Mary Felkin (buried 1922)

Mary was born in March, Cambridgeshire, the daughter of John, a corn merchant and his wife Rebecca nee Smith. She was baptised at Castle Gate Independent Meeting House, Nottingham on 19th November 1833. On 13th June 1850, Mary married William Felkin Jnr at St Mary's Church, Nottingham. William was the son of the Lord Mayor of Nottingham. William Felkin Snr was a lace manufacturer and one of the leading personalities of the city. William Jnr worked for his father employing over 100 people in his business. He was also a Wesleyan preacher. The couple had no children. The Felkin lace industry had failed by 1865 and William Snr took to writing about the business.. (For further details on Felkin lace manufacturers see www.knittingtogether.org.uk ). William Snr died in 1874. William Jnr travelled to New Zealand leaving Mary living with her uncle Joseph Smith, a retired corn merchant. She acted as Joseph's housekeeper. William Jnr died in Auckland on 24th December 1885 aged 60. By 1891, Mary was living in Rowlands Road, Worthing. She moved a couple of times in the same area until her death in 1922. Her probate records her address as being 9 Stratford Square, Shakespeare Street, Nottingham but she died at "Gainsboro" in Richmond Road, Worthing. Mary died on 11th August 1922. Probate was granted on 26th September to Hannah Stanger widow and Joseph Elliott Johnson Smith gentleman. Effects £195 18s 2d.