In George Hendrick’s Henry Salt Humanitarian Reformer and Man of Letters (see page 165) he reference is made to Kate’s “terrible-tempered Russian protegée”, who was she?
Elena Conradovna Corwin-Pogosskaia (known as Helena Pogosky)1 was born in Novgorod, Russia2 on 17th September 18733. She is listed on the Furnessia passenger list as arriving in Glasgow on 25th April 1897 from New York.
Her name on the 1901 census is recorded as Helen C. Pogosky, whilst the 1911 census names her as Helena Pogosky. The visitors book for Gelli Cottage records her name as given as Helen Pogosky.
In the 1921 census she writes her name as Helena Kowin Pogosky and describes her relationship to Henry Salt as ‘adopted daughter’.
In Kate’s will, dated 22nd March 1909, she states ‘I bequeath to my adopted daughter Helen Pogosky…’.
Adoptions in England and Wales were legally recognised and recorded after the introduction of the 1926 Adoption of Children Act. Before then adoptions were largely informal, rarely generating any meaningful records and not enforceable in law.
NATURALIZATION
The London Gazette, 7th April 1936, reported:
LIST of ALIENS to whom Certificates of Naturalization have been granted by Secretary of State, and whose Oaths of Allegiance have been registered inthe Home Office during the month of March, 1936. The date shown in each case is the date on which the Oath of Alliance was taken.
Corwin-Pogosskaia, Elena Conradovna (known as Helena Pogosky); Russia; No Occupation; 44 Reigate Road, Brighton, Sussex. 26 March, 1936.
Death
Probate records show:
Helen Korvin Pogosky of 74 Reigate Road, Brighton, died in 24th February 1952, aged 78, at 45 Port Hall Road, Brighton.
