Person:Jane Timothy (2)

Jane Timothy was born on 18th October 1841 and baptised on 9th January 1842 in the parish of St Giles without Cripplegate in the City of London. She was the daughter of Jane Timothy, formerly Cassanet, and her husband David Timothy, a feather and bedding merchant. The family lived on the street called Barbican, at the corner with Redcross Street. The 1851 census finds young Jane living with her parents and siblings at 1 Redcross Street. Some time between 1851 and 1859 Jane and her parents moved out to Peckham in the parish of Camberwell in the southern suburbs of London, where they lived at 5 York Grove.

On 19th July 1859, aged 17, Jane married a corn merchant called Thomas Palmer at St Giles' Church in Camberwell. They had one son born in Camberwell the following year. The 1861 census finds Jane, Thomas, their baby son and two servants living at 2 Gotha Place on Queen's Road in Peckham. By 1864 the family had moved to the northern suburbs of London, living at 12 Penn Road Villas in the Holloway area of the parish of Islington. Thomas died there on 19th January 1864, aged 27.

Just under two years later, on 15th November 1865, Jane married again. Her second husband was a civil engineer called William John Fraser, and they married at St Luke's Church in the West Holloway area of Islington. Jane and William went on to have another eleven children together between 1866 and 1883, although one died as a baby in 1881. The first four children were born in the Hackney area. In about 1870 the family moved to Hampstead, where they lived at 121 Adelaide Road, a substantial villa with fifteen rooms. The 1871 and 1881 censuses each find Jane, William, and their children living there along with three servants. From around the 1870s the family also developed an association with the seaside resort of Herne Bay on the Kent coast, apparently becoming regular visitors there.

Jane and William's five daughters were all musically gifted, between them playing the piano, violin and singing. From 1887 to 1901 the five girls performed professionally, calling themselves the Fraser Quintette and regularly travelling the country giving performances. Advertisements were regularly placed in local newspapers, with Jane listed as the person to contact to enlist the group's services.

The 1891 census finds Jane and four of her children at 121 Adelaide Road, whilst William and some of the other children were at Herne Bay. Around the early 1890s William had a house built at Herne Bay. The house was called "Cromartie" and stood on Margate Road on the hill to the south-east of the town.

The 1901 and 1911 censuses each find William back in London at 121 Adelaide Road with some of his children and servants. In both censuses Jane was not with him - in 1901 she appears with her son Frank and his family in Hornsey, whilst in 1911 she was living with her son Ivor and his family at a farmhouse called Kingswood at Findon in Sussex. It is possible that she just happened to be away from home on census night, but equally the fact that they were not listed together on census night for three consecutive censuses suggests that they may have been living apart.

William died on 11th July 1912 at Herne Bay, aged 82. His obituary in the local newspaper, the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald, describes his long association with the town and how he "was a man of a most charming manner, and all who met him for the first time were attracted by his genial personality".

A few weeks after William's death, Jane married again. On 30th September 1912 she married Albert Short, a farmer from Findon, where she had been living. He was a widower, with his first wife having died in 1905. He would have been known to Jane from living at Findon - one of the farms that he ran at Findon was Kingswood. They did not marry locally to Findon, but in London, in the Stockwell area of Lambeth. Albert described himself as a retired yeoman and farmer, and gave his address as 119 Stockwell Park Road in south-west London at the time of their marriage. Jane gave her address as 36 Bellevue Gardens, Clapham Road.

After their marriage, Jane and Albert returned to live at Kingswood in Findon. They were only married for four and a half years; Jane died at Kingswood on 4th March 1917, aged 75. Her obituary from the Worthing Gazette notes that "from the beginning of her residence in Findon she had endeared herself to many by her invariable kindness and generosity." Albert survived her by nearly fourteen years.

1. ↑ Births index, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

   b. Jane or June TIMOTHY, East London Registration District, Volume 2, page 204, mother's maiden name Cassanet

2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Baptisms register, in Church of England. St. Giles Cripplegate Church (London). Parish registers of St. Giles Cripplegate Church (London), 1559-1936. (London: London Metropolitan Archives).

