Will – Page 31 – Forgotten Victorians

Lady O’B – Gertrude Mary Purssell 1873 – 1950

March 10, 2016 WillLeave a comment

Youngest daughter of Alfred Purssell

Gertrude (Lady O'B) — Gertrude (Lady O’B)

The London Gazette Sept 1919

O’BRYEN, Mrs. Gertrude Mary, widow of Ernest
Adolphus O’Bryen, Esq., late Mayor of Hampstead,
upon whom it was H.M.’s intention to have conferred the honour of Knight Bachelor, has been granted the precedence of a Knight’s Widow.

The Tablet, Page 22, 6th September 1919

The many friends of the late Mr. Ernest O’Bryen, Mayor of Hampstead 1913-1919, who deeply lamented his untimely death last April at the early age of 53, will greatly rejoice that His Majesty the King has ordained that the widow of the late Mayor shall have the title and precedence, which she would have had if her husband had lived to receive the knighthood which His Majesty had intended to confer upon him. Lady O’Bryen is the youngest daughter of the late Mr. Alfred Purssell, and was married to the late Mr. Ernest O’Bryen in 1898.

During her long term of office as Mayoress of Hampstead, she earned great popularity for her large share in the many war works with which her husband was so intimately associated. Her efforts in connection with the Belgian Refugees will serve as an example of the devoted work which gained for her the grateful esteem of the citizens of Hampstead, irrespective of creed. In 1914, the Mayor formed a committee for assisting these refugees, which between October and December of that year dealt with a very large number of them, some 18 hostels being opened locally for their accommodation. For four years this committee continued its work, under the direction of Lady O’Bryen, finding employment for and looking after the interests of the refugees. Just before the Armistice about 300 were, still under the care of the committee.

Leonard Arthur Bidwell,1865 – 1912

March 10, 2016 WillLeave a comment

Leonard Arthur Bidwell 1865 -1912. He was known professionally as Leonard, and Arthur in the family, as his father was also Leonard. He was a surgeon.

He was the son of Leonard Bidwell, Chief Clerk in the General Post Office. Educated at Blackheath School, and entered St Thomas’s Hospital in 1882, where he was a House Surgeon. He then studied in Paris, was appointed Assistant Surgeon to the West London Hospital in 1891, and became Surgeon in 1906. There he distinguished himself in the surgery of the abdomen, and more especially as a teacher and administrator in the Post-Graduate College. The number of entries to the Post Graduate College during his term of office (1896 – 1912) exceeded 2500. He was also Surgeon to the Florence Nightingale Hospital, to the Blackheath and Charlton Hospital, and to the City Dispensary. He also served as Surgeon Major in the Buckinghamshire Yeomanry. His death occurred from acute appendicitis on Sept 2nd, 1912. He had married Dorothea, daughter of Sir J Roper Parkington, Bart, in 1896; she survived him together with three sons and two daughters. He practised at 15 Upper Wimpole Street.

There is a fuller biography online, and also an obituary below

from The Tablet Page 36, 7th September 1912

MR. LEONARD ARTHUR BIDWELL, F.R.C.S.

We regret to announce the death, at his London residence, 15, Upper Wimpole Street, W., of Mr. Leonard Arthur Bidwell, F.R.C.S. He had attained great eminence in his profession, and at the time of his death, which closes a brilliant and useful career at the early age of 47, was senior surgeon to the West London Hospital. Mr. Bidwell married Dorothea, eldest daughter of Sir J. Roper Parkington, and leaves five children.—R.I.P.

Alfred Purssell 1831 -1897

March 9, 2016 WillLeave a comment

Alfred Purssell is Gertrude Purssell’s (Lady O’B) father. He is one of nine children of Roger Purssell and Charlotte Peachey as shown by this copy from a family bible. Alfred himself had seven children. Five girls and two boys

Laura
Lucy
Alfred Joseph
Frank
Agnes
Charlotte
Gertrude

The Purssells were variously described as confectioners, bakers, tea importers, and by 1871, Alfred described himself as a wine merchant. In the census in 1881, he is living in Clapham as a widower, with five servants. (a housekeeper, cook, housemaid, parlourmaid, and a children’s maid.)

