Isabella Maria GILDER [52]

  General Notes:

Marriage Register St Leonard Shoreditch.
1795 Marriage Number 335.
George Julius of this parish bachelor and Isabel guilder of this parish spinster were married in church by banns this 14th day of September 1795 by me Joseph Rose Minister.
Signed George Julius Isabella Gilder.
In the presence of Sarah Jeffreys and George Limming (Limming could the A parish official as his signature appears frequently as a witness)
Ref: MS 7498/18

At their marriage Isabella was aged 21, George 20. They were married for 71 years.

JULIUS JOTTINGS, JANUARY 1900, No 1.
MARIA LOUISA BREWIN ISABELLA'S GRANDAUGHTER WRITES; "Granny" as she was fondly called by her devoted grandchildren, was gifted with a keen sense of humour, and had a fund of stories to which it was our great delight to listen.

JULIUS JOTTINGS. JANUARY, 1901. No. 4.
OUR FRONTISPIECE. Thanks to Miss E. K. Julius, of Hollowdene, Meadvale, Redhill, who kindly lent us the originals, from which we were able to have these two likenesses of Isabella reproduced, and Mrs. Arabella Parkinson (her eldest granddaughter) for the following :- When young she must have been lovely, with her rich, auburn hair, her blue eyes, her perfect figure, and her sweet voice, so low and musical. She, like her husband, was strictly temperate, her only drink, water.
She had all the qualities then thought the most desirable in her sex. A keeper at home, clever in all domestic matters, she regulated a large establishment, and her sphere of housekeeping extended over the stabling, where she always knew how much corn and hay were required. Even the drains came under her clever management. And yet she was so gentle and sweet, so full of sympathy, that it was to her the young ones brought their troubles, and her big boys would confess to her alone their various scrapes, both at school and on the river.
On Sunday her children and grandchildren used to gather round her, and she used to read and task to them. She often read "The Pilgrim's Progress" to them. We heard once that when in India she boldly caught hold of a large, dangerous snake, which she found in her daughter's (Arabella, afterwards Mrs. Geo. Quilter) cradle, and flung it out of the window.
Whilst Isabella was out driving one day in India, when she came upon a crowd of people. She told her coachman to draw up, and to her horror found it was the funeral pyre of a man, and his widow was going to be burnt alive with his dead body, a custom to which Government has for some years put a stop. When the poor woman felt the flames mounting around her she sprang up in agony, and Isabella beckoned to her; she scrambled on to the carriage, the coachman drove off like the wind, with the angry mob yelling behind, but the woman's life was saved.
Isabella was aged 93 at her death.

The Times, Saturday, Aug 08, 1829; pg. 3; Issue 13987; col A
Human Sacrifices In India. Letter By AN EAST INDIA PROPRIETOR.
Mr & Mrs Julius describe stopping Sati amongst Brahmins, at Arah in
1804, in a letter to the author in 1820.

Richmond,
February 25, 1820.
Mrs Julius, who resided at Arrah (about the year 1804) was informed that near her premises a funeral pile was erected, on which the body of a Brahman was placed, and that a multitude of people were conducting his widow to it. At that moment Mrs Trower, wife of the Collector, called in her carriage, and both agreed to attend the delivery of the wretched victim. They drove as fast as possible to the spot: as the carriage approached, the mob took to flight; but the pile was already in flames. In an agony of mind they walked round the pile. They perceived that the roof had fallen, but not on the body of the deceased, but was resting on the edge of the pile; and that the place prepared for the widow was unoccupied, for the poor creature, availing herself of the opportunity afforded by the confusion, had effected her escape! The ladies found out the hut to which she had fled, and gained admittance. Then they beheld the poor victim, about 20 years old, surrounded by four children, and her baby in her arms. Her eldest son, at some distance, crying. Her hair was very long, hanging down; and oil and ghee were dropping from it to the ground. Her head was covered with sandal dust, and her whole body was highly perfumed. Without the smallest reluctance she consented to accompany Mrs J. and Mrs D. to my house, with all her children. On her arrival, I discovered that her shoulders were very much burnt. On being questioned, she declared that her intended immolation was not a voluntary act, but the consequence of terror from the threads of the Brahmins, who had also given her a large quantities of opium and bang; and that for many hours previous to her arrival at the pile she was in a state of distraction and stupefaction. It appears that the Brahmins, seeing the carriage drive near, hastily threw down the roof, intending it to fall on the pile, and prevent the escape of the victim. But providentially they failed; it rested on its edge, and allowed the poor widow opportunity to fly. This poor woman remained some time with Mrs Trower, and then returned to her own village; but we never heard any subsequent account of her. P Julius.
Ref: Missionary Chronicle for March 1821 pg 124/5.

Deaths.
January 4th at Maze Hill, St Leonards, Isabella Maria, widow of George Charles Julius, Esq, aged 92 years.
Ref: Hastings and St Leonards Observer Tuesday, 15 January 1867

Julius Isabella Maria 16 February 1867
Letters of administration of the personal estate and effects of Isabella Maria Julius late of Maze Hill House St Leonards-on-Sea in the County of Sussex widow deceased who died 4 Jan 1867 at Maze Hill House aforesaid were granted 16 Feb 1867 at the Principal Registry to George Charles Julius of 39 Melville Rd in the city of Edinburgh M.D. the son and one of the Next of Kin of the said Deceased he having been first sworn.
Effects under L2000.
Ref: National Probate calendar.

  Research Notes:

Images of Isabella No's 4 and 5 are reproduced from Julius Jottings No 4 Jan 1901. They were at that time in the possession of Miss Edith Katherine Julius of Hollowdene, Meadvale, Redhill.

Images 1 of Isabella are from paintings in the ownership of Rosemary Julius 2004

John Hill Tree shows Isabella died 11 Jul 1867 aged 92 bur., Hollington SSX.

  Other Records

1. Census: England, 7 Jun 1841, Old Palace Yard Richmond SRY. Isabella is recorded as aged 55 not born SRY

2. Census: England, 30 Mar 1851, Old Palace Yard Richmond SRY. Isabella is recorded as a wife aged 74 born Aspenden Herts

3. Census: England, 8 Apr 1861, Richmond Lodge Farnham SRY. Isabella is recorded as a wife aged 84 born Aspenden Hertfordshire.

4. Isabella Maria Gilder.
Photos of interest:
Marriage certificate 14 Sep 1795, St Leonards Shoreditch

5. Pages from an old Julius Bible: Julius family records.

Isabella married Dr George Charles JULIUS [51] [MRIN: 17], son of William JULIUS [685] and Jane Smith EDWARDS [686], on 14 Sep 1795 in St Leonards Shoreditch Church London. (Dr George Charles JULIUS [51] was born on 6 Jun 1775 in Nicola Town St Kitts, baptised on 12 Aug 1775 in Christ Church Nicola Town St Kitts, died on 6 Nov 1866 in Maze Hill Hse. St Leonards On Sea Eng. and was buried in Church In The Wood Hollington Nr St Leonards.)