Maria ALSTON [2]

  General Notes:

A portrait of Maria dated 1851 and silhouette dated 1837 in the possession of E L Fenn Auckland NZ 1998. Miniature in the possession of the estate of Alison Redman late of Notley Farm Broughton Hampshire.

On Tuesday week, at Nayland, by the Rev H.T. Liveing, Thomas Harrold Fenn, Esq., of Rushall, Wilts, son of Mr Robert Fenn, of Crowfield, to Maria, youngest daughter of the late George Alston, Esq.
Ref: Suffolk Chronicle of 30 May 1840

On the 19th inst at Nayland Thomas Harrold Fenn Esq. of Rushall Wilts. to Marie youngest daughter of the late George Alston esq. of Nayland.
Bury and Norwich Post 27th May 1840.

Weddings
19th inst., at Nayland, by Rev H T Liveing, Thos Harrold Fenn, of Rushall, Wilts., Esq., to Maria, youngest daughter of the late George Alston, Esq.
Ipswich Journal 23 May 1840.

Witness's at their marriage were: Robert Liveing Fenn, Samuel Alston, Margaret Alston. Married by Henry Thomas Liveing Curate of Polstead. They were both aged 24 yrs.
List of guests in order of procession S Alston & Miss M Alston, T* Fenn & Mrs Alston, R Fenn & Mrs Fenn, Misses Alston, Foaker, Liveing, F Liveing, E Sims, E Tiffin, Mr E Liveing & Mrs Harrold, Mr Harrold & Mrs Ambrose, Mr Ambrose & Mrs C Liveing, Mr C Liveing & Miss M Sims, Mr T Ambrose & Miss E Liveing, Mr H Tiffin & Miss Barker, Mr F Sims & Miss M Tiffin, Mr G Sims & Miss H Tiffin, Mr Boldero & Miss S A Liveing Robert Liveing & Anna Liveing.
[* might be J]

Maria was a legatee under the will of her aunt Philadelphia Vanderzee

Maria died 12 days before the 1871 census, many of the family are found gathered at her home in Bear St on census day.

Nayland.
Funeral of Mrs Fenn.
The funeral of this much respected lady (widow of the late T. H. Fenn Esq., surgeon) took place on Saturday last. The shops were all closed, and every feeling of regret and sympathy was shewn. Two sermons were preached on the following Sunday in reference to the melancholy event, in the morning by the Rev C. Smythes, from Romans,viii chapter, 18th verse. In the afternoon by the Rev J. Honeybun, from Revelations, xi chapter, 16th and 17th verses, to a large congregation. The loss of this much esteemed lady will be greatly felt. She was always ready to contribute to any good cause and to relieve the sick and needy. The poor will lament the loss of a very sincere friend. And others who had the privilege of her acquaintance will miss her valued society. Her many acts of charity which for many years have been so freely bestowed will be her best and most lasting monument.
Ref: Ipswich Journal 1 April 1871.

Grave in St James Nayland Churchyard reads following T H Fenn "Also Maria his wife died March 21st 1871 aged 56 "for so he giveth his beloved sleep"

Administration of the effects of Maria Fenn late of Nayland SFK who died 21 Mar 1871 at Nayland granted Bury St Edmunds 20 Apr 1871 to Edward L Fenn MD of Nayland son. Personal effects proved under L10,000

  Research Notes:

Maria may have had a further child Henrietk? who died in infancy.

Research into the persons recorded in the Fenn Family Album.
Rev N K McLeod Rector of St Marys-on-the-Rock Ellon Buchan Scotland. FFA1 & 7
Author of The Churches of Buchan 1890 (PDF copy on file)
Image also of Ellon Parsonage. FFA7.

Mr E F Fisher FFA2 - perhaps Edward F Fisher solicitor of Clare Suffolk 1865.
Mr W H Sams & family FFA4 - perhaps William Henry Sams Solicitor & Commissioner for Oaths High St, Clare Suffolk 1865. Also of Ixworth
Ref: http://historyofsuffolk.co.uk/Clare/Clare1865Traders.shtml

Rev Thomas C Haddon 1861 Census Gt Yarmouth aged 59 a Perpetual Curate bn Olney BKM Wife Emma 46. Daughter Rosa J Haddon aged 16 bn Truthorpe Norfolk

Admiral Milne : http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Admiral_Milne,_French_Navy_-_NARA_-_530089.jpg

Rev Charles Birch FFA5 was the Rector of Wiston (by Nayland SFK) Margaret E A Birch was his daughter.
Ref: http://archive.org/stream/briefaccountofpa00birc#page/n7/mode/2up

Rev William Jones of Nayland, was a man of vast learning and sound piety, and one of the most prominent churchmen of his time.