Alfred was also a member of the Court of Common Council in the City for many years. He was a Trustee of the Bridge House Estates, who were responsible for building Tower Bridge as shown on the plaque on the north side of the bridge.

He is listed as a guarantor of the International Exhibition of 1862 – not the Great Exhibition (£100), which also lists him as a Member of the Society of Arts, and he is listed as a founder of Westminster Cathedral.

As part of the initial search for who was who in the photos, I also traced this print in the London Metropolitan Archives, which confirmed that our picture was Alfred.

And then finally from the Tablet, Page 22, 22nd February 1930

Mr. Purssell served for many years as a member of the Court of Common Council for the Ward of Cornhill, of which the present Lord Mayor is Alderman. If memory serves, he was Chairman of the Bridge House Estate Committee when the Tower Bridge was opened.

Not quite true; he was on the committee, but not the chairman. But he was at the opening ceremony.

Reginald Rickman 1881 -1940

March 7, 2016 WillLeave a comment

From Wikipedia:

Reginald Binns Rickman (6 May 1881 – 22 November 1940) was a British Army officer and cricketer who played first-class cricket for Derbyshire between 1906 and 1911 and captained the side in 1908 and 1909.

Rickman was born at Doncaster, Yorkshire, the son of Samuel Rickman and his wife Emily Rachel Binns, daughter of Charles Binns manager of the Clay Cross Company. The family lived in Devon, and Rickman’s first games were Minor Counties matches for Devon in 1901 and 1903.

In the 1906 season, Rickman made his debut for Derbyshire in an uninspiring performance against Lancashire in May. He continued to play in 1907 and in 1908 was captain in a season which saw Derbyshire move up to third from the bottom in the County Championship. He captained again in the 1909 season but the team slipped a notch in the table. He played seven games in the 1910 season but appeared in his last single game in the 1911 season. Rickman was a right hand batsman and played 65 matches for the club and 118 innings. His highest score was 68 and he averaged 11.47. He was a right arm medium bowler and took 62 wickets at an average of 31.72.

RBR and the King 2 — *Lt Col RB Rickman escorting the King 1918, courtesy of the Imperial War Museum*

Rickman was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, the Sherwood Foresters (Derbyshire Regiment), and was promoted to a lieutenant on 19 March 1902. Her served in the Second Boer War in South Africa February to May 1902, and took part in operations in Orange River Colony. In May 1904 he transferred to the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, the Cheshire Regiment. He later served in the First World War, and became a Lieutenant Colonel.

RB Rickman and the King 1918 — *Lt Col RB Rickman escorting the King 1918, courtesy of the Imperial War Museum*

He died in Chelsea, London at the age of 61.

Elizabeth Pritchard 1851-1934

March 7, 2016 WillLeave a comment

The Courier-Mail, Brisbane, Queensland, Friday 8 June 1934, page 16

The death occurred on Tuesday after a short illness of Mrs Elizabeth Elworthy, a member of one of the early pioneering families of Queensland. The late Mrs Elworthy sailed as a child from England to Queensland with her parents in the Agricola 81 years ago. She was the wife of the late Mr John Elworthy, partner in the old grazing form of Elworthy and Mellor at Imbil and Dovedale in the Wide Bay district. She is survived by a family of three sons and three daughters – Dr H.H. Elworthy, of London. Mr A.W. Elworthy, of Philadelphia. Dr R.R. Elworthy, M.D. of London. Miss Edith Elworthy, Mrs Norman Bell, and Mrs G.M. Parsons. For some years the deceased lady had lived at St Kilda, Melbourne, with two of her daughters.

Elizabeth is on the left, with her son Rex and granddaughter Joanna in about 1925. It was taken in the garden of 100 Castlenau, Barnes in London.

In 1891, she was living in London while the children were going to school, and whilst she and the girls returned to Australia, the boys stayed, though Arthur moved to Philadelphia.

