Professional Documents
Culture Documents
All Gold
The Terry’s of York success story
Posh paupers
Distressed gentlefolk and their helpers
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The publisher makes every effort to ensure
the magazine's contents are correct. All
material published in Discover Your 4 ‘Common bargains’? Phil Wood explores the variety of
Ancestors Periodical is copyright and unau- marriages in Georgian times
thorised reproduction is forbidden. Please 8 The chocolatier of York: Nick Thorne delves into the
refer to full Terms and Conditions at
records to explore the history of the Terry family
www.discoveryourancestors.co.uk. The
editors and publishers of this publication 12 From theatrical princess to penniless waitress:
give no warranties, guarantees or Researching teen star Kate Everleigh’s life illustrates the
assurances and make no representations difficulties of tracking theatrical lives, as Nell Darby shows
regarding any goods or services advertised 16 Posh paupers: Paul Matthews looks into distressed
in this edition.
gentlefolk and the charities that helped them
19 New women of the law: Stephen Wade looks at the
revolution in the lives of women working in the law from the
1919 Sex Disqualification Removal Act
22 Want to buy a rhino?: Andrew Chapman tells the tale of the
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27 History in the details: Materials – wool (part 3)
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An upper class
wedding at the
end of the 18th
century
‘Common bargains’?
arriage, especially for wealthy families were commonplace century progressed and parents began
}
As there were no enormous dowries pregnant women were regularly
or vast estates to be bequeathed on brought before the magistrate, under
the working classes, parental coercion the 1733 Bastardy Act, and compelled
played a minimal role in their to name the father. The named man was
courting rituals. Nor did they meet then faced with a choice of jail,
their intended at a glamorous ball. supporting the child or marrying the
Instead, life partners were frequently woman. In one case, the Reverend
found in significantly more mundane James Woodforde recalled in his diary
settings such as the workplace, at a entry for 25 January 1787 that the
fair or at church. Furthermore, the groom in a forced marriage ‘was a long
offspring of the working class, in time before he could be prevailed on to
contrast to the wealthy, were not born marry her when in the church yard; and
to inherit their parents’ wealth but in at the altar behaved very unbecoming.’
the hope that they would be able to Prior to 1754 there was no clear
support their parents in old age. definition of how a marriage was
There were occasions when those made. Indeed, a marriage was
lower down the social spectrum were considered legal if both husband and
forced into marriage. Unmarried wife simply agreed to the union.
Clandestine marriages
Marriages that were lawful but did not
follow ecclesiastical edicts (for
instance, those undertaken without a
licence or banns) were known as
irregular. Clandestine marriages were
also popular and were irregular
ceremonies that contained a degree of
secrecy and, in some cases, scandal.
Speed and economy were the
primary motivations behind the
majority of clandestine and irregular
nuptials. Perhaps unsurprisingly,
these types of marriages particularly
appealed to pregnant women, as well
as soldiers and sailors who were going
overseas.
Nonetheless, people of all social
classes and occupations took part in
these ceremonies. Apprentices, for
example, were typically required to
have their master’s permission to
marry and marrying without their
consent could negatively impact their
career. Small wonder then that many
Gretna Green was a popular destination for irregular and clandestine marriages after
apprentices opted to marry in secret.
the 1753 Marriage Act was passed Unscrupulous fortune hunters also
used clandestine marriages to marry banns or with a licence. Moreover, the wealthy showed off their finest
young and naive heiresses without marriages had to be recorded in a attire with the bride in white.
their parents’ approval. The register and parental consent was According to Mary Curzon her sister
unfortunate Miss Ann Leigh, ‘an required for any person under the age wore a white ‘figur’d sattin gown, a
heiress of £200 per ann. and £6000 of 21 marrying by licence. fring’d silk petticoat, white fring’d
ready cash’, was a typical victim. After Although the Act regularised the slippers, a beautiful white hat trimm’d
her having been decoyed ‘away from marriage process it did contain with blond, a long figur’d white sattin
her friends in Buckinghamshire’ the several loopholes. Indeed, for those cloak trimm’d with fur, & arm-holes’
Original Weekly Journal of 26 who could afford to elope to Scotland, on her wedding day in 1778.
September 1719 revealed that she was where the Act didn’t apply, Gretna All wedding ceremonies after 1754
subsequently ‘married at the Fleet Green became a popular destination had to be conducted in a licensed
Chapel, against her consent.’ for those desperate to get married premises such as a church or a chapel
It was to prevent abuses such as this quickly and without any questions between the hours of 8am and 12pm.
that Lord Hardwicke’s Marriage Act of asked. Then, as now, the bride and groom,
1753 was passed (and became who could legally be as young as 12
effective from 1754). The Act decreed Wedding clothes and 14 respectively, would recite their
that a marriage was only legal if it had All social classes dressed for the vows and the groom gave the bride a
been conducted in a licensed premises wedding day itself. The working ring.
by an Anglican clergyman, after classes wore their Sunday best while For the working and middle classes
}
the day was often a relatively low-key
event with few guests. ‘It was a
sensible wedding as ever was,’ Horace
Walpole declared when describing his
niece’s nuptials in 1759, ‘the company
my brother, Mrs Keppel, Lady
Elizabeth Keppel, Lady Betty de
Waldegrave and I.’ After the
ceremony, the wedding party would
typically dine and perhaps dance and
play games to celebrate the occasion.
