Progress!
1: Seraphina Donclere:
I have found another Donclere. She is on Facebook
name of living person removed. I have messaged her but doubt I’ll receive a reply - “weird old man claiming to be a relative!”. However in reviewing her connections on Facebook they all seem to come from the Flemish part of Belgium. Now in the early 1800s Belgium was part of Holland so I think we can assume that Seraphina was indeed of Dutch (but Flemish? Walloon?) heritage and that is where her name originated. Thus we can pretty confidently say she was a “Dutch Burgher” from Ceylon (probable Galle or Trincomalee where Lt-Col Hunter commanded). Next step? Dutch church records for both towns?
2: Bridget Watson.
I found a Ricketts family tree on-line (see:
https://woodlloydfamilyhistory.com/fam3172.html). Fanny Ricketts, is listed as the eldest daughter of Mordaunt Ricketts & Maria Elizabeth Crommelin. She was born in Barrackpore in 1808. However a note at the bottom says her christening document states her mother was Bridget Watson! We all know that is Mordaunt’s mistress and Seraphina’s friend who was guardian to her 2nd daughter Harriet Slessor when she died in 1810. So that resolves the earlier Crommelin/Watson confusion in the earlier posts!
Again many thanks to the team! Richard