1891 Census

Civil Parish – Hammersmith; Parliamentary Borough – Hammersmith; Ecclesiastical Parish – Hammersmith

203 Uxbridge Road

Elizabeth Elworthy Head Wid 40 Living on own means Gloucester

Edith Dau S 12 Scholar Australia, Queensland

Isabelle dau S 10 “ “ Australia, Queensland

Rex son S 8 “ “ Australia, Queensland

Gladys dau S 5 “ “ Australia, Queensland

Alice Leatherby serv S 22 servant domestic London Chelsea

John Elworthy 1835 – 1887

March 7, 2016 WillLeave a comment

John is the father of Rex Elworthy, and grandfather of Joanna, amongst many others.

John Elworthy (1835-1887) and William Henry Elworthy (1833-1912) were brothers. William Henry Elworthy went to Australia in 1863 with his wife Mary Amelia Elworthy (they were 2nd cousins)and child Mary (Minnie) (b.1862).

John Elworthy left England for Australia in 1864, leaving behind his wife Sarah and twin children John Tolley Elworthy (b.1863) and Sarah Evelyn (b.1863), he never visited them again before he died in 1887. He then married Elizabeth Pritchard in 1876 in Sydney. Apparently re-marriage after seven years of no contact with a previous wife was legal in Australia, I have no idea whether this is true. In English law, he would have been regarded as a bigamist.

William & John’s younger brother Edward 1840- ???? went to the USA (before 1861),lived in Buffalo City, New York State, joined the Unionist army as an artillery man in 1863, and then deserted in 1865.

William & John started logging together on the river Mary near Logan, Queensland, and then moved to Gympie in 1870, to follow the gold rush. They failed to make a fortune in gold, though I do have some gold ore from John, but then started rearing beef at Imbil, Queensland, and in partnership with two brothers from Devon (Mellor Brothers who were butchers) sold beef to the gold prospectors in Gympie and made a considerable fortune.

Elizabeth returned to England with the children, and they all went to Cheltenham College, or Cheltenham Ladies College. She, and the girls, went back to Australia. The boys remained in England, though Arthur moved to Philadelphia.

The mysterious John Roche d. 1829

March 7, 2016 WillLeave a comment

John Roche c.1755 – 1829 is the father of

Mary, 1780 – 1852 m. Nov 1807 Henry Hewitt O’Bryen (1780 – 1836)

and the grandfather of John Roche O’Bryen, Jane Roche (nee O’Bryen), and at the same time both the great-grandfather, and great uncle of Pauline Roche. Pauline Roche’s mother is John Roche’s grand-daughter Jane O’Bryen, and her father is his nephew William Roche.

John Roche appears to have two brothers, and two sisters:

Hugh, who is the father of

James Joseph Roche

Hugh Roche

Lawrence who is the father of

William m. Jane O’Bryen and father of Pauline Roche

Ellen m. John Verling and mother of

Bartholomew Verling

James Roche Verling

Catherine Ellis (nee Verling)

Ellen Verling Jnr.

Julia m. ? Enery

Sources:

Irish Journal of Medical Science, January 1971, Volume 140, Issue 1, pp 30-44 – regarding the Irish doctors who attended Napoleon on St Helena including James Roche Verling

References to (Ellen Verling??) and her brothers John and Laurence Roche of Aghada as members of the council of Cork. Also refers to James Roche Verling having a brother Bartholomew who was a J.P.

From Roche v O’Brien, and his will, we know that John Roche has two sisters

Julia Enery, Ellen Verling

And at least four nephews

James Joseph Roche, William Roche, Bartholomew Verling, and Doctor (James Roche) Verling

And at least two nieces

Ellen Verling jnr, and Catherine Ellis (nee Verling)

From the BLG 1847 entry we know there is another brother Hugh, who is the father of James Joseph Roche, and Hugh Roche jnr

From Barrymore Records we know William Roche is the son of Laurence Roche

Henry Hewitt O’Bryen Senior (1780 -1836) and Mary Roche ( 1780 – 1852 )

March 7, 2016 Will6 Comments

Henry is Ernest O’Bryen’s paternal grandfather

Following the same convention I have done elsewhere, I am planning to make this HHOB, Senior, to distinguish him from his fourth son Henry Hewitt O’Bryen Junior, and also from two grandsons. Henry Hewitt O’Bryen b. 1835, son of John Roche O’Bryen, and Henry Hewitt O’Bryen b. 1845, son of Robert Hewitt O’Bryen. They will be referred to throughout as Mgr O’Bryen, and Henry Hewitt O’Bryen III.

