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For the descendents of Richard Dearie and his son John Russell

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Mary Madeleine (May) Fox

Born 21 Jan 1867, 7 Clephane Road Islington

Died 26 Aug 1943, Cranford, Compton Avenue, Lilliput, Parkstone, Dorset

Married 26 April 1887 Henry Mossop at the Parish Church in Beckenham, Kent.

 

May's parents were Annie Dearie and Charles Fox

May is on the 1871 census with her parents at 7, Clephane Road Islington: Charles Fox aged 32, wife Annie, 29, daughter Annie (Gertie) aged 7, Charles, 6, Mary (May) 4 and Robert, one with two servants. The first four children were baptised at St Paul’s Church Balls Pond. Her younger brother Frank was born in 1872 and christened in Blackheath. It is not known if the family lived there before moving to Stoke Newington. By the 1881 census the family were living at Roslyn House, Lordship Road, Stoke Newington. Charles Fox, upholsterer, 42, Annie 38, Gertrude 17, Charles J. 16, May 14, Robert, 11, Frank, 8 a visitor called Josephine Wright aged 63 and three servants.

Above: Clephane Road, Islington, before the houses were demolished. Number 15 nearest to the camera. They had large gardens at the rear. Thanks to David Ayre for the photograph

Above: May photographed at T. C. Turner's who had studios at 10, Barnsbury Park and 17, Upper Street, Islington.

By 1887 the family had moved south of the river to Bromley. They can be found in 1891,1901 and 1911 on the census at Roslin 14, Rectory Road Beckenham, now also demolished. Right: part of the Fox family outside the front door of Roslin. Charlie Fox stands in front of his father. The blurred animals were called Mousetrap, Sandy and Bruce according to the notes on the back. Her father Charles was described as mean and strict. He wouldn't let the children play with their friends, so her mother would let them out of the back door. The family had servants, at least a housemaid and a cook.

Left and right: May photographed by T. C. Turner at 10 Barnsbury Park, N.

Below: May photographed by Lavender in Bromley.

Her brother Charles fell in love with a Jewish girl but his father refused to let him marry her. He was sent to Australia where he committed suicide on 6th March 1891. At some point, possibly in protest, her brother Robert left the country and went to live on a ranch in America becoming a cowboy. Frank married in 1897. The 1901 census for Roslin shows Charles Fox aged 62 living with his wife Annie aged 58 with their daughter Annie Gertrude aged 37 and Robert aged 31. Robert married Nellie Smart in 1902.

Their first daughter was Madeleine Dearie born on 6 June 1888 at "Iddesleigh" Earlsfield Road and baptised on 11 July at St Marks in Battersea, by the vicar A C Woodhouse. Kathleen was the next daughter born on 13 June 1889 also at Iddesleigh and baptised on 31 July at St Marks, Battersea by the curate A C Wilder. Hilda Gertrude was born on 15 March 1892 at "Montrose" Earlsfield Road and baptised on 31 May at St. Anne's, Wandsworth by E. G. Hall. It's not clear if the house has been renamed or they have moved to another in Earlsfield Road.

Right: Madeleine and Freda, by Poole and Co. 16, Upper St, Putney

By 1911 they had moved to the The Grange, Ford Bridge Road, Ashford, Staines. May was happy when they lived in Putney but Henry insisted on buying a bigger house with a billiard room. By 1911 they had moved to The Grange. Every Thursday afternoon Henry would have a billiard party. May had to prepare the food and his daughter Hilda would be roped in to hand round the sandwiches. Most evenings Henry spent with his friends drinking and smoking. May's mother Annie and her sister Gertie tried to “tick Henry off” about his behaviour. The Grange backed onto a golf course and Henry was fond of golf.

By the 1901 census they lived at 12 Oakhill Road, Putney. In the family bible their four daughters' birthdays are entered. May didn't want to have any more children but Theodora Grayham was born here 12 years after Hilda on 19 June 1904 and baptised on 21 July at Holy Trinity in Wandsworth.

Right: Madeleine with May a photograph by Fredk Hollyer of 9 Pembroke Sq Kensington.

Left: Madeleine

Right: Madeleine and Freda. Photo by S. J. Poole & Co. 116, Upper Richmond Rd. Putney.

Right: Madeleine about 1889

At the age of 20 May married solicitor Henry Mossop on 26 April 1887 at the parish church in Beckenham. May is supposed to have married him out of pique, because an eligible and attractive man had been "playing with her affections. So to teach him a lesson she agreed to marry Henry, thinking he would come back but he never did. The pictures below taken at the studio of Mendelssohn, 41 New Bond St W, may have been wedding photographs.

When they were married they lived at 15, Earlsfield Road Wandsworth, where they are recorded on the 1891 census with daughters Madeleine and Kathleen, later known as Freda.