   BAPTISMS solemnized in the Parish of ST. GILES, WITHOUT CRIPPLEGATE, in the CITY OF LONDON, in the Year One Thousand, Eight Hundred, and 42
   No.	When Baptized	Child's Christian Name	Parents' Name		Abode	Quality, Trade, or Profession	By whom the Ceremony was performed
   			Christian	Surname
   8	Jan[uar]y 9	Jane born 18 Oct 1841	David & Jane	Timothy	Barbican	Feather Merchant	Rob[er]t Lynam

3. ↑ England. 1851 Census Returns for England and Wales. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 1525; Folio 344; Page 32, 30 Mar 1851.

   Address: 1 Redcross Street; Parish: St Giles without Cripplegate; City: London
   David Timothy, head, married, male, 49 [1801/2], Bedding Warehouseman, b. St George East, Middlesex
   Mary Timothy, widow [sic], widow, female, 78 [1772/3], supported by son, b. Wales
   Jane Timothy, wife, married, female, 48 [1802/3], b. Bethnal Green, Middlesex
   Peter V. Timothy, son, unmarried, male, 19 [1831/2], Medical Student St Barth[olomew']s Hospital, b. Cripplegate, London
   Jane Timothy, daughter, unmarried, female, 9 [1841/2], Scholar at Home, b. [blank]
   Justice T. Timothy, son, unmarried, male, 3 [1847/8], Son of a Bedding Warehouseman, b. Cripplegate, London
   Isabella Spaul, servant, unmarried, female, 21 [1829/30], Serv[ant], b. Southwold, Suffolk

4. ↑ England. 1861 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG9; Piece 384; Folio 56; Page 11, 7 Apr 1861.

   Address: 2 Gotha Place, Queen's Road, Peckham, Camberwell, Surrey
   Thomas Palmer, head, married, male, 24 [1836/7], Merchant (Corn), b. St Johns Southwark
   Jane Palmer, wife, married, female, 19 [1841/2], b. City of London
   Julia Luckett, servant, unmarried, female, 23 [1837/8], General Servant, b. Lynsted, Kent
   Harriett Park, servant, unmarried, female, 17 [1843/4], Nurse Maid, b. Southwark Bridge
   Tho[ma]s Cassanett Palmer, son, male, 7mo [1860], b. Peckham, Surrey

5. ↑ England. England and Wales. 1871 Census Schedules. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG10; Piece 194; Folio 71; Page 71, 2 Apr 1871.

   Address: 121 Adelaide Road, Hampstead, Middlesex
   William John Fraser, head, married, male, 41 [1829/30], Engineer Master For[?] employ ab[ou]t 100 men, b. London, Middlesex
   Jane Fraser, wife, married, female, 28 [1842/3], b. London, Middlesex
   Cassannet T. Fraser, son, male, 10 [1860/1], b. London, Middlesex
   Violet M. Fraser, daughter, female, 4 [1866/7], b. London, Middlesex
   Leslie McG. Fraser, son, male, 3 [1867/8], b. London, Middlesex
   Ida Fraser, daughter, female, 2 [1868/9], b. London, Middlesex
   Frank H. Fraser, son, male, 1 [1869/70], b. London, Middlesex
   Ethel M. Fraser, daughter, female, 5mos [1870], b. London, Middlesex
   Eliza Tercher, servant, unmarried, female, 22 [1848/9], Dom[estic] Serv[ant], b. London, Middlesex
   Eliza Parkins, servant, unmarried, female, 29 [1841/2], Dom[estic] Serv[ant], b. London, Middlesex
   Elizabeth Pardee[?], servant, unmarried, female, 21 [1849/50], Nurse Dom[estic] Serv[ant], b. Worcestershire

6. ↑ England. 1881 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands: . (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG11; Piece 175; Folio 105; Page 34, 3 Apr 1881.

