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For the descendents of Richard Dearie and his son John Russell


Agnes Laurie Rough nee Hogg

13 June1828 –24 March 1898

School mistress and companion.

Compiled by Claire Grey with notes from Agnes’s grandchildren: Agnes and Cecil Rough.

Agnes Hogg was born in Perth Scotland on 13 June 1828.

She can be found on the 1841 census at Belgrave Lodge, Chiswick running a school for girls with her mother Elizabeth and sister Anne.

In 1844 the Reverend Francis Lyte , famous for writing the hymns “Abide with me” and “Praise my soul the king of heaven” wrote her a poem for her 16th birthday.

A copy of the poem was found in Gertrude Fox’s jewel case and a note says that Archie Rough Agnes’ son, gave it to her.

This copy is not written in Lyte’s own handwriting but it is a poem attributed to him. (1)

The family had connections with the Lytes in Brixham in 1844. They were either known to Agnes’ mother or to her grandmother Ann Lidstone.(2)

From 1847 to 1850 she was the ratepayer at Belgrave House; which reverts to being a school run by the Grahams in 1851.

In 1851 at the age of 27 Agnes was still working as a schoolmistress at 36 St Peters Square in Hammersmith. She was living with her mother Elizabeth aged 66, her brother Alfred aged 25 a clerk and her uncle George Hogg aged 66 a jeweller who is deaf. There are five female pupils and two servants.


Blairgowrie

Ten years later Agnes can be found aged 38 on the Scottish census in 1861 as head of the household living with her Uncle George Hogg aged 76 at 4 Union Bank, Blairgowrie.

Her Uncle George appears to be retired. Union Bank was in the centre of Blairgowrie and their next door neighbours at Number 3 are called Soutar. Mr Soutar was a banker who opened the first branch of the bank in 1851. There are pictures of the Soutars in Agnes’s photo. album. Next door to the Soutars was the Temperance Hotel.

Agnes married Archibald Rough on 23 December 1861 in Blairgowrie Perth. They were married by the Reverend William Minniken Minister for St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church at a quarter to 12 AM. Archie had been born in Canongate, Edinburgh on 30 December 1828. He was a commercial traveller residing at No. 18 Leith Walk, Parish of North Leith, Edinburgh. Agnes was living in Blairgowrie at the time. The witnesses were Maria Dobie and Lizzie Rough.

 

They lived at The Alders, Carel Road Blairgowrie.(3)

 

Their son Archie christened Archibald Alfred Graeme St. George Rough was born on 1 November 1862 at quarter to 12 AM at Newton Street, Blairgowrie, Perthshire. The Reverend Minnniken christened him on Sunday 20 November at a quarter to 12 AM

Her uncle George Hogg died on 16 December 1862.

Her husband Archibald died in 1864 “ after suffering 18 months of nervous debility and softening of the brain at Meadowsbank Cottage, Blairgowrie.“ on Monday 18 April at quarter to 12 AM.

“Buried in ? Aliphants ground Blairgowrie Church G ? Saturday 23 at 3pm 1864. He was 35 years and 4 months when he died. Agnes L Rough.”

She organised a photographer to take his picture on his deathbed.




At some point the Cecils moved to London.

There is an Agnes L. Rough living as a boarder aged 43 on the 1871 census for Cleveland Street, Marylebone, London, but this might not be her.

Archie was brought up by his uncle and can found in the 1871 census at Beulah Villa, New Malden, aged 8 living with George Oscar Hogg and his wife Sarah. Archie would grow up to run the wool shop that they owned.

After Lord Cecil's death Agnes lived as a companion with his widow Lady Sophia for 40 years.

 

 

 

 

Agnes had to find some work and looked after Lord Thomas Cecil until he died in 1873.

It appears from the backs of the photographs that he and his wife Lady Sophia lived in Scotland.



Both the 1881 and 1891 census find Agnes living at 6 Granville Place with Lady Sophia Cecil, who had six servants.

Agnes died on 24 March 1898 aged 76 her death registered by her son Archie whose address was Fairlawn, New Malden, Surrey.(4)

She was buried at Kensal Green on 29 March.

