52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 36. Working

 MARIAN PYE 1861-1936

 

It may appear a little strange for me to chose a Victorian lady for this weeks theme of work. No less so when you discover that she was the daughter of the Gentleman Farmer Henry Pye, the so called King of the Hundreds and an innovator in his own right. But such men as Henry can be relatively easily researched using internet search engines, whereas someone like his daughter disappears into the ether and needs a bit more of an effort to discover her story.

Those of you who may have discovered my family history stories may have noted that I have labelled some of my posts:- 'All the single ladies', this weeks 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks story also comes under this category. Marian Pye was a spinster with no children, who's story would get lost in time but like other ladies I have written about, Marian has a story of her own to tell.

As I write each of these posts I review all the information I may have and look to see if there is anything new that may have been transcribed to add to the story. So whilst my intention was to write about Marian when I read this weeks theme of 'work' in reviewing new information I discovered that the 'work' theme is more apt than I initially thought.

I wrote about Marian, her siblings and her mother under last weeks 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks theme of 'school' so this is perhaps a sequel to that initial education grounding. Now, I expect you may be considering that she was a major innovator in her own right, if this is the case I am afraid you will be disappointed but I hope it will of interest to someone nonetheless.

Marion was the second daughter and third child of Henry Pye of Hoo, Kent and Elizabeth nee Guy, although there were two other children, Henry and Elizabeth who had died in infancy. Marion was fortunate to have been born into a middle class, fairly affluent family and at the age of 10, is found as a boarding pupil at a girls school in Clapham, London, alongside her elder sister Emmeline.

In the 1881 census, with her schooling complete and now 20 years old, she is shown living with her father, Henry and siblings at St Marys Hall in Hoo, Kent. Her mother, Elizabeth had died a few month previously:- 

Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald 11th Dec 1880

But on the 1891 census, Marion is visiting the Oliver family at Rocky Hill in Maidstone Kent. Josiah Oliver was the head of the house, a physician/surgeon with his wife Jane and their sons Charles P, also a physician/surgeon, Herbert, a medical student, Stanley and their daughter, Edith. Now at first glance you may imagine that Marian could have been unwell and was under the care of Dr Oliver. However Josiah Oliver married Jane Pye, a cousin of Henry, so there is a family connection, Charles P, actually being named Charles Pye Oliver. There is in fact a ward named after him within the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.

Charles Pye Oliver was made Acting Surgeon of the Maidstone Co. Royal Army Medical Corps (volunteers) on 3rd Jan 1891.

The 1891 census was taken on the night of 5th April, the date of an entertainment evening reviewed in the Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser on 11th April 1891, was the 8th , so this is the most likely reason for Marion to be visiting the Oliver family.

The entertainment at the Rochester Corn Exchange, was in aid of the 5th (Maidstone) Division VMSC (Volunteer Medical Service Corps. The second part of the evening was entitled 'The Coming Women,' performed by "Ye Ancient Actors", which prophesised that in the year 1991 women would be at the head of everything and men would be held in subjection. The review reports:- 'The situations in which man will find himself are certainly annoying but looked at from the prosiacal 1891 point of view they cause endless amusement."

The cast included 'Tom Carberry - Dr C Pye Oliver who returns from Shanghai after a period of 10 years' and the Judge - Miss Marian Pye, who had been raised to the Judicial bench by her admiring fellow women.'

www.therochestercornexchange.co.uk

The Corn Exchange was used as a concert hall until 1910.

Another review for the Rochester ADC indicates that this was not the first time Marian had taken to the 'boards'. From The Stage 20th November 1885.

But this is the social side of Marian's life, what of 'work'.

Despite being a reasonably well off young lady, Marian appears to have become a business woman in her own right. The first hint of this is an entry in the 1996 Kelly's Directory for Lincoln.

So what is a Fancy Repository? If using search engines it can be a  bit of a hit and miss as to whether there is an accurate description. The Kelly's directory list Fancy Repositories alongside Berlin Work, an embroidery style.