Grand spectacles
However, upper class weddings could
be grander and far more lavish
spectacles. The marriage of Sir
William Blackett and Lady Barbara
Vilers in 1725, for instance, was
celebrated with bonfires and the
sounding of bells and gunfire in
The Fleet Prison was a popular
Newcastle. Furthermore, the
destination for irregular and
Newcastle Weekly Courant recounted clandestine marriages
that the crags at Wellington were
illuminated at night and a ‘large
Punch Bowl was cut in the most
elevated rock, which was filled with
such generous liquor as was more
than sufficient for the vast crowd of
neighbouring inhabitants.’
There were a plethora of local
customs associated with the wedding
cake. In some regions, for example, it
was tradition for pieces of the cake to
be passed through the bride’s ring and
given to unmarried guests so they
might be wed next. Another popular
custom was for the cake to be broken
up over the heads of the newlyweds.
Honeymoons were not yet
customary in the Georgian era and ‘Doubtless many have been the • Daily Life in 18th Century England,
the majority of married couples disputes which have happened Kirstin Olsen (Greenwood Press,
simply began their everyday lives between my wife and myself during 1999)
together. Indeed, many working-class the time,’ but, ‘if I was single again, • Lascivious Bodies: A Sexual History
couples were expected to return to and at liberty to make another choice, of the Eighteenth Century, Julie
work the very next day after their I should do the same – I mean make Peakman (Atlantic Books, 2005)
wedding. her my wife who is so now.’
It’s impossible to gauge how ABOUT THE AUTHOR
satisfied Georgian men and women Further reading:
PHIL WOOD has
were with their spouses. It can only be • Eavesdropping on Jane Austen’s written for a number of
hoped that most were as content as England, Roy and Lesley Adkins history publications
Thomas Turner. Contemplating his (Little Brown, 2013) and specialises in
Georgian and Victorian
wedding anniversary, in his diary • English Home Life 1500-1800, social history.
entry for 15 October 1756 he wrote, Christina Hole (Batsford, 1949)
}
Nick Thorne
delves into the
records to
explore the
history of the
Terry family and
their business
}
wealthy. Examining the image of the
will on TheGenealogist reveals that,
although Berry’s will was proved at
London, the fourth line tells us that it
was ‘Extracted from the Registry of
the Prerogative Court of York’ and
then entered in the PCC registers.
In 1851 there was a similar extract
in the PCC ledgers; this time it was
recording the will for Joseph Terry,
after his death had occurred in York.
The will points to Joseph Terry
leaving to his son the responsibility of
the confectionery business. From the
census of the same year, which we
have seen earlier, this was a company
employing 127 hands and so was no
small enterprise. Joseph Jr, along with
Chemists and druggists in the Directory of the City of York 1822 his brothers Robert and John,
continued the path that their father
establish this fact, we need only to (PCC). It had been a requirement up had already set out for the business
consult the Directory of the City of until January 1858 that to receive towards it becoming a nationally
York from 1822, the year before the probate all wills needed to be proved recognised confectionery business.
marriage. Here we find him listed at in either an archdeacon’s court, a Joseph Terry Sr had already taken
Walmgate under chemists and bishop’s court, or one of the advantage of the new ability to
druggists. prerogative courts that proved the will transport goods to other parts of the
Browsing within the pages of this depending where your ancestor’s country made possible from 1839
same Directory will also allow us to property was located. There were two when the railways had first come to
see that, in the City of York in that prerogative courts, those of York. A look at the History Gazetteer
particular year, his future partner, Canterbury and of York, and in the and Directory of the East and North
Robert Berry the confectioner, was in same way as the Archdiocese of Ridings of Yorkshire 1840 in the Trade,
business at St Helen’s Square. Joseph Canterbury takes precedence over Residential and Telephone Directory
Terry’s background as the son of a York, their respective courts were collection on TheGenealogist allows
baker and having become a chemist similar in priority. The PCC would us to understand more about these
himself must have been put to good also deal with the wills of people who links. With Terry’s confectionery
use when he joined with Robert Berry had assets in both provinces, or those reaching a wider public than just
in the confectionery business. Steadily individuals who were relatively those customers in York, his sons now
the firm increased its chocolate
products, sweetmeats, candied peel,
marmalades and medicated lozenges.
When Robert Berry died in 1825,
Joseph then formed a new
partnership with Berry’s son George.
In family history research it is
always worth looking to see if there is
a record of a will for a person that has
died. In this case, searching the wills
collections on TheGenealogist allows
us to discover an 1826 will for Robert
Berry entered into the records at the
Prerogative Court of Canterbury
}
Left: History Gazetteer and Directory of
the East and North Ridings of Yorkshire
1840 reveals the growing rail links in
Yorkshire in the mid 1800s
Below: Map Explorer identifies location
of The Mount in York
}
1871 Dringhouse Yorkshire census
}
From theatrical princess
to penniless waitress
Kate Everleigh
Kate was regularly
was a teen star of mentioned in the press,
and in 1875, a full-page
the Victorian sketch of her appeared
in one of London’s
stage, who died theatrical newspapers
British Library Board
in penniless
obscurity.
Researching her
life illustrates
the difficulties
of tracking
theatrical lives,
as Nell Darby
shows
he Victorians loved their
}
In 1885, Kate had been on the front page of one
paper; yet now, she was gossiped about why she
was no longer appearing in the theatre, with what
seemed to be a snide comment about her music
hall origins
}
Edith; but Edith Bland, another
actress, was actually his lover, not his
wife, and one of his many conquests.