Archie purchased the grave on 28 March 1898 and gave his address as 27, Goodge Street Tottenham Court Rd.

Below: Grave number 36957/14/5 at Kensal Green. It is just behind the grave of her brother Oscar. Her former employer Lord Cecil is also buried at Kensal Green.



Sophia’s father the Duke of Richmond was famous for being the man who gave the ball before Waterloo.

On left: Sophia's sister Lady de Ros. The back shows her obituary in 1891.

Notes:

(1) Lyte was born in Ednam, West Mains Scotland in 1793, spent his youth in Liverpool and Sligo, studied at Dublin in 1813, was appointed curate in 1815, married 1819, moved to Devon by 1822 in Lower Brixham, which became his home for rest of his life. He was very ill with TB by 1844. He died in Nice in 1847.

The two poems supposed written by Lyte that were found in Gertrude Fox’s jewel case. They are not written in his handwriting.

Song Addressed to A. L. Hogg on her birthday 13th June 1844

Sweetest daughter of the year; Smiling June, I hail thee here. Hail thee with thy skies of blue, Days of sunshine, nights of dew. Hail thee with thy songs and flowers, Balmy air and leafy bowers, Bright and fragrant fresh and clear, Smiling June I hail thee here. Yet sweet June it is not these Perfumed gales and whispering trees. Blossoms shed with liberal hand, Like a starshower o’er the land, Wares at rest and woods in Tune; ‘Tis not these, delicious June, Gives the such a charm for me, Moves me thus to welcome thee. ‘Tis that Agnes on thy skies Open’d first her brighter eyes; That the flower of all the flowers Woke to life within thy bowers; Gave thy charms a higher tone, Lent thee honours not thy own; And for this thy highest boon, Take thy Tribute, lovely June. Still fair month be thine to shed Choicest blessings o’er her head, Light within her gentle eyes Clear like azure of thy skies. Teach thy breeze with healthful wing Roses o’er her cheek to fling. Bid her still, sweet June, to be Gladsome warm, and bright like thee. -Rev Henry Francis Lyte

Agnes Tune –“Afton Water”- Alex Hume

I saw her in childhood- a fair gentle thing, Like the dawn of the morn or the dews of the spring: The daises and harebells her playmates all day; Herself as lighthearted and artless as they. I saw her again- a fair girl of eighteen, Fresh, glittering with graces of mind and of mien. Her speech was all music; like moonlight she shone; The envy of many, the glory of one. Years fleeted over- I stood at her foot; The bud had grown blossom, the blossom to fruit. A dignified mother, her infant she bore; And looked, I thought, fairer than ever before. I saw her once more- ‘twas the day that she died: Heavens’ light was around her and God at her side; No wants to distress her, no fears to appal- then, I felt, then she was fairest of all. -H. F. Lyte.

 

(2) A note by Gertrude Fox reads” Rev. Francis Lyte was the great friend of Granni Fox’s grandmother Lydstone Mrs. Hogg Brixham Mrs. Lidstone sister a Devon (?) man Muggeridge.”

(3) There is a a book about Blairgowrie at the time that can be read online.

(4) Agnes died without making a will: "BE IT KNOWN, that at the date hereunder written Letters of Administration of all the estate which by law devolves to and vests in the personal representative of Agnes Laurie Rough of 27 and 29 Goodge Street Marylebone in the County of Middlesex deceased, who died on the 24th day of March 1898 at 6 Granville Place Portman Square in the said County a widow and intestate, were granted by Her Majesty’s High Court of Justice at the Principal Probate Registry thereof to Archibald Alfred Graeme St George Rough, of 27 and 29 Goodge Street aforesaid Esquire the natural and lawful Son and only next of kin. Of the said intestate, he having been first sworn to administer the same according to law. Dated the 31st day of May 1898 Gross value of Estate … £ 876. 15. 9 Net value of Personal Estate £ 850. 7. 9

 

Left: Agnes' sister in law Lizzie Rough
Above: Agnes photographed in June 1877 in Regent Street.
Left: Agnes photographed on 6 October 1879 at a studio in Worcester and Malvern.
Above: Agnes photographed in Edinburgh in November 1886.
Perthshire Advertiser 10 May 1866