After various searches I wondered if it was a shop selling 'fancy'goods for a commission for home workers, eg beaded purses, needlepoint cushions etc. A smaller Victorian style Women's Home Industries. 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 29. Fashion. (mypynthdev.blogspot.com)

I had images of Pearl and Ruby Pratt, the sisters who own the Dressmaker/ Haberdashery shop in  Candleford from the book and TV series 'Larkrise to Candleford.' I recall a scene where Queenie from Larkrise tried to sell her home made lace to the sisters but the advent of machine made lace meant she only made pennies from her skill.

 Pearl & Ruby Pratt played by Matilda Ziegler and Victoria Hamilton.

www.bbc.co.uk

It was whilst reviewing my information for this post that I came across this newspaper announcement in the Lincolnshire Chronicle on 16th November 1894:-

This helps authenticate what Marian was offering for sale, but it also indicates another work enterprise in becoming an Agency for Domestic Staff. Over the next few years there are a number of private advertisements in the Lincolnshire Press.

Lincolnshire Chronicle 3rd Sept 1895

Lincolnshire Chronicle 27th Oct 1896

Lincolnshire Echo 23rd Jun 1899

15 Bailgate is in the historical part of Lincoln close to the cathedral, it is listed as a Grade II, however the frontage was changed in the early 20th century.

historic england

In 1899 the freehold to the building was offerred for sale at auction. This advertisement appearred in the Lincolnshire Chronicle 21st April 1899.

 

This shows that Marian was paying £40 per annum. On the 8th May 1899 the Sheffield Independant reports that the Lot acheived a price of £850.

However by the 1901 Kellys Trade Directory 15 Bailgate was now in the hands of the Misses L & C Brummitt, Toy and  Fancy dealers:

Directory of City of Lincoln, 1901

At the time of the 1901 census, Marian is listed as a visitor to 41 North Road in New Sleaford, Lincolnshire.

There are no further indications of whether Marian continued to run the Above Hill Registry after 1899 and after the 1901 census I have been unable to find any mention of her until the 1911 census, where once again she is living in Kent at St Helens Sharnal Street, High Halstow. She is living alone in a 9 room house, living on 'private means.' She does not appear to have any 'live in' staff.

Her father, Henry Pye had died at St Mary's Hall in Hoo in June 1909, so Marion may have returned to Kent around that time. As a quarter share beneficiary of his estate, Marian received approx £7,000, equating to approx £800,000 in 2021.

Although Marian is in Kent at the time of 1911, she returned to Lincoln and is found as a private resident living at 18 Lindum Rd, (a) again close to the cathedral in 1913.

(a) (b)

(a) rightmove (b)historic england

In the 1919 Directory she has moved to 19 1/2 Lindum Road, now 19A (b)

And this is where we leave Marian, until her death on 12th March 1936. Despite living in Lincolnshire for a number of years she again was living at St Helen's, Sharnal Street, although she actually died at Denmark House, Rochester. Leaving an estate of net value £10,799 or just under £800,000 in 2021, almost the same sum as she received from her father.

Her bequests were:-

£100 to Owen English, farmer and executor

£2000 to 'my dear sister Edith Louisa Hitchcock as a small token of appreciation for all her goodness to me.'

£1000 to Merchant Seamans Hospital, Greenwich

£2000 to 'my 3 cousins, Florence, Violet and Grace, the daughters of my Aunt Sarah Elizabeth Guy (Adams)'

£300 to 'my cousin Emma Frances Richards'

£300 to Oswald Ersser

£500 to 'Florence Margaret Hendy, if still in my service and the furniture, carpet and bedstead in my small bedroom.'

£100 to 'Julius H Fairbeard, if still in my service.'

£100 to 'my kind friend Emily Jewell

£100 to Ada Maugham

The house, cottage, land and furniture to be sold and the money and residue of her estate to be shared between her brother Henry, her sisters Emmeline and Edith and her niece Helen Maria King.

All other personal effects to her sister to be disposed of directed.