   Address: 121 Adelaide Road, Hampstead, Middlesex
   W[illia]m J. Fraser, head, married, 51 [1829/30], Engineer, b. London, Middlesex
   Jane Fraser, wife, married, female, 38 [1842/3], b. London, Middlesex
   Thomas Fraser, son, unmarried, male, 20 [1860/1], Engineer, b. London, Middlesex
   Voilet [sic] Fraser, daughter, female, 14 [1866/7], b. London, Middlesex
   Lesley M. Fraser, son, unmarried, male, 13 [1867/8], b. London, Middlesex
   Ida Fraser, daughter, female, 12 [1868/9], b. London, Middlesex
   Frank Fraser, son, male, 11 [1869/70], b. London, Middlesex
   Ethel Fraser, daughter, female, 10 [1870/1], b. London, Middlesex
   Mabel L. Fraser, daughter, female, 9 [1871/2], b. London, Middlesex
   W[illia]m A. Fraser, son, male, 7 [1873/4], b. London, Middlesex
   Stella Fraser, daughter, female, 5 [1875/6], b. London, Middlesex
   John M. Fraser, son, male, 2 [1878/9], b. London, Middlesex
   Guy Fraser, son, male, 1mo [1881], b. London, Middlesex
   Mary Kallen, visitor, female, 21 [1859/60], b. London, Middlesex
   Mary G. Cook, servant, female, 32 [1848/9], Serv[ant], b. London, Middlesex
   Sarah Galetford, servant, female, 18 [1862/3], Ser[vant], b. Birmingham, Warwickshire
   Pauline Keutergale[?], servant, female, 26 [1854/5], b. Paris, France

7. ↑ England. 1891 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG12; Piece 110; Folio 117; Page 28, 5 Apr 1891.

   Address: 121 Adelaide Road, Hampstead, London
   Jane Frazer, wife, married, female, 50 [1840/1], Wife, b. Middlesex
   Thomas C. Palmer, stepson, single, male, 30 [1860/1], Civil Engineer, employer, b. Peckham, Surrey
   Frank H. Frazer, son, single, male, 21 [1869/70], Mechanical Engineer, employed, b. Hampstead, London
   John M. Frazer, son, single, male, 12 [1878/9], Scholar, b. Hampstead, London
   Ivor Frazer, son, single, male, 8 [1882/3], Scholar, b. Hampstead, London
   Caroline Game, servant, single, female, 23 [1867/8], Cook Servant, b. Ware, Hertfordshire

8. ↑ England. England. 1901 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG13; Piece 1244; Folio 127; Page 34, 31 Mar 1901.

   Address: 31 Cranley Gardens, Hornsey, Middlesex
   Frank Hazel Fraser, head, married, male, 31 [1869/70], Mechanical Engineer, employer, b. Hampstead, Middlesex
   Florence Elaine Fraser, wife, married, female, 34 [1866/7], b. St Mary le Bone, Middlesex
   Eila Hazel Fraser, daughter, single, female, 4 [1896/7], b. Highgate, Middlesex
   Burham Colman Fraser, son, single, male, 1m [1901], b. Highgate, London
   Jane Fraser, mother, married, female, 60 [1840/1], Living on own means, b. Cripplegate, Middlesex
   Maud Annie Hales, servant, single, female, 25 [1875/6], Nurse, b. Islington, Middlesex
   Sarah Ann Peaks, servant, single, female, 29 [1871/2], Cook, b. Woodhurst, Huntingdonshire
   Emily Halls, servant, single, female, 21 [1879/80, Housemaid, b. Great Chesterford, Essex

9. ↑ England. 1911 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom: The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), (formerly the UK General Register Office.))
   Class RG14; Piece 5315; Schedule 182, 2 Apr 1911.