Four years later, while in America,
he married the famous American
actress Lillian Russell, neglecting to
tell her that he was still legally
married to Jane. By this time, the
couple had already had a baby.
Edward failed to realise that the
significant press coverage of the
marriage of an American star might
reach British shores, and that Jane, his
legal wife, might read about it. She
did, and so did most of Britain, in a
case that scandalised the country.
By the time that Edward married
again in Brighton, he had finally been
divorced by his first and legal wife, Jane
Isaacs. However, it was only after his
marriage to Kate, in September 1893,
that Lillian Russell began an
annulment suit. In it, she stated that
she had left Edward back in September
1886, ‘because Teddy was found to
have taken Jane Isaacs as his wife prior
Kate’s stepdaughter Clara – Edward
Edward Solomon committed bigamy when he Solomon’s daughter by his first wife, thereto, and had not divorced her, and
married American actress Lillian Russell in New Jane – would grow up to become a then Teddy married Kate Everleigh,
Jersey in 1885. By the time he married Kate in successful actress, comedian and male and there they are.’ The legal end of
1889, his first wife had divorced him – but Lillian impersonator, under the stage name of
didn’t until 1893 Claire Romaine British Library Board
this previous marriage finally came
two months later.
presumably from America – and was Register Office, by licence. She gave The 1891 census is the only one
available to perform as principal her name as Catherine Priscilla Jones, where Kate is recorded, living in
burlesque boy for a short season. The 28, daughter of Henry Jones, London with Edward and his brother
following month, she was playing a gentleman. There are no earlier Bowers. She was still listed as an
minor character in another records of a Catherine Priscilla Jones actress and continued performing
production with Lydia Thompson’s of around this age, with or without a until 1894. The following new year,
company, her appearance being father called Henry. she stopped to nurse Edward, who
acknowledged in the papers as though Kate was likely to have known had typhoid fever. He died at their
she was a forgotten star: Edward Solomon for some time home after ten days’ illness, on 22
‘The Miss Kate Everleigh who has through their work – the theatrical January 1895, aged 39. Kate was
been playing with Miss Lydia world could be small at times. She widowed after just six years of
Thompson… is the self-same must, therefore, have known of his marriage. She is absent from the 1901
handsome and lively young lady who, somewhat chequered personal census; and there is just one mention
a few years ago, was the idol of a heap history. For starters, on 15 March of her in the press in 1902 as a
of music-hall mashers [dandies].’ (The 1873, Edward had married Jane ‘survivor’ of the Victorian music hall.
Referee, 12 October 1884) Isaacs, 15, an actress known profes- She is listed as ‘Kate Everleigh (Teddy
For the rest of the 1880s, the sionally as Lily Grey – despite her Solomon’s last wife)’, as though her
theatrical press contained steady mother’s understandable objections. prior career had been subsumed by
mentions of Kate’s name, but she soon Within two years, he had abandoned her late husband’s status.
had something else to concentrate on. her, leaving her with their baby Some of the obituaries of Edward
On 5 March 1889, she married daughter, Clara. In 1881, the census failed to mention Kate at all: in one
Edward ‘Teddy’ Solomon at Brighton recorded him as living with his wife, typical example, it was noted that his
}
best-known opera had been written a
full 15 years earlier, and that ‘he was
the husband of Miss Lilian [sic]
Russell, who, however, divorced him
some years ago’. This whitewashing
must have hurt Kate immensely; she
was said to have been a devoted wife
who ignored the gossip and simply
loved her husband. She was, however,
never as famous as Lillian Russell, nor
attached to the drama and intrigue
that surrounded their liaison, and so
she did not receive the same level of
attention as Lillian when Edward died.
And then she disappeared from the
record for over 20 years. It’s only after
she herself died that the press
remembered who she was, and then it
was to make a point about how far her
life was perceived to have fallen. The Kate died at the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital, a hospital for women on
Sheffield Independent had a small item London’s Euston Road, pictured here a few decades earlier
titled ‘Star of the Past: Once famous
actress dies in poverty’. The Belfast Wood Terrace, alone. She then financially, she did not sell her story,
Telegraph’s headline was similar: developed cancer, and after two or plead for handouts; instead, she
‘Once famous actress dead’. unsuccessful operations, died on 8 took any job she could.
Kate had lived a humble life since February 1926, at the Elizabeth The brick walls I have faced trying
her husband’s death, no longer acting, Garrett Anderson Hospital. After she to find out who Kate really was are
but instead taking on a variety of work died, her colleagues at the Florence sadly typical of research into
in order to eke out a living. By the Restaurant clubbed together to pay for theatrical lives: the stage names, the
1920s, she was working as a waitress at her funeral. Kate now lies in an desire to obscure elements of
the Florence Restaurant in Soho, unmarked grave at what was St individuals’ lives when they married
serving desserts. After her shifts, she Marylebone Cemetery (now East in haste, or to men with reputations,
would return to her rooms at St John’s Finchley Cemetery); but the fact that make it sometimes difficult. In
she could be buried decently is addition to this, despite women’s
testament to the respect her colleagues success on the stage, some of them,
had for her, not as a once famous star, like Kate, still found themselves
but as a decent human being. adopting a more traditional role when
A brief press obituary of Kate noted they married, and then came to be
that Solomon was ‘an erratic genius’ obscured by their husband’s fame, or
who was ‘suffering from declining infamy. Kate’s stage career is well
fortune’ when the ‘plucky’ Kate recorded in the pages of the theatrical
married him, ‘stuck to him, and press; but of her personal life and
nursed him through all his vicissi- difficulties, there are frustrating gaps
tudes’. She was undoubtedly a strong left behind.
