Children of Robert and Louisa – B

The group photo shows five daughters and three granddaughters. The caption is in Robert’s hand, rather shaky (he died in 1885). I think it may date from 1878, in which case the photo commemorates a family gathering to mark Louisa Jane’s marriage to the Reverend Venn. She may be the woman in white, as Queen Victoria had made this colour fashionable for brides. Her wedding would have been attended by her sister Susan, married to the Rev Leslie-Melville, who may have brought her two youngest children with her. Mabel was based in Scotland, so could have brought her daughter Irene to the party, and Emily Alexina (lying on the ground with a niece) would still have been living at home. The other older sister may be the legendary Elizabeth Caroline, on leave from missionary duties.

Susan Georgina 23 Jul 1844 - 19 Jul 1922 married Rev Frederick Abel Leslie-Melville (6 children) 
Anne Charlotte 9 Sep 1845 died 1863 in Stevenage
Louisa Jane 20 Apr 1847 -  1927 married Ray Henry Venn in 1879 and had 1 child
Elizabeth Caroline 12 Feb 1849, died 18 Jan 1913 Christian Missionary Society, Accra
Flora Catherine Wardlaw-Ramsay 31 Jul 1850 died 1858
Colonel Robert George Wardlaw-Ramsay 28 Feb 1852, d. 22 Apr 1921  (See his page)
May Alice Wardlaw-Ramsay 17 Jul 1853 Christian Missionary Society
Edith Mary 1 Oct 1854 died 1925 ? in Ligorno married Commendatore ?
Mabel Frances 7 Mar 1856 - 25 Jan 1930 married Robert Henry Duncan Ferguson, 2 children
Emily Alexina 15 Aug 1861 - 9 Feb 1921 married Lt Col James Robert Otway Graham Toller and had 4 children (Earls of Norbury) Beechwood Park, County Tipperary 
Can we account for all the ladies?
It’s interesting to see how Robert’s daughters were able to escape their unhappy home by seizing the opportunities that arose. The oldest, Susan Georgina, was hampered by not being presented in society and having almost no dowry. She married a young clergyman Rev Frederick Abel Leslie-Melville, a younger son, and went to live in Lincolnshire. She had 6 children, and her husband was eventually appointed a Canon of Lincoln Cathedral. It seems crazy now, but Susan was pitied by her relations for having to marry down. 
However, her marriage opened opportunities for her younger sister Elizabeth Caroline, who joined the Christian Missionaries and embarked on an eventful and fulfilling career, which took her to West Africa and the Middle East. She was joined by Mary Alice, who was 4 years younger; together they formed a dedicated duo. Their nephew Arthur Balcarres was delighted to meet up with them during WW1 when serving in Akka, Palestine. They made a great many friends and Abdul Baha, the founder of the Bahai movement, threw a farewell party for Elizabeth Caroline when she left Akka to return to Scotland. 
Louisa Jane entered history books by also marrying clergy, a member of the illustrious Venn family, Rev. Henry Ray Venn, in 1880. His brother Henry Venn was a leading light of the Church Missionary Society and, of course, the movement for the émancipation of slaves. Known as the Clapham Sect, the Venns and Wilberforces rode the wave of public horror at the abuses of slavery and effected radical change. 
Two of the girls died young, which was not unusual at the time. The death of Flora Catherine at the age of 8 in 1858 proved deeply distressing, especially for her father, who also had bankruptcy to contend with. She’d been named for his cousin Flora Lindsay who had died in her early 20s ; Robert’s mental state deteriorated and family life became intolerable. 
The boy, Robert George, was helped by his Hay uncle, who procured his commission, and he was soon posted to India. His adventures are mentioned on his Page.
Robert George’s military connections provided useful connections for his younger sisters. Edith Mary married a Commendatore and they retired to Ligorno where she ran a guest house. She died in 1927 in Bordighera, leaving her china and all the bedding from the guest house to Robert’s son Arthur Balcarres and his wife Mary, who were devoted to her. 

Mabel Frances married Robert Henry Duncan Ferguson, a Writer to the Signet, and they had two children, Irene and Robert Arthur, born in 1878. 
Emily Alexina was the baby of the family. She married Lt-Col James Otway Graham Toler, a younger son on the Earl of Norbury, and went to live in Ireland. She was acknowledged as daughter of an Earl, which meant taking precedence at dinner parties. So, Emily was the only daughter to make a representative marriage. She had 4 children and her descendants have kept in touch.