Argentine Frewin (buried 1939)

At a glance

At a glance
Surname: 
Frewin
First name: 
Argentine
Other Christian names: 
Gender: 
Female
Children: 
Yes
Burial number: 
1709
Born: 
23/7/1835
Died: 
01/10/1939
Buried: 
03/10/1939
Occupation: 
Wife of Edward Frewin
Distinction: 
Oldest Resident
Heene Hallmark: 
Yes
Commonwealth War Grave: 
No

The Grave

The grave
Cemetery area: 
NES
Cemetery row: 
2
Cemetery plot: 
15
what3words location: 
https://what3words.com/sprint.visual.risen
Burial remains: 
Unknown
The headstone
Endowed grave: 
Yes
Headstone description: 
Desc EndowedGrave: Keep tidy and free from weeds
Headstone inscription: 
None Found

Life story

Life story

Heene Hallmark

Argentine was born on 23rd July 1835 in West Lavington, Wiltshire to Edward and Anne Wilton. Edward was the Curate at West Lavington until 1846, and the Master of the Endowed Free Grammar School, West Lavington. He became the officiating minister of the Chapelry of Erle Stoke in 1865. He was also a keen Archaeologist and a Master in Heraldry. In 1851 Argentine was boarding at St. Mary's Hall Brighton, which was a school for the Daughters of Poor Clergymen. It was founded in 1836 and educated around 120 daughters of clergymen at a moderate cost. The school closed in 2009, but the building still exists as various departments of the Brighton and Sussex University Hospital NHS Trust. Argentine's Parents were still living in West Lavington at this time. Argentine married Edward Henry Frewin at West Lavington on 14th August 1860. Argentine's Father officiated at the wedding. After their marriage Edward and Argentine lived at 6 Craven Road Paddington where Edward worked as a Cheesemonger. They had 4 Children - Edward born 1864 Paddington and died 1896 in Paddington, Ernest born 1867 London and died 1895 in Horsham, Arthur Henry born 1868 London and died 1936 in Worthing. They stayed at Craven Road for many years until the 1891 census shows them moving to Tower Road Lower Beeding Sussex, where Edward is described as a Provisions Merchant. Their children are no longer living at home. They have 2 live in servants. By 1901 Edward is shown to be living at 'Clavadel' Boundary Road Heene Worthing with 2 Servants, however Argentine is not in the house at this time and the census records don't show where she was staying. On the 14th November 1905 Edward died, and he left his estate of £4679 (around £360,000 today) to Argentine and his only remaining living Son, Arthur Henry. After her Husband's death Argentine moved in with her Son Arthur at 'Cheverel' Heene Road Worthing. On the 24th July 1935 the Worthing Gazette ran a column regarding Argentine's 100th Birthday. Flowers and messages poured into her home in Heene Road, and she also received a telegram from the King and Queen (George V). She did not like publicity but agreed to talk about life in Worthing 100 years ago. She talked about horse drawn carriages halting outside Liverpool Terrace and the Steyne (which was the most fashionable neighbourhood of the town), or the carriages going up Chapel Road carrying home some aristocratic and straight-backed lady and her purchases. South Street was half its present width and the High Street was the main entry into Worthing. She talked about the pier which had two turreted pay-boxes and a line of turnstiles leading onto a bare pier, where the Pavilion Theatre now stands. Argentine continued to shun publicity, on her 104th Birthday in July 1939 all she would say to the press was "I don't want any fuss, and I don't want to say anything to the press" Even the mayor of Worthing who called to the house to offer his congratulations had to be content with having his message taken at the front door by her Daughter-in-Law, and he did not even get to meet her. When she died on 1st October 1939 it was reported in the West Sussex Gazette that she was the oldest person in Worthing and could be the oldest person in Sussex. She left her estate of £403 (around £15000 today) to her Daughter in Law Alice.

Burial researcher: 
Carol Sullivan

Further information

Birth
Date born: 
23/07/1835
Marriage
Maiden name: 
Wilton
Marriage 1
Spouse one first names: 
Edward Henry
Spouse one last name: 
Frewin
Marriage one date: 
14/08/1860
Marriage one address: 
West Lavington, Wiltshire, England

Death

Death (details)
Date of death: 
01/10/1939
Age (at time of death): 
104
Cause of death: 
Unknown
Address at time of death: 
Cheverel, Heene Road, Worthing, Sussex, England
Obituary

Gloucester Echo - Died in 105th year - After living to see the death of her husband and all her children Mrs Argentine Frewin, of Worthing, has died in her 105th year. Her last child, Arthur Henry Frewin, aged 68, died three years ago. Mrs Frewin was the daughter of Edward Wilton, one-time Vicar of Maddington, Wilts., and widow of Mr Edward Henry Frewin of Worthing.