Right: From left: Freda, Madeleine, May and Hilda.

Right: May with Hilda

Right: Freda, Hilda and Madeleine. about 1893 by S J Poole and Co 116 Upper Richmond Road, Putney.

May had little love for Theo and gave her to her sister Gertie for extended periods. Theo seen here being held by Gertie with Hilda standing behind her. Gertie greatly enjoyed the experience of caring for and educating Theo.

Left: Hilda at Beckenham and right Hilda on holiday at Walberswick in August 1905 when she was 14.

When she was young May liked painting. Her mother Annie told her that her greatest gift was to appear like a princess. She liked to arrange flowers and did them beautifully, but the she never really had any interests. She was artistic but never stuck to anything. The women in the family were very bright but they had little education and no work to occupy them.

Right: The only photograph that has been found which shows May with Henry is at their daughter Madeleine's wedding in 1909.

Right: Freda, May and Hilda in 1912. Hilda was married in 1914. Left: May and Theo.

Left: When Madeleine and George returned from the East in 1911 they were able to take this picture of four generations: May Mossop nee Fox, John Russell, Madeleine Russell nee Mossop and Annie Fox nee Dearie. The photo is dated 1913. Her own photograph album includes many photographs of John her first grandson.

Right: Pictures taken during WW1 in June 1915. May's album contains pictures of family and friends and visits including to Streatley in 1914.

Her mother Annie died in 1916 at the age of 74.

Her second photograph album starts in 1932 with photographs of Salcombe, Fowey and Polpelo. There are also pictures of New York and Portmerion. Ship's passenger lists show her visiting New York with daughter Theo and Theo's husband Nicholas Johns on 15 August 1930 and returning from the New York trip on 14 October 1930 with "Bracken Bank", London Road, Bromley as the John's home address. She eventually moved to Poole in Dorset. The 1935-39 phone directory places her at Cranford, Compton Ave. Lilliput. Tel: Canford Cliffs 496. Here she was nearer her sister Gertie who had moved to Keyhaven after the death of their father. She could also visit her children: Madeleine at Lymington and Freda who lived on the Isle of Wight. Hilda, when she returned from the Eastin 1922, lived first in the Isle of Wight and then at Southbourne, and finally at Canford Cliffs very near May who lived with her housekeeper at Cranford, 5, Compton Ave., Lilliput, Parkstone, Dorset.

Henry took a voyage to the East in 1916 in the middle of the war, visiting their daughter Hilda in Kuala Lumpur on the way. He wrote back very affectionate letters to May which seem at odds with what we know of their relationship.

Henry died in the flu epidemic at the end of the war and she was left independent and quite well off. She is still on the electoral register at The Grange for 1919.

A number of holidays and visits feature in May's first photo album including Port Kingston in 1909, Norway in 1910, Whitley Bay in 1912 with George and Madeleine, and Burnham Beeches in 1912.

Henry's detailed will left May with income from a trust fund of £15,446.13.1. His list of possessions left to her specifically mentioned his billiard table. The only possession that the family knows about was his folding camera which May gave to Hilda. May's brother Frank died in 1922 and her father Charles on 10 April 1924. In 1928 she and Freda went on a round cruise from Liverpool of Lisbon, Madeira and the Canary islands. Her address is given as Roslin, Rectory Road, Beckenham while Freda's is Hill Cottage, Godshill, Isle of Wight. When Henry died she may have moved back home.

May's later photo album contains pictures of Hilda and her children; Theo and Nicolas Johns; her brother Robert's children: Honor and Truda; her sister Gertie and many dogs. The Mossops do not appear, although Lillie who may be Lillie Mossop is in her last address book as are some "Cross" entries. (Henry's mother's maiden name.)

The probate record was at Llandudno granted to her daughter's husbands: George Dearie Russell, ironfounder and Nicholas Allen Johns, chemical manufacturer. Her effects were £2782 17s 6d. The will gives details of some her friends and the causes she supported as well as her relatives.

Left: Hilda, Theo and May.

May and Henry's marriage was said to be unhappy and Henry to be difficult. Neither of them got on well with the other, they were both very different characters. Henry had wanted sons and they had four daughters. He had little sense of humour. He was stickler for punctuality. Meals were at one o’clock. Henry would stand with his watch in his hand. If the bell didn't ring on time he swore at his wife for inefficiency. His youngest daughter Theo was afraid of him.

Right: with grandson Bobby Russell at Freshwater on the Isle of Wight, from Hilda's album.

 

Above: Pru, Anne, & Bobby Russell with May & Freda Mossop and Truda Fox from Hilda's album. Taken outside Red Gables, Hilda's house at Canford Cliffs.

Right: Pru with May and Jolly the dog in 1938.

She looks fashionable and self possessed in the photographs.