Henry Hewitt O’Bryen was born in 1780 in Ireland , and died on the 11th May 1836 in Cobh, County Cork. He married Mary Roche in November 1807 in Whitepoint, Cove, Co. Cork, she was the daughter of John Roche and Miss Collins?. She was born in Ireland in 1780 and died in 1852.

He is the son of Laurence O’Brien and Jane Hewitt who married on the 20th March 1778 in Castle Townsend, County Cork. He was born in1754 in Ireland. Jane was the daughter of Henry Hewitt and an unknown mother. Henry appears to have a brother Stephen Laurence O’Bryen though this is unconfirmed.

Henry’s paternal grandparents appear to be Daniel O’Brien was born 1717, and died 1758 in Castletownsend, Co. Cork, and Ann Sullivan. They married in 1743, in Cork.

The children of Henry Hewitt O’Bryen Senior and Mary Roche are:

Jane O’Bryen, born 1808; died 1837. She married William Roche. b. ????, died 26th September 1835. They are the parents of Pauline Roche, born 1836 in Rome.

John Roche O’Bryen, born 1810 in Cork, Ireland; died 26 Jul 1870 in London.

Hewitt O’Bryen, born 1812 in Ireland; died 14 Jun 1845 in Norfolk, without issue. He married Louisa Grace Ann Hoare 1836 in Limerick, Ireland; born 1805 in Cork, Ireland; died 1861 in Bath.

Robert Hewitt O’Bryen, born 1814 in Ireland; died 1888 in Cork, Ireland. He married Jeanette Augusta Hargrave 1837 in Cloyne, County Cork. She died 1848 in Aghada, County Cork.

Henry Hewitt O’Bryen Junior, born 1815 in Ireland; died 22 Feb 1873 in Aghada, Co. Cork, Ireland. He married (1) Charlotte Roche 1836 in County Cork (uncertain). He married (2) Jessie Harriett Sudlow 10 Jan 1860 in Queenstown, County Cork. She was born 1829 in Liverpool, and died 1912 in Dublin, Ireland.

Stephen Hewitt O’Bryen, born Unknown in Ireland; died 1872 in Gibraltar. He married Mary Isabella Hewson 1866 in Dublin , daughter of Frank Hewson. (second marriage 1872 ? in Cork)

Mary A O’Bryen, born Unknown in Ireland; died 1863 in Cobh (Queenstown), Ireland.

John Roche O’Bryen 1810 – 1870

March 5, 2016 Will1 Comment

John Roche O’Bryen is Ernest’s father, and Celia O’Bryen was his second wife.

John Roche O’Bryen was baptised in Tracton Abbey, co Cork on the 14th January 1810, and died in London on the 27th July 1870, seven weeks after the death of Charles Dickens – his near contemporary. JROB was two years older.

He was a student at Trinity College, Dublin, and graduated in medicine at the University of Glasgow in 1836. He then practised in medicine first in Bristol, from at least 1841 until 1858. He then spent three years in Liverpool. By 1861, the family were in London, first in Manchester St, W.1, and then in present day Drayton Gardens, South Kensington – then known as Thistle Grove.

So far fairly uncomplicated; however the story starts to get a little more complicated. JR’s family bible has survived (currently with one of his great-grandsons), and is a very useful, if not completely reliable source. I’m going to look at it separately. He appears to have a rather curious double marriage:

“John Roche OBryen & Eliza his wife (born Henderson July 27th 1805) married Decr 25/32 Janr th 7th /33 by Protestant Curate at Bordeaux With Issue”.

JR was studying medicine in Bordeaux at the time, so the assumption is that the first marriage is a Catholic one, he was a Catholic and all the children were brought up as Catholics. The reason for the second marriage is one of the big intriguing questions.