woman – someone who was on the
stage in their early teens and who ABOUT THE AUTHOR
made a success of her career,
DR NELL DARBY is a freelance
travelling overseas to perform, could writer, specialising in social
The Oxford Music Hall – not in Oxford, not be regarded as a weak individual. history and the history of crime.
but in London, on the junction between She also clearly loved Solomon, Her latest book, Life on the
Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Victorian Stage, was recently
looking after him and forgiving him published by Pen & Sword. She
Road – was a popular Victorian venue. It
is pictured here in 1875. Kate performed his past and present problems. In is a regular writer for DYA.
on its stage that autumn addition, when she was struggling www.criminalhistorian.com
}
Paul Matthews
looks into
distressed
gentlefolk and
the charities that
helped them
Posh paupers
n the 1800s the newly poor were husband had been army officers, but
}
saying that when leading prayers for seems ‘a great deal of interest was gentlefolk is increasing so rapidly that
the poor, he hoped that someone ultimately excited for these distressed the association is unable to cope.
would pray for him. To other gentlefolk’, until, that is, they were Urgently plead for new subscriptions,
gentlefolk, having to earn a living at found out and arrested in Bath. The H.P. Hussey, Secretary, Royal UK
all counted as poverty. In 1879 a ballet man escaped but the woman was sent Beneficent Association, 7 Arundel
in Sadler’s Wells was composed of to Shepton Goal. Street, Strand.’
impoverished daughters of gentlemen Two principal charities emerged to In 2005 the RUKBA became known
who were now sadly ‘compelled to get help poor gentlefolk. The first was the as Independent Age.
their own living’. UK Beneficent Association, later a In 1897, Elizabeth Anne Finn and
A ‘poor gentlewoman’ wrote in an royal association (RUKBA), founded her daughter Constance, learning that
1897 Morning Post: ‘All who in 1863 to help the ‘new poor’, people of ‘a better sort’ were destitute,
sympathise with this silent poverty providing those who qualified with a founded the second main charity, the
must feel grateful to those gentlemen small income for life. Applicants had Distressed Gentlefolks Aid
who plead for the distressed to be over 40, living on less than £25 Association (DGAA), based at her
gentlefolk… The working class is per year, and, of course, to be from home in Hammersmith. Another
having happy days… holidays and the ‘upper and middle classes’. founder member was Colonel W.W.
pleasure are to be had for the asking. At a Kensington Town Hall ‘rose, Knolly (1833–1904), who in 1898
But what is being done for the thistle and shamrock bazaar’ held for described these gentlefolk as ‘a class
distressed gentlefolk?’ the association, a speaker said: ‘the hitherto much neglected by the
However, it was never clear exactly really poor were well looked after, but charitable public’, and in 1899 he
who qualified as being gentlefolk. A those who had to keep up appealed for donations to ‘rescue
letter writer to the same paper in 1898 appearances and yet could hardly victims from starvation who were well
said: ‘What constitutes a gentleman in make ends meet often had a great born but through no fault of their
these days, when every man from the struggle.’ At a 1909 association own have fallen on evil days.’
small grocer’s son educated at a petty gathering at St Johns Parish Hall, Elizabeth Anne Finn (1825–1921)
grammar or … a nobleman’s son Clifton, a Miss Kirby told the was born in Warsaw, Poland, where
educated at Eton or Harrow… assembled well-to-do that some of the her father, the Reverend Alexander
considers himself a gentleman.’ ladies in need of help had no McCaul, was a missionary. She
mattresses and were sleeping on the married James Finn (1806–1872),
Welfare cheats before wires of their bed. She said to the who became British consul to
the Welfare State audience that ‘they should help people Jerusalem in Ottoman Palestine. A
In the early 1800s some people were of their own class’ and ‘if charity writer and linguist, she was fluent in
too willing to give money to begins at home it was for them to look several languages, including Arabic,
distressed gentlefolk, and con artists after their own people first.’ Hebrew and German. She is found on
took advantage, such as, in 1831, Mr A 1913 Gentlewoman was one of the 1891 census at 75 Brook Green,
& Mrs Clark ‘alias Hill, alias countless periodicals carrying this Hammersmith, as a literary author,
Robinson’ who made a good living advertisement by the association: ‘The living with her daughter and grand-
taking money from the credulous. It number of applications from poor daughter and two servants. Elizabeth
and daughter were still here in 1901.
When the DGAA was founded,
Britain was perhaps the world’s richest
country, and the middle classes
generally prospered, but when
circumstances changed, many
previously wealthy people fell into
poverty and were too old or too ill to
work. The association at one point
paid £21,000 annually to over a
thousand annuitants including many
elderly widows.