May's silver card case made by Minshull & Latimer. The hallmark is a "c" making it 1902 or 1927. It was reused by her daughter Hilda whose writing can be seen on the reusable section on the left.

Holding it feels like holding a mobile phone with its solid smoothness and rounded corners.

This may be "Cranford" at 5 Compton Avenue. It is not captioned but has a similar style to those in the street today. It looks as if number five has been rebuilt.

May's will

The executors were her two sons in law:  George Dearie Russell, of East Grove, Lymington in the County of Hants Ironfounder and Nicolas Allen Johns of Brackenbank, London Road, Bromley in the County of Kent Chemical Manufacturer two of the Executors named in the will. The third was her daughter Freda Kathleen Russell Parkinson. The first three pages deal with a trust fund set up by her father Charles Fox on 10 April 1924. It authorised her trustees to “stand possessed of her share” and give her daughters a fourth equal share or if they died give it to their children. Page 4:

7.  I give free of duty to my daughter the said Madeleine Dearie Russell and Hilda Gertrude Russell or if only one of them shall survive me to such one all my jewellery with the request that they or she will dispose of the same in accordance with any existing or future Memorandum written or signed by me and deposited with this my Will or left among my papers at my death and in default of and so far as any such Memorandum shall not extend with the request that they or she will dispose of the same as near as may be equally between all my daughters living at my death including themselves or herself And I declare that the foregoing expressions of my wishes as to the disposal of the said articles shall not create any trust or legal obligation

8.   I make the following specific bequests free of duty-

To my daughter the said Madeleine Dearie Russell the Grandfather Clock in the lounge and the little satin-wood table with three drawers also in the lounge and the China figure “Reading Girl”

To my daughter the said Hilda Gertrude Russell the picture by Mary Hagarty entitled “An Old Gateway” and the Escritoire with china cupboard above and Queen Anne Chair covered in blue tapestry

To my daughter the said Freda Kathleen Russell Parkinson my round mahogany table in the lounge and my polished wooden box with brass corners which I do not wish to be sold / also Tweed covered easy chair

To my daughter the said Theodora Graham Johns the dressing table in my room and marble figure on pedestal “Love & the Lion”

To my son-in-law the said George Dearie Russell my set of carved ivory Chessmen

To my son-in-law the said Nicholas Allen Johns my Armchair covered with tapestry

To my grandson John Russell such of my books as he may select and the pictures by Croxford in the spare room

To my brother Robert Frederick Fox and Nell his wife or if one of them shall predecease me then to the survivor of them my large blue plate hanging on wall in dining room

To Madeleine Johns is my Standard Lamp

To Marjorie Johns the oil painting by ?Pennie

To my maid Daisy Hodgkin the contents of her room except the pictures therein

To my cousin Ethel B. Clark two of my dresses and one of my coats

To Ethel and Florence Moore some of my wearing apparel

To Gertrude Hamblin Fox any two articles of domestic use or ornament or personal effects that she would like to have not hereby otherwise specifically bequeathed

To each of the children of my said daughter Hilda Gertrude Russell living at my death something from amongst the remainder of my personal effects as they will value

To my sister Gertrude Annie Fox such of my personal belongings as she may like to have other than such things as are hereby otherwise specifically bequeathed

And I declare that in the event of any question arising with regard to the specific requests hereby made the decision of my executors shall be final and binding

9.   I bequeath the following pecuniary legacies free of duty videlicet

To my sister the said Gertrude Annie Fox the sum of One thousand pounds

To my niece and Goddaughter Honor Fox the sum of One hundred pounds

To my sister in law Lillie Withers the sum of One hundred pounds

To my brother-in-law Walter Mossop the sum of Fifty pounds

To my cousin the said Ethel B. Clark the sum of Fifty pounds

To Miss Housden the sum of Fifty pounds

To my maid the said Daisy Hodgkin the sum of Fifty pounds

To my friend Julia Cochrene Shellow the sum of Ten pounds

To my old maid Mrs Rose Holloway the sum of Ten pounds

To my old cook and friend Harriet Evans the sum of Ten pounds

To my old maid Mrs Kate West of the sum Five pounds

To my old Gardener William Carpenter (now living with his daughter Mrs Fishpool) the sum of Five pounds

To the Parkstone Sea Scouts Five pounds

10.   I give free of duty to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children To the Society for the Assistance of Ladies in Reduced Circumstances of Lancaster House in Malvern To the “Warspite” (Training Ship) and to Saint Dunstan's (for Blinded soldiers) the sum of twenty five pounds each And I declare that the receipt of the person who professes to be the Treasurer or other proper officer for the same being of the said respective Societies or Institutions shall be a sufficient discharge to my executors for the said respective legacies

