Emma and William Elphick

We made an impromptu family trip to Pevensey Castle in the village of Pevensey, Sussex recently.  Pevensey is the ancestral home of my Russell ancestors. Either side of the castle are two churches, St Nicholas, which is in Pevensey and St Marys on the other side, is in the equally quaint parish of Westham.   I had made a previous expedition to Pevensey some months before and had a look round the churchyard of St Nicholas' with a little success in finding the graves of some relatives, so this time i thought I would take the opportunity to search round the grounds of St Marys with my little helpers!

I hadn't really done any in depth research into the brothers and sisters of my 2x Great Grandfather Frank Russell, but I knew that at least one of his sisters was buried in this graveyard so we began our search for her.  Having circled round most of the perimeter, we were feeling that we may not accomplish the task we had set out to achieve, when finally we found her.    
                                                                                                    

 It was purely by chance that we discovered her grave.  As the pictures tell, the face of her headstone is now facing a large section of overgrown trees and bushes.  However, this has probably been the saviour of it, keeping the letters and the really rather beautiful stonework from from the full buffering of the weather.  I now wanted to find out more about the relative whose grave I was standing on and was pleasantly surprised at what I was able to uncover.

Emma Russell was born in 1852 in Pevensey, East Sussex to John Russell and Ann Elphick. Emma was my 2x Great Grandfather Frank Russell' sister. In 1872 she married William Elphick.  Given that her mother was an Elphick from the parish of Wartling in Sussex, as was William and his father Edward, it seems quite possible that they may have been 1st cousins, but that is for my next trip to the archives to confirm or disprove.

By 1889 Emma and William had eight children, Herbert William(17), Earnest Albert(15), Lilian Emma(12), Anne Louise(10), Ethel Mary(8), Percy Walter(5), Frederick John(3) and Bertha(1). William was a farmer and the family were living on Langney Farm in Westham,Sussex. On the 10th January Percy contracted Diptheria, a common 19th century childhood disease, followed 2 days later by older sister Lilian.  Both children were transferred to the Infections Hospital in nearby Eastbourne.  Despite both children struggling with the infection for 10 and 11 days respectively, sadly, Percy died on the 20th January with Lilian dying three days later.

How this double tragedy in their lives affected the couple and their remaining children, we can only imagine but they went on to have six more children, Reginald(1890), Stanley Frank(1892), Harold Edwin(1894), Ruby Helen(1896), Hilda Marie Irene(1898) and Dudley Victor(1902).  Not long after their last child Dudley was born the family moved to Hankham Hall which is situated on the outskirts of Pevensey.  The Elphicks were a well known family in East Sussex by this point, heavily involved in the community, with William regularly and successfully exhibiting at the county fat stock shows.  Both William and Emma were also keen followers of the local hunting community, hosting many of the hunts at their home.

On the 14th February 1905 Emma died after a short illness of pneumonia.  Such was her standing in the community that there was a great number of friends and family that attended her funeral at St Mary's, following her coffin covered with flowers in a glass hearse followed by six mourning carriages. There was further anguish for William as he was unable to attend his beloved wife's funeral due to being confined to his bed with a severe cold.

On Monday 4th May 1908, William and Emma's eldest son Herbert, who worked for his father looking after land on his farm, was on his way back from looking at cattle on the Hailsham marshes. He had a lame cow in his cart, when he noticed that a chain had come undone.  After jumping down from the cart, the horse began to start and whilst trying to get it under control, he was knocked down and the cart, with the cow on, ran over him.
After being taken home, the doctor could find no major abrasions on his body and initially over the next few days he did seem to improve.  However on the Friday his knee began to swell and on Sunday was sent to the hospital where his knee was found to be septic, which continued its course to his death. Herbert left a widow and five children. There was a large attendance for his funeral and as the cortege passed on its way to the church in Westham, the houses and businesses drew their blinds in sympathy with the family.

December 1909 was to be another trying time for the family when on the 12th William had an accident on his way to Eastbourne. Having stopped to talk to a friend, he was in the process of starting up when the harness broke and he fell from his dog cart into the road and was rendered unconscious. An examination by the doctor on his return to Hankham Hall, he was found to have sustained severe bruises.

Tragically on the morning of Christmas Eve whilst recovering from his injuries, Williams son Reginald, who himself had been ill for some months, died. He was only 19 yrs old. The family were once again grieving for a loved one and so soon after the loss of Herbert must have put a wrench on their emotions.