By 2000, the association had
changed its name to the Elizabeth
Sadlers Wells, 1879 Finn Trust, which in 2014 merged
} well-known philanthropist,
established a haven of rest in
Maidenhead for gentlefolk ‘brought to
poverty through genuine misfortune’,
and also co-founded the Twentieth
including destitute recipients of
charities. If your ancestors lived in
one of the above-mentioned homes,
they can easily be identified as
‘distressed gentlefolk’. The 1911
Century Club at Stanley Gardens in census for the Haven of Rest, Bridge
Notting Hill for working Road, Maidenhead, shows a number
gentlewomen. In 1906, an ex- of such individuals, married and
secretary of the club was sentenced to widowed, aged from their 40s to their
five years’ penal servitude for the 80s. Their previous occupations
misappropriation of funds. George include naval officer, manager, fine art
Herring died in the same year and his dealer, author and artist. In 1914,
ashes were deposited under the Sydney Henson of 6 The Haven of
sundial at the Haven of Rest Rest, won a seven-shilling prize in a
almshouses in Maidenhead. Sheffield Weekly story writing
competition.
Sir William George Armstrong (1810–1900), 1st George Herring and Most impoverished gentlefolk,
Baron Armstrong of Cragside the Rugeley Poisoner however, lived in regular accommoda-
George Herring was a rag-to-riches tion, including some of the elderly
with Turn2us. In the early 2000s the philanthropist who made his money women described on censuses as
chief executive commented, ‘we in horse racing and finance and then ‘annuitants’. Occasionally ‘retired
describe ourselves as an organisation quietly gave much of it away. In 1856, gentlefolk’ are also recorded on
that helps out with professionals he was a witness in the notorious censuses, some of whom may have
rather than gentlefolk’. Rugeley Poisoner trial, helping to been of the ‘distressed’ category.
There were other charities, like the convict racehorse owner, William
Society for the Assistance of Ladies in Palmer, who poisoned a gambler, John Resource
Reduced Circumstances, which in Parsons Cook. Palmer probably The Rothschild Archive,
1906 looked after 300 ladies regarded murdered several other people by rothschildarchive.org, holds a list of
as too old and feeble to work. There poison including his brother, mother- 1902 charitable donations by the
was also the Irish Distressed Ladies in-law, and four of his children. He Rothschild family, including to the
Fund. In The Queen, in 1899, we read: was publicly hanged in 1856. At the DGAA.
‘Of the many cases of distress which gallows, looking at the trap door, he
make their voices heard, none asked: ‘Are you sure it’s safe?’
perhaps are more pitiable than those Various homes were set up for
of ladies born to affluence and distressed gentlefolk. In the 1890s,
reduced to absolute poverty by the Lord Armstrong bought Bamburgh
non-payment of Irish rents.’ The Irish Castle, Northumberland, setting aside
gentry seemed to experience funds for a home for poor gentlefolk,
particular problems. A society bazaar and in 1927 Lady Armstrong opened
took place in 1889 at Willis’s Rooms, Armstrong House, Bamburgh, ‘for
London, to raise money for ‘educating people of culture and refinement’. It is
the children of impoverished Irish now a Grade II listed building. A 1934
gentlemen and assisting them and advertisement in the Scotsman
their families. reported that Edgar Figgess, of
George Herring (1833–1906), a Crookham, Hants, left £400 to the
home for distressed gentlefolk at St
Marks Hospital, City Road. There was
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
also a home for distressed gentlefolk
PAUL MATTHEWS is a in Virginia Water, Surrey, the property
freelance writer who has written being bought by the DGAA in 1948
widely on family history and has and converted into a care home.
had jokes broadcast on BBC
radio. He is a regular writer for Downward mobility is found in The trial of William Palmer for the
Discover Your Ancestors many family trees, with some Rugeley poisonings
}
Pioneering policewoman
Edith Smith (1876–1923)
S
ylvia Pankhurst’s father told as women were increasingly involved were nothing if a smart woman with a
his children ‘If you do not in social work. degree could not enter a profession
work for others, you will not There were plenty of liberal because the law stood in her way.
have been worth the upbringing’ and thinkers in this respect in Victorian Of course, behind the law stood the
the great socialist Beatrice Webb Britain. Typical of this is perhaps set of attitudes which also made a
made it clear in her autobiography William Godwin, the architect, who barrier. Virginia Woolf, giving a
that by the end of the 19th century married the actress Ellen Terry. He lecture to women long after 1919,
‘the idea of service had been wanted young women to become wrote, ‘Even when the path is
transferred from God to man.’ In architects because, as Michael nominally open – when there is
other words, long before 1919, when Holroyd notes, he saw that they had nothing to prevent a woman from
legislation made it possible for the ‘desirable accuracy and repose as being a doctor, a lawyer, a civil
women to become lawyers or county well as “that equipoise which was servant – there are many phantoms
sheriffs, a steady pressure for reform indispensable for the creation of and obstacles… looming in her way.’
in this area had long been in progress beauty”’. But beauty and equipoise Nonetheless, as Robert Musil writes in
Leaders
What about other areas of the
criminal justice system? For instance,
at the end of 1919 Ada Summers
became a justice of the peace. Ada was
born in Oldham in 1861, the daughter
of a mill owner. In Stalybridge she was
a Liberal and she was to have a very
long career serving her locality on the
council. She became known as ‘The
A sign from the 1940s showing that women police had their own quarters
Lady Bountiful’ as a result of her
Courtesy of Ripon Police Museum passion for good works and charity.