  Other Records

1. Maria Alston: Images, Born 1815 Died 1871.

2. Census: England, 7 Jun 1841, Rushall WIL. Maria is described as aged 25 not born in Wilshire

3. Maria's Letters: To Catherine Liveing nee Downing, 1870 12 Apr, 1870 29 Apr 1870 24 Nov, Nayland.
Nayland
April 12, 1870
My dear Catherine
I was very glad to see your handwriting again for we have not heard anything about you since you had been at Hastings. I am glad you got through your journey comfortably - I have not been to Hastings - I am glad you you are able to give a good account of yourself Addie and Elizabeth, I am sorry poor Harriet is still
Page 2
troubled with boils - we are expecting Katie home tomorrow I believe the marriage will take place on the 30th of June as Herbert would be sorry to refuse a good appointment should one be offered to him before the expiry of his years leave and they start off all their heavy luggage two months before they sail
Page 3
to China that they may find it there on their arrival.
Isabella I think will stay at Kensington two days with Kate next month to help choose the necessary things for her trousseau - Annie and her baby are both well the little boy enjoys Miss Bottle, Annie cannot supply him with milk Mr Birch baptised him last Thursday Annie was afraid to let Mrs Hunny . . . . . take him as they have still the remains of scarlet fever in their
Page 4
house, the little boy is named George Edward Basil Edw: Isabella and Willie Hand are the godparents we expected Mrs Hunt but she had a bad head ache and unable to travel - Ernest came home on Friday in capital spirits having passed his examination at the College of surgeons, it is a great relief and satisfaction to us all that he has got through - Tom has been much the same the last two or three months
Page 5
he gets out occasionally for a drive and has been once or twice lately to see Mrs Smith of Newton who is poorly - I do not think he has gained much strength lately and cannot do more now than he did a few months since, every now and then he has neuralgic attacks but not too violent as they were in the earlier part of his illness - he soon gets fatigued and I scarcely
Page 6
know if he will be able to undertake the long journey down to Portishead where he proposes going the end of May to stay with me Arkell's(?).
Give our kind love to all your party
Believe me
My dear Catherine
Your affectionate cousin
Maria Fenn
Poor Mr Tweed marries the 10th of next month
Original E L Fenn archive 2005,

Nayland
April 29, (1870)
My dear Catherine
Thank you for your kind letter I suppose this will find you at Queen Anne Street and I hope you are all better for your stay at Hastings - you had nice weather the greater part of your
Page 2
stay there - the dear little baby boy in our house is a great pleasure and comfort to us, he and Miss Mamma sleep in my room and take from me my feelings of loneliness in a great measure - he is a healthy quiet little fellow and is getting now quite plump - one of the last letters my dear Tom wrote was to you just before dinner he asked me if I had answered the question in your letter why Annie did not go to Halifax and finding I had not he said he would add a line*. Although the pain in his face had been troublesome the last few days he had been very cheerful, enjoyed his drive to Newton and a long chat with Mr and Mrs Smith on the Monday - on drive home he told me all he wished to do in regard to Kates marriage and was very pleased with the letter he had just received from Herbert and talked cheer . . . . .
Page 3
of her future. Tuesday evening he looked over Ernest's note books and was very pleased with them and joked with him about his medical knowledge and in an hour and a half afterwards he was seized with apoplexy and died so quietly we did not know when he drew his last breath.
With kind love to all
Believe me my dear Catherine
Your affectionate cousin
Maria Fenn
Original E L Fenn archive 2005
Written in a steady hand on black-edged notepaper.
*See Thomas Fenn's notes.

Nayland
November 24 (1870)
My dear Catherine
I was sorry to hear from the girls that you were beginning to feel sadly before they left Queen Anne Street but I hope that change to Hastings will set you right again. My girls enjoyed their
Page 2
visit to you very much and they both look very much better for the change. Edward is gone up to London for a few hours today - everybody is so healthy here now that he can manage to get away for a short time - if I was not an in-door-patient I should be a profitable one for him as I cannot get rid of my rheumatism or neuralgia it keeps flying about from place to place - the girls thought our Baby very much grown he is a fine boy Annie weighed him the other day - his weight was 21 pounds.
With kind love to all
Believe me
Your very affectionate cousin
Maria Fenn
Original E L Fenn archive 2005, all deposited Bury Archives 2023.
On small black-edged notepaper.

4. Maria & Thomas's Children: Pastel by Sydney Buck, 1851.
L to R. Annie Vanderzee, Edward Liveing, Isabella Frances, Theodore George, Lucy Vanderzee, Catherine Maria.

5. Census: England, 30 Mar 1851, Bear St Nayland SFK. Maria is recorded as a wife aged 35 born Nayland SFK

6. Census: England, 8 Apr 1861, An Inn 3 Halfmoon St Sherborne DOR. Maria is described as a boarder married aged 45 of Independant means born Nayland SFK. Was Maria visiting her son Edward then a pupil at Sherborne School ?

Maria married Dr Thomas Harrold FENN M.R.C.S. [1] [MRIN: 44], son of Robert FENN Capt [198] and Harriet LIVEING [227], on 19 May 1840 in Nayland SFK. (Dr Thomas Harrold FENN M.R.C.S. [1] was born in 1815, baptised on 27 Mar 1815 in Coddenham SFK, died on 13 Apr 1870 in Nayland SFK and was buried in Nayland SFK.)