William re-married in 1911 to Jane Harriet Hammond, a wealthy widow from Brighton. 
 Jane had 5 grown children from her first marriage and that same year her son Frank married Williams' daughter Anne Louise. 

William outlived Jane by three years dying on the 4th April 1943 at the grand old age of 95.  William is buried in the same grave as first wife Emma and children Percy and Lilian.  As Jane had already died, the executors of his will set about selling his property from which the money was to be divided between his surviving children and grandchildren.  

Image of Hankham Hall © to Julian P Guffogg

The announcements in the local newspapers give a more detailed description of Williams property and belongings. The final amount raised from the sale was £23893 2s 7d (equivalent to £1,004,172.76 today).

Sussex Agricultural Express-Friday 16 July 1943. Image © Johnston Press Plc.
Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Sussex Agricultural Express-Friday 17 September 1943
Image © Johnston Press Plc. Image created courtesy
of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.  

The tragic death of Frank Russell

Frank Russell was my 3x Great Grandfather. Born in Pevensey, Sussex in 1845, he was the ninth of twelve children born to John Russell and Ann Elphick. His father was a farmer on the Pevensey levels and although Frank worked on the farm with him, when he was 19 he made an application to join the City of London Police.
With his father, the vicar of Pevensey and the surveyor of the levels as character references, he was accepted into the police force in September 1864.
On the 22nd June 1867 he married Fanny Bourne at the Parish Church of St Sepulchre, London. The following April, they welcomed their first child, Frank William, into the world.  Sadly little Frank would only have three short years of life, passing away in 1871.

Despite this tragedy, the couple had further children, John Charles, Ernest Albert, Edwin Issac, Ann Ethel Fanny, Caroline Frances and Louise Florence.  On 11 September 1881, whilst the family were living  at 18 Bull Inn Chambers in Holborn, London, they had their eighth child, Sidney Victor.  Less than two months later on Monday 5th December 1881, Frank was dead.

At the inquest, held two days later, Franks lifeless body was laid before the coroner William John Payne and 15 fellow witnesses. The first to speak was Fanny Russell. She described how Frank, who was stationed at the General Post Office, had left for night duty on Sunday evening, returning as usual around 9 on Monday morning. Her husband, she said was very dull, so weary and tired.  As he ate his bread and butter and a cup of tea, she asked him what was the matter.  'Oh, something so dreadful. They watch me so! They have been looking through the window all night. They watched me home. They have put that ladder up to look in at the window. Have you ever seen a man up there looking in?'

Fanny replied 'no,what nonsense.'  Frank made no answer and sat quietly, unusually taking no notice of baby Sidney, who Fanny had placed on his knee. Returning the baby to her, he rose and exclaimed that he was tired and was going to bed.

At 3 o'clock that afternoon she went into the bedroom. Frank was in bed. She told him about the Dr visiting their poorly eldest son, how he was getting better. Again Frank feigned little interest. When said son came in to go to bed, Frank told him to go into the other room. Realising that he wasn't going to get up, Fanny decided to leave him for a little longer.

At ten to six, she went in to put the baby to bed. Frank was quite restless, getting in and out of bed, asking for water, he'd had a bitter taste in his mouth since the night before. He told her to put the lights out and she left him once more.  Soon after six he came out into the living room in his nightdress, going straight to his drawer. He had his back to her so she did not see what he did. He returned to the bedroom and shut the door.  Soon after Fanny went into the room. On lighting the candle, she was greeted with the horrific sight of her blood soaked husband.

Next to speak was John Sutherland, City Policeman 345. John lived at Bull Inn Chambers with his wife. He had known the deceased for seven years and had always found him to be cheerful.  On the night in question, at ten to seven, he,d heard a tap on the door.  It was Mrs Russell.  She spoke to his wife and they went off together.  He followed them to the deceased home. He went into the bedroom and found Frank lying on his back with his throat cut. He was still alive and could speak. John ran for a Dr who came back with him. Frank died at ten past seven.  There was a razor lying in a pool of blood on the bed.

Both Fanny and John said that they couldn't understand why Frank would want to do this to himself. That all had been happy and healthy at home.

Frederick James, Police Constable 341, had known Frank for 2 years.  He told the panel that about 18 months previously, he'd noticed Frank in a low state.  He seemed to be under the illusion that someone had attempted to put poison in his beer at a public house in Holborn.  Frederick told Frank it was a delusion.  Frank, he said, had other delusions, over time.