}
These generous initiatives included a
school for the education of mothers,
and this was to become a centre for
child welfare; at Christmas, Ada gave
presents for local children and paid
for a tree to be set up. She even
established a centre for the
unemployed. Establishments of an
even larger scale followed: a nurses’
home in 1926, funds given to the local
infirmary, and a number of leisure
and recreation activities for women
and children.
Her work in the administration of
crime and the local elements in the
criminal justice system was just as
impressive: she was involved in the
probation and police court functions
close to home. She died in 1944, and
Mary Ann Bullock, prison officer with her daughter, 1912 Courtesy of Ruth Saunders
there was a service at Mottram
church. Fittingly, today there is a blue
plaque in her memory at Stalybridge the other women’s lives in this Some limits
Civic Hall. biographical listing, she had her foot Not everything went so smoothly. The
After Ada Summers, there were on a legal career immediately. She issue of women jurors took centre
several other magistrate appointments wrote: ‘In 1919 the Bar was open to stage for some time. From 1921
for women: three were appointed in women and the Allahabad High women could sit on murder case
the County of London, one of whom Court admitted me to the Rolls juries, and there was perhaps humour
was the socialist writer Beatrice immediately upon application. ‘ But in that the legal professionals ensured
Webb; the others were Margaret such were her high standards that she that ‘the ladies’ could cope with such
Hannah and Gertrude Tickwell. still wanted to take the Bar exams serious subjects, and did they have
There were three more in the regions: back in England. enough tea? But more seriously, a
Margaret Lloyd George, Mary Ward Eventually she was called at study conducted by three academics
and Edith, Marchioness of Lincoln’s Inn, and had lots of contacts in 2019 showed that there were
Londonderry. In the five years after from her student days when she immense difficulties in jury selection
1919, there were 1,200 women attended Somerville College in and composition, along with moral
appointed to commissions. Just after Oxford, where she passed the and practical problems.
the end of the Second World War, the graduate exams but was not allowed However, in spite of the obstacles to
Magistrates’ Association advised that to graduate, and she describes her progress, the Act was the first step.
every local bench across the land return with humour: ‘It was that The Sex Discrimination Act of 1975
should have its quota of women which encouraged an old woman who and then the 2010 Sex Equality Act
members. had never been really “examinable” to tried to handle the fine detail and the
As for women lawyers, the USA was enter the lists with the young things ramifications of discrimination in the
well ahead of Britain in this. But there who in these days [1934] do examina- workplace and throughout the
were exceptions. Cornelia Sorabji, of tions “off their heads.”’ professions. These are issues which
Parsee descent but whose father had Then, in 1924, she returned to India continue to be worked out today.
adopted Christianity, had an to work at the Calcutta Bar. In India,
education in India, and excelled in she had early in her life experienced ABOUT THE AUTHOR
scholarship. Her career is better the condition of women in Hindu
known than many, as she wrote a society, and a particular experience STEPHEN WADE is a social
historian with an interest in the
number of books, including India fired her to become a lawyer. After
history of theatre. His biography
Calling, which gives a full account of Cornelia there were many others, of George Grossmith, A Victorian
her education and her life as a lawyer. such as Helena Normanton and Somebody, was published in 2015
Remarkable, and in sharp contrast to Margaret Lane. by Chaplin Books.
Richard Newdigate (1644–1710), and just as the flame goes out the smoke
Royal Museums Greenwich
}
Pages from Edward Barlow’s journal, including a
depiction of a rhino – presumed to be the same
one which was brought to London
Notable visitors
The rhino attracted some notable
visitors. The merchant Sir Dudley
North (1641–91) and his brother
Francis (1637–85), Baron Guilford
and Lord Keeper of the Great Seal,
went to see it, as recorded by their
descendant Roger North in his
1780 book Lives of the Norths:
}
Sir William Godolphin and I went to
see the Rhinoceros (or Unicorn) being
the first that I suppose was ever brought
into England: It more resembled a huge
enormous Swine, than any other Beast
amongst us; That which was most
particular & extraordinary, was the
placing of her small Eyes in the very
center of her cheeks & head, her Ears in
her neck, and very much pointed: her
Legs near as big about as an ordinary
man’s waist, the feet divided into claws,
not cloven, but somewhat resembling the
Elephant’s, & very round & flat, her tail
slender and hanging down over her Sex,
which had some long hairs at the End of
it like a Cow’s, & was all the hair about The rhinoceros in this 1684 image, of a battle with its imagined arch-enemy the
the whole Creature. elephant, was at least inspired by the live one visiting London at the time
But what was the most wonderful,
was the extraordinary bulk and Circum- especially, the snout resembling a boar’s a week, besides greens of different
ference of her body, which though very but much longer; to what stature she kinds, of which he seemed fonder than
Young, (they told us as I remember not may arrive if she live long, I cannot tell; of his dry victuals; and drank large
above 4 years old) could not be less than but if she grow proportionable to her quantities of water.”
