During the 19th century, the three holders of the Russell Baronetcy, which was created in 1832 and lapsed in 1915, were all named Sir William Russell and lived at Charlton Park for at least part of their eventful lives. The first Baronet, a Scot, was born near Edinburgh in 1773, the son of a writer to the signet. He qualified as a Doctor at Edinburgh and emigrated to India, where he acquired a large and successful practice, becoming an expert in the treatment and prevention of cholera. Dr Russell, as he then was, married twice, a first cousin, bore him two daughters, and the second, and more significant from this standpoint was Jane Eliza Sherwood, the daughter of Major-General James Dodington Sherwood. This second marriage took place on 1 December 1814, the bride aged 17 and the bridegroom aged 41.
Sir William Russell of Charlton Park, 1st bart. 1810. Sir William Russell of Charlton Park 1st bart. 1827
© Charlton Kings Local History Society (CKLHS)
Jane Eliza Sherwood, 1815. Lady Jane Eliza Russell, 1827
Under the will made by William Hunt Prinn on 14 March 1818 Mrs Russell was given a life interest in the Manor of Ashley, otherwise Charlton Kings and land associated with it which included the principal mansion house of Charlton Park. The life interest was limited to take effect after a similar interest given to her father, and immediately before a life interest given to her first son. Dr Russell himself received no interest under these dispositions.
In obedience to the wishes of William Hunt Prinn declared in his Will, in 1841 Lady Russell assumed, pursuant to Royal Licence, the name of Prinn in lieu of Russell and became known as Lady Prinn. She continued to use that name after a second marriage to a City merchant named William Heathorn which took place in 1842. In 1851 Lady Prinn seems to have left Charlton Park with her husband to live in London. She died there aged 90 in 1888 less than four years before the death of the Second Baronet. Her husband, William Heathorn, survived her until 1891 when he died aged 94.
The Second Baronet had begun a career in the Army which ended in 1871. As time went by this Sir William was also engaged in non-military affairs. He became a magistrate and a member of local Boards and concerned himself in the development of his estates and commerce. As a prominent local landowner he presided over a meeting in 1853 of copyholders of the Manor of Cheltenham who had claimed that fees charged by the officers of the Manor were unauthorized by custom. Litigation followed, ending in favour of the copyholders in 1856. During the Crimean War he spent a short time as a deputy to staff officers of the Cavalry Division. Although fighting seems to have ended by the end of 1855 a formal proclamation of peace was not made in Cheltenham until May 1856. Following his return from the Crimea Sir William entered national politics for the first time, being elected in 1857 as a Liberal Member of Parliament for Dover. He also took up local responsibilities, holding appointment as a Cheltenham Improvement Commissioner between 1857/8.
May 1857 saw the beginnings of the Indian Mutiny, during the course of which Sir William Russell greatly distinguished himself as a soldier between 1857 and 1859. In more local affairs, he became a Cheltenham Magistrate in 1860 and one of the Local Improvement Commissioners for Charlton Kings in 1862. This was at the beginning of the Charlton Kings Local Board of Health which was constituted in 1868.
In 1863, aged 41, Sir William married Margaret Wilson of Dundivan, Lanark, at Hove, Brighton. Local newspaper gossip spoke of her having a fortune of her own of between £100,000 and £150,000 and of being young and exceedingly handsome. From this marriage came two sons, William the eventual Third and last baronet, born in 1865, and Albert born in 1869. There was also a daughter, Margaret Jane, born in 1867.