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| Mary Ann Diggory in later years |
After the thrill of unpicking the secret of Mary Ann's connection with Mary Downes in last month's post, I set-to with great determination to see what other gems I could crack.
Murrell Family
I decided first to focus on the Murrell family. Annie, as Mary Ann was generally known, had lived with the Murrell family for several years.I'd learned from the Registration of Nurses records, that she was living with them at 68 Foregate Street, Shrewsbury in 1937 and was still resident in 1940, after they'd moved to The Gateway, Monkmoor, Shrewsbury. By 1943 she'd moved to her own house at 18 Woodfield Avenue, Shrewsbury, where she remained until she went into a nursing home in the 1980s, towards the end of her life.
Pontesbury connection
So how did she know the Murrell's? As nothing obvious linked her to Edwin Foley Murrell, and I'd drawn a blank on any mention of Annie in his will, I decided to concentrate on his wife, Alice Maud and discovered her maiden name was Randles. Alice's father was Edward Randles, a draper, who was born in Pontesbury in 1838.The Pontesbury connection was interesting as Annie's mother, Eliza Roberts, had been born in Pontesbury in 1841, as had her brother, Jonathan in 1845 and her father, Timothy Roberts, in 1813. What's more, Alice Murrell moved to a nursing home called Cliffdale, also in Pontesbury, before she died in 1954.
Alice Murrell left a will and I sent for a copy, thinking, again, that Annie may have been mentioned in some way, giving a clue to their association. But no, Alice's beneficiaries were her two sons, her daughters-in-law and her sister, Marian Randles.But what about Cliffdale House? Had she chosen it because of her family connections in Pontesbury? Or did she perhaps have links to Cliffdale House itself?
Medical link?
Cliffdale is currently a care home and their website told me that it had been a private residence up until 1945. I looked it up on the 1911 census and discovered a surgeon lived there, called Jameson. His first name was listed as Alfred but you might agree from looking at the entry below, that it doesn't look much like Alfred to me! (I'm still trying to work out what it is.)
But whatever his name, was this a link? Did Cliffdale, having a medical connection, have anything to do with Annie becoming a nurse?
And what about the rest of the Randles family? Did the Roberts family and the Randles know one another in Pontesbury? Or was this merely a coincidence?
I'm currently working my way through both families to see if I can tie them up in any way.
Then I plan to turn my attention back to those years after Annie left home but before she began her nursing training in Surrey in 1912. Where was she back then? I still haven't found her on the 1911 census. Was she hiding under an assumed name....?
Perhaps if I gather enough tenuous links, and with a fair wind and the odd lucky break, I might eventually manage to join up the dots! I'll keep you posted.
I'm currently working my way through both families to see if I can tie them up in any way.
Then I plan to turn my attention back to those years after Annie left home but before she began her nursing training in Surrey in 1912. Where was she back then? I still haven't found her on the 1911 census. Was she hiding under an assumed name....?
Perhaps if I gather enough tenuous links, and with a fair wind and the odd lucky break, I might eventually manage to join up the dots! I'll keep you posted.
Hi Wendy,
ReplyDeleteI look forward to your family history updates.
It's possibly Wilfred Jameson - died December 1930 leaving a wife and daughter, so presumably the widow was the resident until 1945. He had practised in Pontesbury for 31 years. There's an obit. on google from the BMJ. Must admit it doesn't look like a W! It's almost as if the Enumerator was about to write 'Jameson' then realised the surgeon had given his surname and not his first name.
Paulette
Hi Paulette.
DeleteThanks for your info. That's most helpful. Yes, I think you're right. It has to be Wilfred (even though, I agree, it's a very weird version!) as he appears on the 1901 census and going on your information, he must have only just arrived at that time. I'll look out for the obit.
I've just been reading a couple of local newspaper articles about Dr Jameson and I'm interested in his connection with some sort of Nursing fund which his wife was involved with. I'm on the look-out for clues to the reason behind Mary Ann's decision to become a nurse. Looks like an intriguing lead!
Glad you enjoy the updates!
Wendy :-)
Hello Wendy. I am sorry I know nothing about your Mary Ann Diggory, but I have been very intrigued by two stained glass windows in Pontesbury church dedicated to the memory of Mary Edyth Margery Jameson who died in 1931. The windows were donated in Mary’s memory by the passengers of the RMS Franconia and she died in Buenos Aires. Apparently she was the nurse on the ship. Mary Jameson was the daughter of Wilfred Jameson. She had been born in Derbyshire but lived in Pontesbury from the age of 3 years old. She must have made an impression on the passengers of the Franconia if they were willing to contribute to the stained glass windows. It is another nursing connection for you. Possibly your Annie had met Mary Jameson at Pontesbury. From Pat
ReplyDeleteWhat a great story, Pat! It would be lovely to think Annie had met Mary, wouldn’t it? I was reading recently that there was a local scheme to pay for women to receive nurse training. I need to investigate further! Thanks for your comment.
DeleteIn an amazing coincidence, someone else has been in touch this week about Mary’s story! They’d love to make contact with you, Pat, so if you’re happy to, please email me at wendy@wendypercival.co.uk
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