20 foot in compass: she had a set of most present age, she will be a Soon, plans were afoot to take our
dreadful teeth, which were extraordinar- Mountain. They fed her with Hay, & pachydermatous friend on tour.
ily broad, and deep in her throat, she Oats, & gave her bread. A London Gazette of 18
was led by a ring in her nose like a She belonged to Certain E. Indian March 1685 reported: “the strange
Buffalo, but the horn upon it was but Merchants, & was sold for (as I Beast called the Rhynoceros, will be
newly Sprouting, & hardly shaped to any remember) above two-thousand pounds. sent beyond the Sea, and therefore will
considerable point, but in my opinion At the same time I went to see a living not be seen in this City after the 14th of
nothing was so extravagant as the Skin Crocodile… April next, which it may be in the mean
of the beast, which hung down on her time at the Bell-Savage on Ludgate-hill.”
haunches, both behind and before to her Feeding the rhino (especially on the However, the beast was destined, like
knees, loose like so much Coach leather, sea voyage) must certainly have been a Clara 72 years later, to meet its end in
& not adhering at all to the body, which challenge. In his 1693 Synopsis London. On 28 September 1686,
had another skin, so as one might take Animalium, the naturalist John Ray another newsletter reported: “Last week
up this, as one would do a Cloak or (1627–1705) wrote of “The great beast died that Wonderful creature the
horse-Cloth to a great depth, it adhering that was paraded round England in the Rhinoceros; the several proprietors
only at the upper parts; & these lappets year 1684/1785. It fed on hay, turnip- having Ensured £1200 on her life the
of stiff skin, began to be studded with tops and corn, of which it consumed a Ensurers are catched for much money.”
impenetrable Scales, like a Target of Coat peck and a half a day by our standard.” It seems the owners made their
of mail, loricated like Armor, much after (A peck is 16 dry pints or about 9 money one way or another – but
the manner this Animal is usually litres.) whether Mr Langley lived to regret
depicted: she was of a mouse Colour, the On this feeding theme, the physician missing out, we’ll never know.
skin Elephantine. and rhino enthusiast James Parsons, For weekly tales of this kind from the
Tame enough, & suffering her mouth who met the next one to visit Britain annals of history, sign up to the free
to be open’d by her keeper, who caus’d her (in 1739), told the Royal Society in newsletter at www.gethistories.com
to lie down, when she appeared like a 1743: “He was fed here with rice, hay
great Coach overthrown, for she was and sugar. Of the first he eat[s] 7 Resources
much of that bulk, yet would rise as pounds to about 3 pounds of the sugar; • Rhino Resource Center:
nimbly as ever I saw a horse: T’was they were mixed together, and he eat[s] www.rhinoresourcecenter.com
certainly a very wonderful creature, of this quantity every day, divided into • Barlow’s journal: collections.rmg.co.
immense strength in the neck, & nose three meals, and about a truss of hay in uk/archive/objects/505786.html
www.preparetopublish.com
hello@preparetopublish.com
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Yorkshire }
TheGenealogist
A
fter the Romans left, small town by town, until they won the Industrial Revolution continuing with
Celtic kingdoms arose in Battle of Marston Moor and with it prominent industries in coal, textile
Yorkshire. An army of control of all of the north of England. and steel (especially in Sheffield and
Danish Vikings invaded Northum- The wool textile industry has long Rotherham). However, despite the
brian territory in 866 AD. The Danes been important to Yorkshire’s booming industry, living conditions
conquered what is now York and economy. It began as a cottage declined in the industrial towns due
renamed it Jórvík, making it the capital industry centred on the old market to overcrowding – this saw bouts of
city of a new Danish kingdom under towns, then moved to the West Riding cholera in both 1832 and 1848.
the same name, the only truly Viking where entrepreneurs were building Exclusive census analysis from data
territory established on mainland mills that took advantage of water at TheGenealogist reveals that
Britain. The division of Yorkshire into power gained by harnessing the rivers common surnames in Yorkshire in
three historic ‘Ridings’ (North, East and streams flowing from the the 19th century that stand out
and West) was made by the Danes Pennines. The developing textile against the country in general
(South Yorkshire is a modern division, industry helped Wakefield and included Walker, Thompson, Shaw,
split off from the West Riding in 1972). Halifax grow. In the 16th and 17th Wilkinson, Harrison, Johnson,
The people of the region rebelled centuries Leeds and other wool- Watson and Barker plus Greenwood,
against the Normans in September focused towns continued to grow, Atkinson and Sykes in 1841 and Ward
1069, enlisting Sweyn II of Denmark. along with Huddersfield, Hull and in 1911. The population rose from 1.6
They tried to take back York, but the Sheffield, while coal mining first came million in 1841 to 4.0 million in 1911,
Normans burnt it. What followed was into prominence in the West Riding. with mining, weaving and farming
the Harrying of the North ordered by Canals and turnpike roads were work dominating occupations.
William. From York to Durham, crops, introduced in the late 18th century. In For details of archives and other
domestic animals, and farming tools the following century, the spa towns resources across Yorkshire, search at
were scorched. Many villages between of Harrogate and Scarborough https://heritagehunter.co.uk/
the towns were burnt and local people flourished, due to people believing yorkshire/
were indiscriminately murdered. The mineral water had curative properties. This month all subscribers can
population of Yorkshire later boomed The 19th century saw Yorkshire’s access Ja 1741 poll book
until hit by famine in the years between continued growth, with the for Yorkshire, thanks to
1315 and 1322. The Black Death population growing and the www.thegenealogist.co.uk.
reached Yorkshire by 1349, killing
around a third of the population. YORKSHIRE RECORDS ONLINE
The Dissolution of the Monasteries
Leading data website TheGenealogist.co.uk has a wealth of records for Yorkshire. Here
in 1536 led to a popular uprising is a quick run-down of what you can find (in addition to national collections):
known as the Pilgrimage of Grace, • Trade directories: around 30 directories from 1830 to 1936.
which started in Yorkshire as a • Census records: Yorkshire records for every census from 1841 to 1911.