Personal effects
Executors: 
Alice Frewin status: Daughter-in-Law
Probate pounds: 
£404

Census and miscellaneous information

Census information
1841 census: 

Church House, West Lavington, Wiltshire

Edward aged 40, clerk. Anne aged 30. Avery aged 12. Mary aged 10. Argentine aged 6. Annie aged 4. William aged 18 months. Plus 2 servants.

1851 census: 

St Mary's Hall, Hervey Terrace, Brighton.

Argentine aged 16, pupil at school run by Eliza Tomlinson. (school for daughters of clergymen).

1861 census: 

6 Craven Place, Paddington.

Edward aged 27, cheesemonger. Argentine aged 25. Anne R Wilton aged 23, visitor. Plus 2 servants.

1871 census: 

42 Craven Road, Paddington.

Edward aged 36, cheesemonger. Argentine aged 35. Ernest aged 4. Arthur aged 3. Emma lee aged 25, friend. Plus 1 shop man and 3 servants.

1881 census: 

42 Craven Road, Paddington.

Argentine aged 45, provisions merchant's wife. Edward aged 17, son. provisions assistant. Plus 1 cook and 1 servant.

1891 census: 

Tower Road, Lower Beeding, Sussex.

Edward aged 54, merchant. Argentine aged 52. Plus 2 servants.

1911 census: 

"Cheverel" Heene Road, Worthing.

Argentine aged 76, widow, private means. Arthur aged 43, private means. Alice aged 39, daughter-in-law, dressmaker. Alice aged 8, grand daughter. Plus 1 servant.

1921 census: 

53 Heene Road, Worthing, Sussex

First name(s) Last name Relationship to head Sex Birth year Age Birth place Occupation Employer
Arthur Henry Frewin Head Male 1867 53 London, Middlesex Greenhouse Worker E Boxall Worthing Fruit
Alice Mary Frewin Wife Female 1871 50 London, Middlesex Dress Maker Employer
Alice Argentine Frewin Daughter Female 1902 18 Worthing, Sussex Photographer -
Argentine Frewin Mother Female 1835 85 Wiltshire - -
1939 register: 

"Cheverel" Heene Road, Worthing.

Argentine Frewin: None. Alice Frewin: private means. Herbert Follett: motor salesman. Alice Follett: unpaid domestic duties. Deanna Follett; at school. Yvonne Forshaw: at school.

Miscellaneous information

West Sussex Gazette - Worthing Woman 104 on Sunday

On Sunday a Worthing woman, Mrs E.H. Frewin, of 119 Heene Road, celebrates her 104th birthday. She lives with her daughter-in-law, Mrs A.H. Frewin. Mrs Frewin was born in Wiltshire and she is the daughter of the Rev. Edward Wilton, who was Vicar of Maddington. She married Mr Edward Frewin, of London and of Claverdale, Boundary Road, Worthing, who died in 1905. Her three children are all dead. Two of her aunts lived to over 95 years of age and two sisters were 95 and 97 when they died. When a 'Herald' reporter telephoned the house yesterday (Thursday) it was stated that no information would be given to the Press.

Worthing Herald 13th October 1939

Worthing has lost its oldest inhabitant by the death of Mrs E.H.Frewin, who died Sunday aged 104, at the home of her daughter-in-law, Mrs A.H. Frewin, Heene Road.

A Wiltshire woman, daughter of the late Rev. Edward Wilton, who was vicar of Maddington, Mrs Frewin had lived at Heene for about 40 years. A generation ago she was well-known among the leading townspeople and at one time was a regular attendant at Heene Church. She married Mr Edward Frewin, of London and Claverdale, Boundry Road, Worthing who died in 1905.

In spite of her years Mrs Frewin was able to get about quite a lot a few years ago. When she was 99 she went out by car in the summer was often out in a wheel chair.

She disliked any publicity given to her age and there were no party celebrations when she attained her 104th year this July. She refused information to the Press, and even when the Mayor of Worthing (Alderman E.A. Brackley) called to congratulate her he did not see her and his message was conveyed to her.

All Mrs Frewin's three children are dead. Her two sisters lived to be 95 and 97 and she had two aunts who lived to be over 95 years each.

The funeral was conducted at Heene Cemetery on Tuesday afternoon.