Margaret Hermione Playford FENN [1600]

  General Notes:

Margaret H Fenn
Mother's Maiden Name:Benskin
Registration Year:1913
Registration Quarter:Oct-Nov-Dec
Registration district:Midhurst Sussex
Volume:2b
Page:605

After her schooling, Margaret, "after drifting around" taught herself typing and shorthand, early in the war, "having reasonable French", she applied for a job as a secretary at the British Consul General, in Rabat (French) Morocco, later transferring to a position with the Red Cross in Casablanca. She met Webster an officer in the U.S. Army, they fell in love and were married in the Quaker tradition. Margaret suggests there have been few Quaker weddings in Muslim Casablanca. However it was wartime and a time of great uncertainty, Webster was moved to Italy, he returned to Casablanca for Margaret taking her to Italy "without papers" to a job again with the Red Cross. Later when Webster was moved back to the U.S. Margaret remembers she had to ask a favour of her old employers to have her documents put in order to follow him.

1939 Register
Flat 25 Hillside Court Finchley Road , Hampstead, London, England
Margaret H P Fenn 05 Sep 1913 Single Female Shorthand Typist

Margaret Hermione Playford Fenn
Age:30
Birth Year:abt 1914
Birth Place:Midhurst, Sussex, England
Spouse's Name:Raymond Webster Hilles Jr
Spouse's Age:32
Spouse's Birth Year:abt 1912
Spouse's Birth Place:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Marriage Date:8 Jan 1944
Marriage Place:The Hotel de Ville, Casablanca, Morocco
Consular Location:Casablanca, Morocco
File Number:133
Certificate in File:Yes

Mrs R. Webster Hilles Jr.,
Villa No. 7,
1400 Waverley Rd,
Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, 19035.
Dear Jeanette and Edward,
I expect you home by now and I hope you really enjoyed your six-week trip to the eastern part of the USA - inspite of the fierce heat. It was good of you to spare the time to visit us and we all enjoyed you both so much and only wish we didn't live half a world apart.
I want to thank you sincerely again for bringing the great old tapestry. Wendy has a French friend who deciphered and translated the French and it turned out to be the entire Lord's Prayer - isn't that fascinating?! I am so happy to have it, Edward, and I shall treasure it. Now I must look up in the air and sisters book and find out which great great (?) Grandmother did this clever piece of work.
I am enclosing the photo of Richard but I'm afraid it is too large for your purpose. Wendy's photographer couldn't make it in a smaller. Also enclosed in this letter is a photo of us all.
I do hope will all meet again one day while I'm still breathing!
This comes with much love and so many thanks to you both for such a wonderful evening.
Margaret

  Other Records

1. Margaret & Webster Hilles: With their grandaughter Elise, 19 Jul 1979, Philadelphia PA.USA.

2. Hilles & Fenn family gathering: Visit by Edward & Jeanette Fenn to Gladwyne PA, 2001, Philadelphia PA.USA.
L - R David, Susan, Margaret, ELFenn, Wendy, Bill, Peter, Elise (Lisa)

3. Margaret Fenn: 2002 Xmas Card, 11 Dec 2002, Gladwyne PA USA.
11 Dec 2002.
I was so glad to hear from you, dear Edward, and know all is well with you and Jeanette.
You have done wonders with the history of the Fenn family! Have you any more trips to England planned?
All is OK here, we live from day to day and try not to think of the possibilities. I am happy still to be breathing! The family are all going to Key West on Christmas Day for 10 days. I am having them here for a feast or family supper on Christmas Eve. My fingers are well crossed, I haven't cooked for years.
Sight is awful so please excuse my mistakes!
This comes with love to you both and have a wonderful happy Christmas and 2003.
Please keep in touch
Marg H

Margaret married Raymond Webster HILLES Jnr [1601] [MRIN: 523] on 8 Jan 1944 in Hotel de Ville Casablanca Morocco. (Raymond Webster HILLES Jnr [1601] was born on 25 Nov 1911 in Germantown PA USA, died on 23 Mar 1993 in Gladwyne PA USA and was buried in Haverford Friends Meeting Hse..)