• Parish registers for more than 80 parishes (see
protest. Some Catholics in Yorkshire www.thegenealogist.co.uk/coverage/parish-records/yorkshire/).
continued to practise their religion • Nonconformist registers: Nonconformist chapels and meeting houses across
and those caught were executed Yorkshire are covered in the site’s collections.
• Land owners: the site’s huge collection of tithe commutation records includes
during the reign of Elizabeth I. Yorkshire, along with tithe maps; plus an 1873 survey of Welsh and English
During the English Civil War, landowners includes the region.
Yorkshire had divided loyalties. York • School registers for Bootham School, Giggleswick School, Leeds Grammar School
and Sedbergh School.
was a base for Royalists; while from
• Some Domesday records.
their base in Hull the Parliamentari- • Freemen of York from 1272-1759.
ans fought back, taking Yorkshire • Militia and military records of the West Riding Yorkshire Territorials, the 15th Foot
Regiment (Yorkshire East Riding) , the 19th Foot Regiment (Yorkshire North Riding)
MEET YORKSHIRE RESEARCHERS and The Green Howards.
• Various poll books from the 18th and 19th century.
• Yorkshire Group of Family History Societies, • Medieval visitations from the late 16th and 17th centuries.
www.yorksgroup.org.uk • Indexes of wills from the 14th to 17th centuries.
}
BRISTOL & AVON FAMILY MALVERN
HISTORY SOCIETY (WORCESTERSHIRE)
W: www.bafhs.org.uk FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY
The society, founded in 1975, serves the W: www.mfhs.org.uk
geographic area of the former County of Avon E: info@mfhs.org.uk
including Bath, Bristol and parts of the historic An enthusiastic group providing support in
counties of Gloucestershire and Somerset. We have around 1000 research, irrespective of county or country. Well-attended monthly
members. The services we provide include our excellent meetings; quarterly journal; use of our indexed Worcestershire
research room at Bristol Archives, our quarterly journal, monthly parish records 1500s-1839 and local monumental inscriptions.
meetings at three locations and the sale of society and local- See our prize-winning website to get the full picture.
interest publications. Our volunteers provide advice and
guidance at local and regional events. NUNEATON & NORTH
WARWICKSHIRE FAMILY
GLOUCESTERSHIRE FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY
HISTORY SOCIETY W: www.nnwfhs.org.uk
W: www.gfhs.org.uk NNWFHS is the friendly, helpful group serving
T: 01452 524344 everyone researching ancestors in northern
Please visit www.gfhs.org.uk for full details of Warwickshire or for those who wish to meet with other family
the facilities and records available to family historians. Monthly meetings; quarterly journal; wide range of
history researchers. Better still, come and visit us at Clarence publications and data available via FHS-Online. Research assistance
Row, Alvin Street, Gloucester, GL1 3AH, where a team of for far-flung members plus help desks in local libraries. A choice of
volunteers is available to help Monday to Friday from 10am to membership options to suit everyone. Join – and enjoy!
4pm. We also have an extensive reference library of Gloucester-
shire books. SHROPSHIRE FAMILY
HISTORY SOCIETY
HAMPSHIRE W: www.sfhs.org.uk
GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY The society was founded 40 years ago and
W: www.hgs-familyhistory.com primarily provides support to people investi-
Do you reside, or have family connections, gating their ancestors within the county. The
within Hampshire? HGS, run since 1974 by journal is quarterly and meetings with a speaker are held
volunteers who are informed, friendly family monthly. Our library and bookstall are available at these events.
historians and genealogists, has been promoting and We are a friendly society and would be pleased to see or hear
encouraging the study of genealogy and has collected, from you to help you further your research.
transcribed, published and made accessible, in various formats, a
large catalogue of family history records, data and historical SOMERSET & DORSET
documents relating to the county of Hampshire FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY
W:www.sdfhs.org
HUDDERSFIELD & DISTRICT We will help you to find documented facts about
FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY the lives of your former family members which
W: www.hdfhs.org.uk will unlock doors to your own personal family
W: 01484 859229 story. Although we do specialise in Somerset and Dorset and have
With 900 members worldwide, our society extensive records from our two counties, our experienced research
provides advice, research, courses and much volunteers have skills which can help you trace your family roots,
more. We have baptism, marriage, burial and MI transcriptions regardless of where they might have originated.
for most churches in Huddersfield, Dewsbury and District. Our
research room opens six days a week with help from WILTSHIRE FAMILY
experienced volunteers. Find us on Facebook: HISTORY SOCIETY
www.facebook.com/huddersfieldfamilyhistory, Twitter: W: www.wiltshirefhs.co.uk
www.twitter.com/HDFHS01 or through our website. E: membership@wiltshirefhs.co.uk
The focus for people worldwide with Wiltshire
ancestors and for local family historians, all
To advertise in next year’s print edition, or linked by a popular journal, six branches and a society website.
in the monthly digital magazine, please Forty years of advising, collecting and transcribing by our
members has created a wealth of knowledge and information
contact ads@discoveryourancestors.co.uk shared: plentiful data online via our website, and much more in our
downloads, publications and CDs.