Chapman, Mrs Edith

Chapman, Mrs Edith, Crichel, Station Road, Totnes

Edith Mary Chapman (1867-1919) née Emery[1] was the daughter of Robert and Sarah Emery, born in Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire where Robert Emery was a master draper. The 1881 census describes her still as a scholar at the age of 14.

It has not so far proved possible to trace her marriage to Dr Walter Chapman, but from the detail recorded in the 1911 census this must have taken place in 1905/6. Walter Chapman had studied medicine initially in London and later in Birmingham, where he took his MB ChB in 1902. He practised in Northfield before moving to Totnes, where he was by 1907.[2]

The family initially lived at Seymour Lodge, but by the time of the 1911 census they were living in Crichel, a substantial (15-room) house in Station Road, now demolished, with a three year-old daughter Frederica. Also resident were a nurse, a cook and a housemaid.

Walter practised both as a GP and at the Cottage Hospital and was Vice-President of the Totnes Unionist Association,[3] but it does not appear that Edith was active in public life.

Edith Chapman became President of the Totnes branch of the NUWSS.[4] There is no subsequent record of her activity.

She died in Totnes on 31 January 1919 at the age of 54.

 

 

Entry created by Julia Neville, with thanks to Ken Prout, August 2018


[1] Family and census information from www.ancestry.co.uk.

[2] Medical Register, 1911, p.264, on www.ancestry.co.uk. Accessed 14 Aug 2018.

[3] WT, 26 Apr 1912, p.13.

[4] CC, 1 Feb 1912, p.10 referring to the inaugural meeting held on 19 Dec 1911.

 

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