On the night in question, Frederick said that Frank had been very dull at muster call. He was in a bad state and scarcely spoke, which was unusual. He asked him what the matter was, Frank replied with Oh, my head is so bad again.  As their night shift at the Post Office went on Frank was complaining that he thought people had left the doors open to entrap him. Franks state worsened further over the hours.  He wouldn't eat and was asking for money.

Finally, they heard from Joshua Sparks, Surgeon.  He stated that on Monday morning he had been called to the house. He had found the deceased lying on his left side, senseless. Frank had a wound in his throat, an incisive wound from left  to right. There was a razor in a pool of blood by his right hand. He died in a few minutes.

The verdict was suicide by temporary insanity.

Elizabeth Eliza Tester (1865 - 1935)

Elizabeth Eliza Tester was my great great grandmother on my maternal side. Born in the March Qtr of 1865 and baptised on the 16 July 1865 in Buxted, Sussex, she was the eleventh of twelve known children born to Luke Tester and Sarah Marchant.

On the 1871 census she is living with her parents and three of her siblings at Little Warren, in the parish of High Hurstwood in Buxted, Sussex.

By the time of the 1881 census 17yr old Elizabeth has moved on to Church Road in Tunbridge Wells and is working as a domestic servant in the home of Richard P Hooper who is a grocer and wine merchant. This is so far the only time one of my ancestors pops up in the town where I now live. It's quite comforting to know that she walked on some of the same streets as  I do now. The street still has a quaint row of shops along it now so it's possible that one of them was the grocers that she lived above. A trip to the library is in order to determine that one.

In 1891 she has moved to Putney in Wandsworth, London and is working as a cook at 67 Richmond Road in the home of Joshua T Beard, a Solicitor. The other servant in the household is Alice Foster who appears as one of the witnesses on Elizabeth's marriage certificate to William Stuart(1859 - ) later that year on 20th July 1891.

On the 1901 census Elizabeth and William are living in the Porters Lodge at Primrose Hill Studios in St Pancras, London with their 3 children Edward, Florence and May. William is a domestic gardener and Elizabeth is a housekeeper. They also have 2 servants, a general servant and a nurse.

It was this census entry that was to pique my interest even more. Since I took a Pharos course last year on our victorian ancestors in the census, I can spend many an hour trawling round the neighbourhood of my ancestors getting a feel for the area in which they lived.

Whilst looking at Elizabeth and Williams neighbours, I noticed that a large portion of them were artists. 

Elizabeth (on left) with daughter May, 1917

Instantly curious, my next task was to set about trying to find out more.  Now a grade II listed building the 'Primrose Hill Studios' were built in 1877 for, and lived in, by artists. Built with tall, galleried studio rooms, with one large window, they would have been ideal working conditions for the artists. The lodge is said to have been built as servants quarters. This bit of information seems to confirm my suspicions that my Great Great Grandparents were employed as servants to the 'studios' and their gardens, and that the lodge came with the job. Among the artists that were living there at the time of the 1901 census were Holyoake Rowland, Cyrus Johnson, Edmund Caldwell and Charles W Bartlett. Unfortunately ignorant in the world of art and artists these names didn't mean anything to me, but after finding images of some of their work and speaking to my sister who has studied art and who actually had heard of a few of the names, I am fascinated with the thought of what it must have been like to work there. Did Elizabeth get to see them at work? Did she ever speak to them? Maybe even received a painting from one of them?

Ok, so I am getting a little carried away, but I love the idea that they got to mix with such interesting characters. In 1903 they had a fourth child, Marie, and by 1910 had moved to 49 Roland Gardens, South Kensington, London. William has written that he is a house porter, but overleaf says he is a housekeeper. Yet again, they seem to have taken jobs that came with an abode. Coincidentally there is also living in the flats a sculptor and painter named Reginald Edward Arnold. 

From as early as 1918, electoral rolls show Elizabeth and William have moved to 50 Paultons Square in Chelsea, London, so I'm looking forward to the 1921 census to find out more. This is confirmed by the fact that it was the address listed on my Grandpas birth certificate in 1929.  The last time that they appear at the address together is 1934 which helped to narrow down her death year.  I was able to discover an entry in the indexes for a Elizabeth Stuart dying in June 1935 in the registration district of Chelsea.

