Chesnutt, Miss Florence

Chesnutt, Miss Florence, 26 The Strand, Topsham

Florence Amelia Ashby Chesnutt[1] (1869 – 1956) was the daughter of Frederick and Amelia Louisa Harrison Chesnutt, born on April 10 1869 at 24 Seven Sisters Road, Hornsey, and baptized on July 8 that year at St Mary, Hornsey. Frederick was described in the register as a ‘gentleman’, though on the 1871 census he is described as a ‘merchant’s clerk’. Florence had a younger brother, Edward, and a sister, Gertrude. Their mother Amelia had herself been born in Topsham, and the family had moved down to Devon by 1881, when they were living at Bronte House at Lympstone, with a resident governess and two other servants.

In 1891 the family were at 8 Fore Street Heavitree, but by 1901 they had moved to The Strand, Topsham. None of the three children were listed as having any occupation. In 1911 Frederick, Amelia, Florence and Edward were all listed at The Rowans, Topsham. Frederick was described as a retired bristle merchant and Edward as an electrical engineer for Exeter municipality The Rowans had twelve rooms and the family kept one resident servant. Mr Chesnutt senior owned property at Lympstone and in Exmouth[2], and became known in the Exeter County Court for his attempts to overturn a judgment that he was liable for property repairs in Lympstone.[3] He was apparently very deaf.

Chesnutt took an active part in the church life of St Margaret’s, Topsham. She was the Secretary to the Young Women’s Guild of St Margaret.[4] She was also a regular stall holder at fund-raising events including those for the Church Missionary Society branch,[5] for purchasing a piano for the hall and for church restoration.[6] She also supported the establishment of the first Topsham branches of Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, and was the honorary secretary to the Girl Guides.[7]

Chesnutt was a member of the contingent from the Topsham branch of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies who joined the Pilgrims on the march to and through Exeter in July 1913.[8]

During the war Chesnutt served as a volunteer nurse with the Red Cross at Topsham Hospital between November 1914 and August 1916.[9]

By 1939 Chesnutt had moved to 18 The Strand, where she was living with Gertrude Vernon and her brother Edward, by that time retired. She was still living there when she died on 29 February 1956. She left an estate of approximately £2800.

 

 

Entry created by Sheila Stephens and Julia Neville, October 2018


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

[2] DEG 13 Jul 1915.

[3] WT, 10 Jan 5 Feb, 7 & 12 Mar, 4 Apr, 7 Nov1907.

[4] DEG, 1 Nov 1907.

[5] DEG,18 Jan 1907.

[6] DEG, 11 Apr 1907, 23 Jul 1913.

[7] WT, 1 Jun 1912; 24 Jul 1914..

[8] WT, 18 Aug 1910, 7 Jul 1913.

[9] https://vad.redcross.org.uk/Card?sname=chesnutt&hosp=topsham&id=40699&first=true&last=true Accessed 14 Nov 2018.

 

Entry created by Sheila Stephens and Julia Neville – October 2018


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

[2] DEG 13 Jul 1915.

[3] WT, 10 Jan 5 Feb, 7 & 12 Mar, 4 Apr, 7 Nov1907.

[4] DEG, 1 Nov 1907.

[5] DEG,18 Jan 1907.

[6] DEG, 11 Apr 1907, 23 Jul 1913.

[7] WT, 1 Jun 1912; 24 Jul 1914..

[8] WT, 18 Aug 1910, 7 Jul 1913.

 

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