   Address: Kingswood, Findon, Sussex
   15 rooms occupied
   Jane Fraser, head, female, 65 [1845/6], married 42 years, 11 children born to marriage, 10 children still living, b. London
   Ivor Fraser, son, male, 28 [1882/3], married, Journalist, worker, b. London
   Muriel Elsie Fraser, daughter in law, female, 25 [1885/6], married "2 & half" years, 1 child born to marriage, 1 child still living, b. London
   Sheila Muriel Fraser, granddaughter, female, 11 months [1910], single, b. London
   Annie Bishop, maid, female, 23 [1887/8], single, Domestic Servant, worker, b. Patching, Sussex
   David Henley, farm laborer, male, 27 [1883/4], single, Farm Laborer, worker, b. Horsham, Sussex
   Margaret Short, nurse maid, female, 20 [1890/1], single, Nurse Maid, worker, b. Arle, Gloucestershire
   Nurse Wallis, hospital nurse, female, 26 [1884/5], single, Hospital Nurse, own account, b. Bletchingley, Surrey

10.   Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 3, 25 Nov 1887.

    THE FRASER QUINTETTE.
    The second of the two concerts arranged for with this talented family was given in the Assembly Hall, Fazcett-street, last night. There was a slight improvement in the attendance, so far as the gallery was concerned, but in the body of the hall it was extremely sparse. This is greatly to be regretted, as the entertainment provided by the five exceedinly clever young ladies was such, from a musical point of view, as has rarely been presented to a Sunderland audience. The programme was greatly varied, as will be seen from the fact that each of the thirteen items was by a different composer. There were four excellent quartettes, the most appreciated of which were Wagner's "Spinning Chorus" and "Zauberflöte." Miss Stella Fraser again delighted the audience by a couple of solos on the violin, a Concerto by De Beriot, and "Lombardi," by Vieuxtemps. Being enthusiastically encored for the latter, she played a Hungarian composition, in which she displayed some most wonderul execution. Miss Violet Fraser was highly successful in her vocal effots, and she sang Cowen's pretty song, "Love is a Dream," with great taste and expression. The violin solos of Miss Mabel Fraser, a pianoforte solo by Miss Ida, and a pianoforte duet by the Misses Ida and Ethel, were all highly appreciated by the audience.

11.   Morning Post, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 1, 16 May 1892.

    THE FRASER QUINTETTE, the Clever Band of Sisters, in London for the season. - ENGAGEMENTS for At Homes, Receptions, Concerts, &c., to Mrs. Fraser, 121, Adelaide-road, N.W., or usual agents.

    There were many articles reviewing performances of the Fraser Quintette or advertising their next appearances between 1887 and 1901 - these two articles included as a sample.

12. ↑ Deaths index, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

    d. Jane SHORT, March Quarter 1917, Thakeham Registration District, Volume 2b, page 597, aged 76 [1840/1]

13. ↑ England. National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations),1858 onwards. (Ancestry.com).

    1917
    SHORT Jane of Kingswood Findon Sussex (wife of Albert Short) died 4 March 1917 Probate London 9 May to the said Albert Short farmer and Charles Garibaldi Shaw Solicitor.
    Effects £948 0s. 9d.

14.   Worthing Gazette, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 4, 7 Mar 1917.

    DEATH.
    SHORT (née Fraser). - On the 4th inst., at Kingswood, Findon, Jane, wife of Albert Short. Funeral at Broadwater Cemetery, Thursday, at 12.15 p.m.

15.   Worthing Gazette, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 2, 11 April 1917.

    FINDON.
    THE LATE MRS. SHORT. - In a brief reference to the recent death of Mrs. Short the Parish Magazine says: "All the community feel great sympathy for Mr. Short in his bereavement. From the beginning of her residence in Findon she had endeared herself to many by her invariable kindness and generosity."

16.   Reading Observer, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 5, 10 Mar 1888.

    MRS. FRASER AND HER DAUGHERS,
    ("THE FRASER QUINTETTE.")
    DESIRE to thank their Patrons and Friends for their kind support and appreciation of their first Concert in Reading, on Tuesday, 6th March.
    For Concerts and At Homes, Mrs. Fraser, 121, Adelaide Road, N.W., London; or Mr. Attwells, Friar Street, Reading.