Only half the story

We all have those photos in our collection that have been lovingly labeled with names, places and even dates, albums which our ancestors have taken the time to document with all the information we need to record that particular event in their lives. We love those, it helps to put faces to the names that are forming the core of our ancestry, it helps us see the story of their lives with so much more empathy and understanding. You can look into their eyes and say "I won't let you be forgotten."

This becomes harder however with the photos you inherit that don't have those details on, some of them might have a date, a place perhaps but most don't have anything at all. Theses are the ones you stare frustratingly at, wishing you could fill in the names of the faces and why that picture was taken. In this post I thought I would share a few photos in my collection that fit that description, photos, you might say, with details that only give me half the story.

This first one is a group family photo with no details given, however I actually know who some of the people are. The two young girls in the front are my mum and aunt either side of my nana Marjorie Belt nee Chant(b- 22 June 1929 - d- 7 September 1997) and at the far back  behind them, the lady in the white hat and the gentleman with glasses are my Great Grandparents George Belt(b-20 June 1899 - d-1973) and Florence Ethel Belt nee Stuart (b-6 June 1893 - d-19 October 1988). Neither myself or my aunt have any idea who the rest are and apart from wanting to know who they are I would love to know what the occasion was that brought them altogether.

This next one had underneath it "May, Doris and Len, Broadstairs 1919. May, on the left, is Beatrice May Stuart(b-23 May 1896 - d-1977), my Great Grandmothers sister. Again I don't know who Len or Doris are. Doris must have been close to the family as she appears in other photos in the album. I do love this one though, they look so relaxed, it would be great to step back in time and find out what they were doing that day and prompted that picture.






Lastly,this photo is a complete mystery, with only a date to go on. It's dated 12 April 1901, and that is all that I know about the person in this photograph. I know that it came from my mums side of the family. It looks like he is possibly at work, you can just see another figure behind him, but as to whether he is related or is having his picture taken by one of my relatives, I will probably never know.

The night they met?

How often in our research do we find a newspaper report of how our ancestors met? 

Most of us have, at least, the tale of how our parents met. I can, for instance, recite, word for word, the night mine met I've heard it that many times. Then there are the lucky lot who even know how their grandparents met(I don't by the way). If you know how your Great Grandparents met, you have one envious family historian right now.

My Great Great Grandparents on my mums paternal line were George Belt(30 Jul 1865 - 24 Nov 1930) and Harriet Higo(1867 - 28 Mar 1908) from Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire. Now, at this point I'd already began to flesh out the lives of these two, George especially, from various different sources(too much for one blog post, so we'll be revisiting him another time).  

The website I go to time and time again is www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk, and with my Belt line it has been invaluable. One day, when scrolling through the many articles featuring my 2x Great Grandfather, I came across one from The Hull Daily Mail dated 13 January 1886 that featured both his and Harriet Higo's name.

As you can imagine, I was a little taken aback when I first read this, after all, these people are my direct ancestors, what could possibly have been the reason for such a savage attack?  
Pondering this information, I clicked on the next result.  Again from the The Hull Daily Mail, dated 15 January 1886, and this time there was a little more detail of the incident.

"He heard Watson use bad language to her, and he interfered." 
This is the line that leads me to believe that this was the night that George and Harriet first met.  A case of him being a gentleman, stepping in to rescue a damsel in distress.  I like to think that maybe he visited her to see how she was recovering after her ordeal, and a relationship sprang from there.
They were married later that year on the 13th December.
It wasn't to be a happy ever after story however, but that's for another time.

So, did, I make the right assumption? Do you get that feeling after reading it?  Was this the night they met?

Welcome

Hello, welcome to my new blog.

My first experience of doing any sort of family history was at the age of 12 for a school project. Quite basic and with very little information in it, I must have had a fondness for it, as it is the only piece of schoolwork I did that I still own.

In 2007 whilst I was pregnant with my second daughter, my mum passed away. As the rawness of that loss began to subside, and having just watched an episode of Who Do You Think You Are?(Chris Moyles), I realised that I didn't know enough about my own family. Armed with a real yearning to know more, I bought some family tree software and a free trial on Ancestry, and I have been hooked ever since!  I love that not only has doing it accelerated my knowledge of my ancestors but also my thirst for knowledge of the social history that surround those ancestors.

Having spent the last few months reading some fascinating family history blogs, I see the importance of telling our ancestors stories. It does seem such a shame to do all this research and then keep it to myself!

I will use this blog mainly to tell the stories of mine and my husbands ancestors. Hope you enjoy reading it!