Anyway to continue with the facts. JR and Eliza have ten children:

Emily Jane 1833 -1844.
Henry Hewitt 1835-1895
Mary Anne 1836 -1856.
Corina Margaritta Eliza 1837- 1907
Edwin John 1839 -1857.
Eliza Louisa 1840-1844.
Catharine Teresa 1842 -1845.
Mary Frances 1844 -1858.
Cecilia Agnes 1846 -1856.
(William Gregory) Basil 1848 -1920

Emily, and Henry are both born in France, and all the others are born in Bristol. Only Henry, Corinne, and Basil survive to adulthood.

Eliza dies on 25th April 1857, and JR remarries on the 1st October 1857. He and Celia have six children.

Alfred Charles O’BRYEN, 1859 – 1942 born in Liverpool

Mary Evelyn O’BRYEN,1858 – 1916 born in Liverpool

Philip Augustus O’BRYEN, 1861 – 1913 born in London

Walter Mary O’BRYEN, 1862 – 1871 born in London

Ernest Adolphus O’BRYEN, 1865 -1919 born in London

Edward Reginald O’BRYEN, 1867 – 1928 born in London.

His father Henry Hewitt O’Bryen Senior, was born 1780 in Ireland , and died 11 May 1836 in Cobh, County Cork. He married Mary Roche Nov 1807 in Whitepoint, Cobh, Co. Cork, the only daughter of John Roche and Miss Collins?. She was born in Ireland (?), and died in ????.

John Roche, Mary’s father, and JR’s grandfather, also has a major part to play in the story.

The children of Henry and Mary O’Bryen are:

Jane O’Bryen, born 1808; died 1837 in unknown

John Roche O’Bryen, born 1810 ; died 1870 in London

Hewitt O’Bryen, born 1811 in Ireland; died 1845 in Norfolk

Robert Hewitt O’Bryen, born 1814 in Ireland; died 1888 in Ireland.

Henry Hewitt O’Bryen Junior, born 1815 in Ireland; died 1873 in Ireland.

Stephen Hewitt O’Bryen, born Unknown in Ireland; died 1872 in Gibraltar.

Mary A O’Bryen, born Unknown in Ireland; died 1863 in Ireland.

Henry Hewitt O’Bryen’s father Laurence O’Brien was born 1754 in Ireland (?). He married Jane Hewitt on 20th Mar 1778 in Castle Townsend, County Cork, daughter of Henry Hewitt and Unknown.

Their children are:

Henry Hewitt O’Bryen, born 1780 in Ireland (?); died 11 May 1836 in Cobh, County Cork.

Stephen Laurence O’Bryen (unconfirmed)

and finally Laurence O’Brien’s parents are Daniel O’Brien and Ann Sullivan; Daniel O’Brien was born 1717, and died 1758 in Castletownsend, co Cork. He married Ann Sullivan in 1743 in Cork.

The Purssell photos

March 4, 2016 WillLeave a comment

I am enormously grateful to Christine Carver (who is a Purssell cousin) for her help in identifying these photos. She wrote this back in June 2015.

“I have an enormous pile of photos of the family given to me by my father I got him to write names on the back but a lot of them are badly faded. However I have managed to identify yours. With help from papers given to me by his sisters Noella mentioned in the letter from Ursula, and Awdry who did a great deal of research without help from the Internet ! Ursula was the 3rd daughter of Laura Mary Clare who was Alfred’s eldest daughter by his first wife.Ursula was born 1894 and died 1974, not married. Laura Mary Clare was married to Max Winstanley.”

Back to your photos:

The young man with folded arms was Alfred Joseph eldest son of Alfred, born 1867, died1931. He was a stone mason and imported large quantities of Italian Marble which was sold for various buildings in London, including Brompton Oratory .He had a partner in his business Wilfred McEvoy.

The young lady with her hair tied back and dark, gathered sleeves is Charlotte, younger sister to Alfred J. born 1869 married to Wilfred Parker 1898. I also think it is her with the bridesmaids present around her neck?