Pickersgill of Ellingstring

Publication

St. Mary's County Historical Society, Leonardtown, MD

Name/Title

Entry/Object ID

2014.013.0105

Description

Next up are pages five through twelve of a write-up of Hope's genealogical research on both the Pickersgills and a bit of the Cunliffes. Page five starts with listing Sophia's four children as listed in the previous entry. The next child and second surviving son of John was John Cunliffe Pickersgill. This gentlemen was Hope's great grandfather. He was born on March 28th, 1819 at Netherne House, Merstham, Surrey. Information on his history is plentiful. He spent his childhood at St. Lawrence Jewry and by 1830 moved with his parents to Tavistock Square. Hope mentions by 1840 that he became a partner in his father's business as "Pickersgill & Son, Merchants". By January 30th, 1849 he had married Helen Hutton Dale. Helen herself was born on May 10th, 1829. The end of page five goes on to mention their wedding. Starting with page six is more mentioning of their wedding. They spent their honeymoon in both Bath and Torquay before settling down at 36 Gordon Square. On the 7th of January 1850 their first child Helen Dale Pickersgill was born. Helen was Hope's grandmother. After Helen there was a new baby nearly every year until there was sixteen altogether. After their son Thomas died in 1859 John sold their house at 36 Gordon Square and bought Hooley House at Coulsdon, Surrey. It was during John's lifetime that the surname went from Pickersgill to Pickersgill-Cunliffe. His mother Helen had an older sister named Harriette who married late in life. Ever since their father died Harriette had managed her own affairs. When her husband died she was left a childless but wealthy widow. On December 31st 1866 Harriette died and she left John her entire estate with one caveat. He was to add the name Cunliffe to his surname in order to receive his inheritance. On March 6th 1867 the merging of surnames was made official with him becoming John Pickersgill-Cunliffe. In 1869 he "stood for parliament" representing the borough of Bewdly. In what seemed to be a very complicated contest, he won the seat on a petition for recount. He was unseated by a second petition by which his opponent won by a majority of some 28 voters. Page six ends on this note. Page seven starts on a rather tragic note of John's passing. On the morning of September 22nd 1873 at a train junction, John was standing on the crossing tracts to board when he was struck by the train's engine. He was dragged along the platform and crushed both of his legs in the process. He was taken to a nearby hospital and was treated for several days. It was at that point that they decided it was necessary to amputate both of his legs. On the 30th of September John signed a lengthy codicil to his will in apparently preparation for imminent death. He died on the 6th of October 1873 at the age of fifty-four. He and Helen had been married for twenty-four years and his youngest child was only nine months old when he passed. The page ends with the beginning of an amusing anecdote from one of his daughters about and her sister in their younger days. The following page continues the rest his daughter's anecdote. Starting with page nine it goes on to mention by 1881 Helen had bought "The Hermitage" near Rochester in Kent. She and her daughters lived there for eighteen years. By 1899 she sold "The Hermitage" and bought "Northwood Hall" in Middlesex.She lived there until her death in 1914. Halfway down the page is an interview someone did with Helen when she was around seventy-five. Immediately prior to the interview Hope comments that Helen was thoroughly VIctorian. The interviewer also likewise noted how prim and proper she had been during the interview. Page ten consists entirely of the continuing interview. As with page ten, page eleven is mostly taken up by the rest of the interview. Near the bottom Hope included an obituary for Helen after she died November 14th, 1914. For the first half of page twelve it is the second half of her obituary. The second half is the list of John and Helen's children: Helen Dale, John, Rose, Thomas, Mary, Evelyn, Harry, Gertrude, Margaret, Alice, Charles, Louis, Mabel, Katharine and Milicent. Following page twelve are two pages consisting of pictures of both John and Helen. First page only has a front but it's a painting of Helen. Written below it is "Helen Hutton (Dale) Pickersgill-Cunliffe (c. 1849)". She is seen seated in a wooden chair and is wearing a blue dress.The back of this page has places where pictures once were but are now missing. The front of the second page has side-view photo of Helen as a young woman seated in a chair. She is wearing a large patterned dress with a black shawl. The bottom has the writing: Helen Pickersgill-Cunliffe (c. 1855)". On the back is a picture of John Pickersgill-Cunliffe. It's a profile shot of him in his late forties wearing a black jacket with a large salt and pepper beard. Below that is: "John Pickersgill-Cunliffe (c. 1867)".

Collection

Hope Grace Research Collection

Publication Details

Date Published

1989 - 1998

Location

Container

Hope Grace Collection, Box 3

Table

Archives 2 Work Table

Room

Archives 2

Building

Tudor Hall

Container

Hope Grace Collection, Box 3

Table

Archives 2 Work Table

Room

Archives 2

Building

Tudor Hall

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Pickersgill-Cunliffe (1819), John

Person or Organization

Pickersgill (Esq), John

Person or Organization

Pickersgill-Cunliffe, Mabel

Person or Organization

Pickersgill-Cunliffe, Mary

Person or Organization

Pickersgill-Cunliffe, Evelyn

Person or Organization

Pickersgill-Cunliffe, Harry

Person or Organization

Pickersgill-Cunliffe, Helen (Dale)

Person or Organization

Pickersgill-Cunliffe, Alice

Person or Organization

Pickersgill-Cunliffe, Getrude

Person or Organization

Pickersgill-Cunliffe, Ethel

Person or Organization

Pickersgill-Cunliffe, Katharine

Person or Organization

Pickersgill-Cunliffe, Milicent

Person or Organization

Pickersgill-Cunliffe, Helen

Person or Organization

Pickersgill-Cunliffe, Charles