Female portrait placeholder image

Name: Eliza Chrestien

Burial Number: 1555

Gender: Female

Distinction: Philanthropist

Born: 01/10/1853

Died: 04/02/1933

Buried: 08/02/1933

Story

Heene Hallmark

Eliza Chrestien 1853 – 1933

Philanthropist

 

Eliza Day was born in 1853 in Ilminster, Somerset, she was baptised on 23rd October. Her father was Uriah Day, 40yrs, Horse keeper, her mother, Sarah, 41yrs. She had three older sisters, Charlotte 8, Ellen 6, Susan 4, and a brother, David, was born in 1861.

In 1876, she married Fernand Francois Chrestien, 38yrs, in Bengal, India. He was born in Bengal to a French family and was the owner of Chrestien Mica Industries. They had five children, Fernand Edward, 1882, Marie Kate, 1880, both born in Calcutta, Dora Marguerite, 1885, born in Marseilles, and two who died in infancy.

Eliza was living in Worthing in 1891, with her daughters at Egerton Lodge, Rowlands Road, while her husband remained in India, and by 1901 had moved to ‘Tisree’ Richmond Road, an impressive property with substantial grounds. After her husband retired from India in 1908 they regularly hosted garden parties and summer fetes for local charities and good causes.

In the 1900 Heene Parish Magazine, Mrs. Chrestien is mentioned very regularly, as a giver of money, she lent the Church £50 towards the building of the Church Rooms and gave to the Poor Fund, she ran a Boys Club and Sunday School Class and was part of the team decorating the Church at Christmas and Easter and donating flowers.

Eliza was widowed in 1923, and ‘Tisree’ passed to her son, Fernand and his wife, and they too continued hosting charitable events. Eliza remained in Worthing and was living at 14, Shakespeare Rd. when she died, aged 79yrs, on 4th February 1933.

Probate was granted to Fernand Edward Chrestien, merchant, and Dora Marguerite Gordon Walker. Effects – £14365 12s 3d- Value 2020 – £1m.

Researcher: Maggi Martin

The Grave

No headstone image available

Location in Cemetery

Area: SB Row: 2 Plot: 3

Exact Location (what3words): hooks.hulk.comet

Ashes or Urn: Unknown

Headstone

Description:

No description of the headstone has been added.

Inscription:

In loving memory Fernand Francois Chrestien born 15th March 1838 died 3rd October 1923 "The peace of God which passeth all understanding" also of Eliza his wife 1st October 1853 - 4th Feb 1933 "a loving mother and grandmother" Also in loving memory of Edgar Dudley died 5th October 1939 Marie Kate Dudley died 21st April 1957

Further Information

Birth

Name: Eliza Chrestien

Gender: Female

Born: 01/10/1853

Town: Ilminster

County: Somerset

Country: England

Marriage

Maiden Name: Not applicable

Marriage Date: //1876

Spouse First Name: Fernand

Spouse Second Name: Francois

Spouse Last Name: Chrestien

Town of Marriage: Unknown

County of Marriage: Unknown

Country of Marriage: India

Information at Death

Date of Death: 04/02/1933

Cause of death: Unknown

Address line 2: 14

Address line 3: Shakespeare Road

Town: Worthing

County: Sussex

Country: England

Obituary

No obituary has been entered.

Personal Effects

Money left to others: £14365 12 s 3 d

Current value of effects: £1000000.00

Census Information

1861

Living at Lilian Street, Ilminster, Somerset, Uriah Day, 47yrs, Horse keeper, wife, Sarah, 48yrs, 5 children, Charlotte 15, Ellen 13, Susan 11, Eliza 7, David 2months.

1891

Living at Egerton Lodge, Rowlands Road, Worthing. Eliza Chrestien, 37yrs, 2 children, Marie K.11yrs, Dora M., 6yrs, niece, Charlotte Hamly, 15yrs, plus 2 domestic servants.

1901

Living at ‘Tisree’, Richmond Road, Worthing, Eliza Chrestien, 47yrs, living on own means, daughter, Marie Kate, 21yrs, plus 3 domestic servants.

1911

Living at ‘Tisree’, Richmond Road, Worthing, Fernand Francois Chrestien, 73yrs, mica merchant, wife, Eliza, 57yrs, and grandson, Jack Dudley, 1yr, employing 5 domestic servants.

1921

Living at Tisree, Richmond Road, Worthng, Ssussex.

Fernand Chrestien
Head
Male 1838 83 Merchant Retired
Eliza Chrestien
Wife
Female 1853 67 Home Duties
Dora Gordon Chrestien
Daughter
Female 1884 36 None
Ethel Blaker
Servant
Female 1887 34 Domestic Servant Cook Private
Alice Hoare
Servant
Female 1900 21 Domestic Servant

Miscellaneous Information

Worthing Herald – Friday 1st August 1941

Several hundred people assembled in the grounds of “Tisree” Richmond Road, the home of Mrs Chrestien, last Thursday for the summer sale in aid of Waifs and Strays Society. The opening ceremony was performed by the Mayor (Councillor J.A. Mason) who was accompanied by the Mayoress.

There were several stalls and an entertainment was given by the pupils of Kingsdene School. The garden produce stall was run by Miss Tower, Miss Stafford and Miss Machaitie; groceries and household: Mrs Clarke, Miss Scott, Mrs Bell and Mrs Walker; comforts for the troops: Miss Birkett, Miss K. Birkett and Miss Brabrook; children’s clothes: Miss Goome, Miss Chausier, Miss J.J. Talbot, Miss Mathews and members of St Hilda’s Working Party; Children’s Union Stall: Miss Gillespie, Mrs Hepworth, Miss Rawlinson and MRs Heas; white elephant stall: the Misses Crouch and Miss Pitullay; miscellaneous and stationary: Mrs Daines-Wood, Mrs Yates and Mrs Ghey; home cookery stall: Miss Peel-Law, Miss Duncan and Miss Brobell.

Teas were organised by Mrs Frank Roberts, the Misses Silverside and Miss Fisher, and competitions by Miss Wallington, Miss White, Mrs Penfold and Dr Slat.