Emma Russell (buried 1922)

Emma was born in the village of Marston Bigot near Frome in Somerset. She was the daughter of Samuel and Sarah. Emma was baptised in the village church on 26th July 1835. Records show her father was an agricultural labourer. By 1861, Emma was in London working as a house servant. On 26th October 1865, she married John Brewer, a watchmaker, at Holy Trinity Church, Islington. The couple left England for New Zealand and settled in Napier. John died on 3rd July 1873 and was buried in Old Napier cemetery. Emma returned to England and on 17th November 1875, married George Ireland Russell at St Luke's Church, Westbourne, Westminster. George was a surgeon working in Gravesend, Kent. He had lived in Napier and may have met Emma there. By 1890, George and Emma were living in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. After George retired, the couple who had no children, returned to England. They lived for a while in London before moving to Worthing in 1905. They first lived at "Abbotsford" in Belsize Road before moving to Shakespeare Road. By 1922 when Emma died on 20th November, they were living at 40 Downview Road, Worthing. Probate was granted on 10th April 1923 to Samuel Pierpoint Brinson architect, John Paul Brinson architect and James Hamilton Brinson bank clerk. Effects £5110 9s 2d. ( note the change of surname from Brimson to Brinson).