11.   I give devise and appoint all my property not otherwise disposed off by this my Will to my Trustees Upon trust that my Trustees shall call in and convert into money the same in such manner and at such time or times as they may deem expedient and with full power to perform such sale and conversion for so long as they shall think And shall out of the moneys produced by such sale and conversion pay my funeral and testamentary expenses and debts and the legacies bequeathed by this my Will or any Codicil hereto and the duty on any legacy bequeathed free of duty and shall stand possessed of the residue of the said moneys In trust for all or any  my daughters or daughter living at my death if more than one in equal shares as tenants in common Provided always that if any daughter of mine shall die in my lifetime leaving a child or children living at my death who being male shall attain the age of twenty one years or being female attain that age or marry such child or children shall take by substitution if more than one in equal shares and as tenants in common the share in my residuary estate which such deceased daughter of mine would have taken if she had survived  me and allowed a vested interest

In Witness thereof I have hereunto set my hand to this and the six preceding pages this twenty seventh day of November one thousand nine hundred and thirty five. Signed by the above named Mary Madeleine Mossop as her last Will in our presence both present at the same time who at her request and in the presence of each other have heretofore subscribed our names as witnesses

W T Reeve Finsbury House Blowfield Street EC2 Solicitor

Winifred H Richford Clerk to Mr W T. Reeve

Signed. Mary Madeleine Mossop

Codicil 1 I, MARY MADELEINE MOSSOP of Cranford, Compton Avenue, Lilliput in the County of Dorset Widow hereby declare this to be a Codicil to my Will dated the Twenty-seventh day of November One thousand nine hundred and thirty -five IN addition to the legacies bequeathed by my said Will

I BEQUEATH the sum of twenty five pounds (£25) free of duty to my niece Gertrude McNeill in affectionate remembrance And in other respects I CONFIRM my said Will.

 IN WITNESS thereof I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of April one thousand nine hundred and thirty seven.

SIGNED by the above named MARY MADELEINE MOSSOP as a First Codicil to her will in the presence of us both present at the same time who in her presence in at her request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses: -

N.  Fox Hall Croft Letchworth, Herts (married)

D G Hodgkin 5 Compton Avenue Parkstone Dorset Housekeeper

Signed Madeleine Mary Mossop (M.M.) May Madeleine Mossop

Codicil 2 I, MARY MADELEINE MOSSOP of Cranford, Compton Avenue, Lilliput in the County of Dorset Widow hereby declare this to be a Second Codicil to my Will dated the Twenty seventh day of November one thousand nine hundred and thirty five

IN addition to the legacies bequeathed by my said will and the First Codicil thereto I BEQUEATH the sum of Fifty Pounds  (£50) free of duty to my brother Robert Frederick Fox AND in all other respects I CONFIRM my said will and First Codicil dated the Twelfth day of April one thousand Nine hundred and Thirty seven.

IN WITNESS thereof I have hereunto set my hand this 13th day of March one thousand nine hundred and forty.

SIGNED by the above MARY MADELINE MOSSOP as a Second Codicil to her will in the presence of us both present at the same time who in her presence in at her request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses: -

Prudence M. Russell Red Gables Canford Cliffs Dorset student

D G Hodgkin Cranford Compton Avenue  Parkstone Housekeeper

Signed Madeleine Mary Mossop May Madeleine Mossop

Codicil 3 I, MARY MADELEINE MOSSOP of Cranford, Compton Avenue, Lilliput, Parkstone in the county of Dorset Widow HEREBY DECLARE this is a Third Codicil to my Will dated the Twentyseventh day of November One thousand nine hundred and thirty five.

WHEREAS by my said Will I bequeathed (inter alia) a legacy of twenty Five pounds (£25) free of duty to the Society for the Assistance of Ladies in Reduced Circumstances of Lancaster House Malvern NOW I HEREBY REVOKE such legacy and in lieu thereof and addition to the other legacies bequeathed by my said Will and the First and Second Codicils thereto I BEQUEATH the following legacy is free of duty viz: - TO The Earl Hague Fund for Ex- Servicemen Fifty pounds TO Miss Adeline Jenkins Twenty Five pounds TO Mrs Sophie Pridmore  ten Pounds To The Linen Guild of the Local Cornelia Hospital  Ten Pounds (£10) AND in all other respects I CONFIRM my said Will and the First and Second Codicils thereto dated respectively the Twelfth day of April One thousand nine hundred and thirty seven and Thirteenth day of March One thousand nine hundred and forty.

IN WITNESS thereof I have hereunto set my hand this 5th December One thousand nine hundred and forty.

SIGNED by the above MARY MADELEINE MOSSOP as a Third Codicil to her Will in the presence of us both present at the same time who in her presence at her request and in the presence of each other have here unto subscribed our names as witnesses: -

E. Bamford 9 Elgin Road Parkstone Retired Hospital Matron

D G Hodgkin 5 Compton Avenue Parkstone Housekeeper

Signed May Madeleine Mossop