home at Avenue Lodge, Southall, on February 19, 1860; she was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery. Her youngest daughters, Emily (1836-1904) and Adeline Maria (1838-1911), never married, and lived together into their later years. Reverse calf-bound notebook with "Receipt Book" stamped in black on the spine and "Mrs. N. Hudson / Receipt Book. / 1st Sept 1830" in ink manuscript on the front cover. The first 39 leaves seem to be primarily in one hand, probably that of Hudson herself. Most entries give a source (usually a person, many identified by initials only) and a date. Household and medicinal receipts (for making ink, tooth powder, furniture varnish; cures for the cough, hydrophobia, dysentery, cholera, snake bites, flatulency, etc.) are interspersed with cooking directions for a wide variety of dishes, many reflecting Hudson's life in British India (Cashmerian chutney, Country Captain, fowl curry, kedgeree, etc.). Leaves 40-46 contain mounted recipes written on smaller sheets of paper, some possibly in Hudson's hand. A letter dated 24 August [circa 1860's?] to Emily Hudson from "G. M.," referring to "the accompanying . . . recipes," is laid in. The remaining leaves contain a few printed late 19th century food-related advertisements (Felix Schell, "provider of Parisian dinners"; Domenico Piccirello, "importer of French and Italian produce"; and The American Freezer, "shown in practical operation at The Atomospheric Churn Company") and 20th century recipes, both in manuscript and printed clippings. Five pages at the end, reverso, contain manuscript verses in an early 19th century hand ("Morning Hymn"; "Evening Hymn"; "Lines addressed to Miss M. W."), apparently original and possibly by Nathaniel Hudson.