Robert William Evans

Robert William Evans, baptised 17 June 1787 at St Mary, Whitechapel. He is recorded in the parish register as the son of George Bland and Rachel (surname not given). R.W. Evans we can then assume is the illegitimate son of the minor actor, George Bland, the brother of Dora (Dorothy) Jordan, actress and mistress of William IV. His mother is presumably one Rachel Evans, a plausible enough name in view of the Bland family's west Wales connections.

The following list of music by R.W. Evans suggests to me that he was a professional musician working in the theatre. Angus Whitehead comments that the “elegy” commemorating the death of Princess Charlotte may possibly have a connection with the Deer tale from May Day with the Muses.

Checklist

And art thou then, celestial spirit, flown? : an elegy (written by a young lady,) on the much lamented death of Her Royal Highness the Princess Charlotte of Wales ; composed, and most humbly dedicated to His Serene Highness the Prince Leopold of Saxe Cobourg by R. W. Evans.—London : Printed for the Author (No 17, Charles St Covent Garden), [1818?].

Beneath a weeping willow's shade : a ballad written by W. Bygrave Esqr ; sung by Mr. Nelson, at the Nobility's Concerts ; & composed expressly for him by R. W. Evans.—London : Printed by R. W. Evans, No. 53, Cheapside, near Bow Church, [1821].

Beside the foaming dashing Wave, a ballad, written by I. Belgrave Junr.—London : Printed by R. W. Evans, [c. 1825].

The celebrated Sicilian Air on which is founded the ... Song of 'Sweet Home'. A Fantaisie and Rondo for the Piano Forte, with accompaniments ... for the Flute and Violoncello, etc.—London : R. W. Evans, [1824?].

The Dawning of Day. [Song, words by R. Bloomfield]..—[London] : T. C. Bates, [1824].—Pp. 4 and 5 of the Appendix to vol. I of The Remains of Robert Bloomfield.

The deserted cottage : a ballad ; the words by W. Bygrave Esqr ; composed with an accompaniment for the piano forte by R. W. Evans.—London : Printed by R. W. Evans, [1820?].

Evans's twenty four intirely new country dances, waltzes, quadrilles &c. for the year 1822 : with proper figures set to each by an eminent master.—London : R.W. Evans, [1821?].

Five bumper toasts, for the English gentleman : a duett with a chorus as sung by Mr. Broadhurst ; the words by Dr. Henry Fick, Professor of the German Language & Literature ; the music, partly founded on an old German tune, respectfully dedicated to every English gentleman, in word and deed with a grateful sense of the hospitality the Author met with in this country ; arranged for the piano forte, 2 voices & a chorus, by Mr. R. W. Evans.—London : Printed for the Author, by R. W. Evans (146, Strand), [1823].

The Flowers of the Mead. [Song, words by R. Bloomfield].—[London] : T. C. Bates, [1824].—Pp. 2 and 3 of the Appendix to vol. I of The Remains of Robert Bloomfield.

His Majesties welcome to Scotland : the melody by G. S. Pollock ; arranged for the piano forte, as a rondo, by R. W. Evans.—London : Printed by Ware & Evans, [1822].

Let us haste to Kelvin Grove, bonnie lassie : the admired Scottish ballad sung by Mr Braham, in the opera of Guy Mannering at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane ; arranged for the piano forte, with variations and a rondo by R. W. Evans.—London : Printed by R. W. Evans, [1823].

The Maid of Landoga. From Mr. Bloomfield's Banks of Wye.—[London] : T. C. Bates, [1824].—Pp. 6 and 7 of the Appendix to vol. I of The Remains of Robert Bloomfield.

The Mid Lothians, a new set of quadrilles, containing The maid of Glenconnel, Lassie wi the link[recte lint]-white locks, Riggs o'barley, Peggy's love & auld Robin Gray, The Campbells are coming, Lewie Gordon & over the hills...arranged for the piano forte...with new figures in French & English.—London : Evans, 1821

Serenada Espanõla [sic], No. 1 : for the piano forte, in which is introduced a new Guaracha dance, with an accompaniment for one or two flutes (ad libitum) ; composed and dedicated to His Excellency the Spanish Ambassador, by R. W. Evans.—London : Printed by Evans & Lucas, [1821].

Serenada Espanõla [sic], No. 2 : for the piano forte, in which is introduced a new fandango, with an accompaniment for one or two flutes (ad libitum) ; composed and dedicated to His Excellency Dn. Luci de Onis, The Spanish Ambassador, by R. W. Evans.—London : Printed by R. W. Evans, [1822].

Wandle's wave : a new ballad, as introduced & sung with the most rapturous applause, by Mr Pyne, in the opera of Inkle & Yarico, at the Theatre Royal Covent Garden, the words by a gentleman ; composed with an accompaniment for the piano forte, by R. W. Evans.—London : Printed by R. W. Evans (No 53, Cheapside), [1821].

What is Prayer, the poetry by Montgomery ... With an accompaniment for the piano forte, etc.—London : R. W. Evans, [c. 1825].

The White Rose, a ballad ... the poetry by D. A. O'Meara ... with an accompaniment for the harp or piano forte.—London : R. Evans, [1827].

Sources

Ancestry.co.uk (for Whitechapel parish register).

Copac Academic & National Library Catalogue <http://copac.ac.uk/>.