September Stories

This research has been brought to you by the curators at Historic Royal Palaces and Findmypast, a leading family history website and sponsor of the Untold Lives: A Palace at Work exhibition at Kensington Palace.

We hope you enjoy these fascinating accounts of the people who looked after the Royal Family and who feature in Untold Lives. Using Findmypast's extensive collection of historical newspapers and census records (such as the 1921 census and the 1939 Register) we have been able to uncover more fascinating details about the people at the heart of the Royal Household. 

Everyone can use census records to trace their ancestors, and you can search UK censuses from 1841-1921 at Findmypast. Discover untold lives in your family tree with 25% off a three-month Everything subscription with an exclusive discount for Historic Royal Palaces members only (see our Member Hub for details).

Header image: Bridget Holmes © Royal Collection Trust / His Majesty King Charles III 2024

Patrick Lamb, Master Cook (1650-1708)

Patrick Lamb was born around 1650 and worked in the Royal kitchens from a young age. His first titled position was Youngest Child of the Pastry in 1662 at just 12 years old, before going on to become Master Cook to Queen Catherine of Braganza, the consort of Charles II, in 1677. He finally became Master Cook to King Charles II in 1683. He is thought to have contributed to, or written entirely, the text Royal Cookery, or, The Complete Court-Cook which was published after his death initially in 1710.

From Findmypast’s records, we find Patrick Lamb, Esquire, is listed as the 1st Master Cook in 1702 in the “Establishment List for the Household of Queen Anne”, where he was earning £11 08s ½ d in wages and £138 11s 10 ½ d in boardwages. Other records in The National Archives show his journey to this point: after becoming Master Cook to Charles II in 1683, he was then relegated to Second Master Cook under James II. In 1689, he was reinstated by William III. 

On 16 August 1902, at the time of the coronation of King Edward VII (another monarch famous for his appetite), The Sphere published several pages on historic coronations, including that of James II, for which a depiction of the banquet hall was printed. The banquet was one of Lamb’s greatest achievements, serving “ninety-nine dishes on the King’s table, while the other six tables in Westminster Hall were supplied with 1,270 dishes.” 

Patrick Lamb was buried on 04 March 1708 at St Margaret’s Church in Westminster. The burial register includes the notation of his role as Master Cook. 

Tregonwell Frampton, Keeper of the Running Horses (1641-1727)

Tregonwell Frampton was born 1641 in Moreton, Dorset, the 5th son of William Frampton, lord of the manor of Moreton and his wife, Katharine Tregonwell of Milton Abbas. He was the “Keeper of the Running Horses” for William III, Queen Anne, George I and George II.  

In the Royal Household Staff materials, Tregonwell is found in the Royal mews Establishment List for 1714. At this time, he is allotted £1,000 annually for keeping “ten race horses at New Market… with provisions of hay, oats, bread, shooing and Medecining [sic], and all other necessarys [sic] for one year, together with servants wages, liverys [sic], and all other extraordinary expeneses…”. 

Tregonwell died 12 March 1727 aged 86/87 and is buried at All Saints, Newmarket, where he has a significant memorial. His biography is made available in the Dictionary of National Biography, vol 20, 1889. 

Tregonwell's burial record is available in the National Burial Index for England & Wales and lists the burial date as 15 March 1727. His will is also available from the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. Both records can be accessed through Findmypast’s database.

Mrs. Grosvenor, 18th Century Laundry Woman

The engraving in the Untold Lives exhibition of Mrs Grosvenor, a royal laundress from c.1765, is something of a puzzle. The name and title do not appear in the Household Establishment lists at the time it was produced. In the exhibition, Historic Royal Palaces speculates exactly what her role was. 

Here are some examples royal servants who could be identified with Mrs Grosvenor’s portrait. Using Findmypast’s resources, you can do your own detective work and try and track down a ‘missing person’ from the past.  

The first is Mrs. Anne Grosvenor, under-housekeeper and wardrobe keeper of Somerset House ca.1741-50, during the reign of George II. 

Another record from Royal Household Staff 1526-1924 shows an Anne Grosvenor who received a pension of £30 in 1708, but no further details are recorded. She would have served during the reign of Queen Anne.

Discover Untold Lives

Untold Lives: A Palace at Work shines a spotlight on the ordinary people from all walks of life who worked tirelessly — often behind the scenes — to maintain, protect and promote the monarch and the royal palaces. Find out if you have a connection to one of them by tracing your family tree at Findmypast.