52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 48. Strength.

 FLORENCE STEWART PERRY nee ANDREWS 1882-1957

Kindly shared by JP

If you have read any of my previous posts you will have perhaps noticed, I write a lot about the women in my tree. In the most part this is because many focus on the males in their tree, their occupations, their military service etc, but there are often 'strong' women beside them, caring for their children, managing on what money may or may not be coming in and often undertaking sideline home work which was so badly paid.

One of those women was my Great Grandmother Eliza Pitts, but I have already written about her under the theme, 'Loss'. So today I am writing about another lady, the wife of my half Grand-Uncle, Florence Stewart Perry nee Andrews wife of John Arthur Perry.

When writing his autobiographical journal, 'By Devious Paths' John A. makes this dedication:- 

Dedicated to the constant and faithful companion on my Pilgrimage, 'By Devious Paths

MY WIFE.

Writing this I am well aware that there are grandchildren that have met and grown up, knowing their grandmother and I am a distant relative, using factual documents and information shared with me to write about Florence, from my perspective I believe that despite John A's observation that his wife was 'delicate in health,' I can only suggest that despite this Florence was made of 'sturdy stuff,' dealing with many difficulties, changes and adventures within her life.

Florence Stewart Andrews was born on the 26th June 1882, the eldest child of Daniel James and Mary Jane Andrews nee Stace. Daniel was a Sanitary Inspector and was a work colleague of my Great Grandfather, the father of John Arthur, George Arthur Perry.  It was whilst the Andrews family were spending the August Bank Holiday at 'The Laurels', Fingringhoe in Essex, the home of the Perry family, that Florence and John first met. John was on leave from working at sea. They remembered each other from childhood, but John was now smitten with Florence, who he described as 'of a sweet disposition but rather retiring nature.'

Their courtship was a bit of a rollercoaster, with Florence unsure of whether John was a 'player' with a 'girl in every port,' alongside issues related to their and their parents spiritual beliefs reulted in an on/off relationship. But eventually with a lot of 'will they won't they,' the couple married at Willesden Baptist Church on 23rd December 1903. However, whilst the couple celebrated their marriage, Florence's young sister, Nellie (Elinor) was seriously ill. However the couple spent a couple of days at 'The Laurels' for their honeymoon.

John had now left the sea and had taken on various work, often organised by his father, but John felt a vocation to the church and had been 'preaching' at various Mission Halls and churches. Prior to his marriage he had applied to 'Pastoral College,' however on his marriage he had to rescind this application. However, wanting to follow this vocation, he found himself associated with a preacher, who was less than honest with funds. John and Florence found themselves, homeless and with only enough money for Florence's train fare back to London.

Florence found herself living in various parts of London, where John obtained Mission work. Their first child, Lilian was born at The Vinery, St John's Wood, a property associated with John's father, George Arthur's business, in 1905. The small family then moved near to Dartford for a year, whilst John worked at the Wilmington Mission. After they left Wilmington, John opened a small stationary stop, however lack of money meant the venture failed and the young family moved back to London and lived with Florence's family. Meanwhile John sought various types of work including working away, at Hebdon Bridge, as a porter on the Great Northern Railway, however this job took him away from the family and he did not make enough money after paying his own rent to send to his wife, who by now had given birth to their first son Charles Haddon Spurgeon in 1907.

John returned to London and took on various work until he was appointed Mission Pastor at 'Bethel' Baptist Chapel in Poplar. The stipend was only £25 per annum. Their living conditions were 'insanitary' and it was at this point that Florence sufferred a nervous breakdown, necessitating admission to Hanwell Asylum on 3rd April 1908.

Hanwell Asylum also known as St Bernards

www.countyasylums.co.uk

There is no indication as to who looked after the children, but it is most likely to have been Florence's parents. In the meantime John resigned from his Pastoral work and engaged in various other work but there were still times where he had no work at all. John rented rooms above a restaurant in St Johns Wood Terrace, for the family to live when Florence was considered well enough to return home, which was granted, eight months later, on 14th December 1908.

Work was still a problem for John when their 3rd child, a daughter, was born in the New Year of 1911. The census shows John and his family living in Paddington, he gives his occupation as Painter/Builder/Architect alongside preaching at various halls and churches. However this work ended too and John found himself disillusioned with life in the UK and decided that the next chapter for his family was to move to Australia.

However there was not enough money to pay even one of the fares to Australia, so calling upon his previous experience he obtained a passage workers job, engaged at the highest scale of 30shillings a month. On the 17th November 1911, John reported for duty on the SS Ballarat. Accomodation had been offered by Pastor Samuel Banks and his wife for Florence and their 2 daughters, but the young Charles stayed with Florence's family.

 SS Ballarat

http://www.mastermariners.org.au/

Once John reached Melbourne, he sought lodgings and having found work, he nominated his wife and children under the State Immigration Scheme. However there were delays in the family reuniting as there was a dock strike in England. It was during this extended wait that John and Florence's son Charles, was hospitalised suffering with Scarlet Fever.

Fortunately Charles recovered and on the 9th July 1912, Florence boarded the SS Beltana, on it's maiden voyage, with her 3 children to be reunited with her husband.

 SS Beltana

https://passengers.history.sa.gov.au/

All this information comes from John's perspective as he was the one who recorded events in his journal, but it is possible to imagine, how all these events must have impacted on Florence, initially having to bring up her children with no consistancy in her husbands employment or her without her husband by her side whilst finding work.

To me, it shows Florence's strength, despite having been hospitalised with mental health problems, a few years later she was once again alone, looking after her daughters, her son was sick in hospital and she was unsure when she would be reunited with her husband and yet she endured.

The family's move to Australia commenced a new chapter in John and Florence's lives. A further 5 children were born. Life wasn't easy but they made their new life in a new country work. Florence continued to be supportive to her husband as he continued to move around in order to obtain work and provide some stability and a life for his family, whilst also preaching within the Baptist Ministry. In 1953, Florence and John celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary. Florence predeceased John, dying in 1957 aged 75.