Mangan, Mrs Elsie, 6 Ashleigh Road, Barnstaple
Elsie Myra Mangan née Skelsey[1] (1884 – 1965) was born on 20 December 1884, the daughter of William and Catherine Skelsey. The Skelseys lived in Southam, Warwickshire where William was a baker and confectioner. Elsie was the third of their four daughters.
In 1901 Elsie, aged 16, with her two older sisters, was boarding in the home of a Leamington Spa provision salesman. Her occupation was described as Bazaar Assistant. In 1911, however, she was staying at the date of the census with the Partridges at Red House, Pilton, Barnstaple. James Partridge was a retired chemist. Her occupation was given as librarian. In July 1911 she married Gordon Mangan (Gordon Forbes-Mangan) in Pilton Church.[2] Gordon was at that time employed as a solicitor’s clerk.
In December 1911 Elsie Mangan chaired a NUWSS meeting arranged by Miss Davenport (organiser) in Barnstaple.[3] The report of the meeting suggests that she was appointed as the secretary to the newly-formed branch. Although Miss Harston (q.v.) was listed as Branch Secretary in Common Cause in October 1911, Mrs Morgan (in subsequent editions corrected to Mrs Mangan) is shown as Branch Secretary in January 1912.[4] Her tenure of office did not last long, however, as in July 1912 the office was held by Miss Wodehouse (q.v.). No further references have been found to Elsie Mangan’s involvement with the suffrage movement, although the Forbes-Mangans continued to live in Barnstaple as their daughter Pauline was born there in 1915.
In 1939 Elsie Mangan-Forbes was living in Godstone, with husband Gordon described as a Director of Rosterman Gold Mine (Kenya). She died on 26 February 1985, leaving effects of over £12,000.
Entry created by Julia Neville, October 2018
[1] Family and census information from www.ancestry.co.uk
[2] NDJ, 20 Jul 1911
[3] NDJ, 14 Dec 1911.
[4] CC 4 Oct 1911; 4 Jan 1912.