Fanshawe Serendipity: selected letters Admiral Sir Edward Gennys GCB (1814 - 1906) & family

In 1839 Lt. Edward Gennys Fanshawe RN wrote home to his mother in England - telling of his voyage to Constantinople, the passengers on board ship and the wonderful sights seen.In 1904 that letter was published with others sent during his career, and later many of those original letters were deposited with the Royal Maritime Museum at Greenwich - but his letter of September 11th1839 was not included.Late in 2025 the original of that letter was offered for sale on the internet - and bought with much curiosity, by the Archives of Valence House Museum, home to 'The Fanshawe Collection.Research soon began and by fate and serendipity connections emerged to link The Admiral's letter with newly identified early 20th century correspondence from his descendants - and to the discovery of the true account of the naval career of his ancestor, Rear-Admiral Charles Fanshawe, founder of 'The Admirals Branch' of the family