Mary Roberts (buried 1944)

At a glance

At a glance
Surname: 
Roberts
First name: 
Mary
Other Christian names: 
Cowell
Gender: 
Female
Children: 
Unknown
Burial number: 
1784
Born: 
19/3/1861
Died: 
13/10/1944
Buried: 
17/10/1944
Occupation: 
Wife of Frank Roberts
Heene Hallmark: 
No
Commonwealth War Grave: 
No

The Grave

The grave
Mary Roberts (buried 1944) headstone
Cemetery area: 
WB
Cemetery row: 
1
Cemetery plot: 
45
what3words location: 
https://what3words.com/arena.earth.stem
Burial remains: 
Unknown
The headstone
Endowed grave: 
No
Headstone inscription: 
Frank Roberts M.I.C.E. born 23 May 1859 died 23 December 1932 and his wife Mary Cowell Roberts born 19 March 1861 died 13 October 1944 "Blessed are the pure in heart"

Life story

Life story

Mary was born in Princetown, Devon, the daughter of John and Mariah (Marion). She was baptised in Princetown on 26th May 1861. Her father was a warder at Dartmoor prison. By 1871, the family had moved to Portland where John was Principal Warder at the prison. John's job took him north by 1881 and the family lived in Chester. Mary married Frank Roberts, a civil engineer at St Paul's Church, Chester in 1885. The couple had a son Sydney the following year and settled in Tranmere. Frank accepted the position of Borough Engineer and Surveyor to Worthing Corporation in 1897. The family settled in Madeira Avenue and then moved to Shakespeare Road. Mary was very involved in local charities, organising sales and raising money. Frank died in 1932 on a visit to his son's home in Cambridge. Mary continued to live in Shakespeare Road. She died on 13th October 1944 whilst visiting her son at 12 Chaucer Road, Cambridge. Probate was granted on 15th December 1944 to Sydney Castle Roberts secretary. Effects £12382 5s 10d.

Sydney Roberts was Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge and a well known author and publisher. He was knighted in 1958 and died in 1966.

Burial researcher: 
Carol Sullivan

Further information

Birth
Date born: 
19/03/1861
Marriage
Maiden name: 
Castle
Marriage 1
Spouse one first names: 
Frank
Spouse one last name: 
Roberts
Marriage one date: 
00/00/1885
Marriage one address: 
Chester, Cheshire, England

Death

Death (details)
Date of death: 
13/10/1944
Age (at time of death): 
83
Cause of death: 
Unknown
Address at time of death: 
12 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England
Obituary

Worthing Gazette 18th October 1944

Well-known Resident's Death

The death of Mrs. Mary Cowell Roberts on Friday will be a source of deep sorrow to many people of Worthing, because she was very well known for her widespread work for charity; and earned for herself the affectionate title of "Grandma." Mrs. Roberts died at Cambridge while on a visit to her son Mr. S. C. Roberts, who is a Fellow of Pembroke College and Secretary of the University Press, Cambridge. Her husband, Frank Roberts, a former Borough Engineer of Worthing, died about ten years ago. Mrs. Roberts, although aged 83, took a very great interest in obtaining money for any good cause, and she had organised a number of bridge drives; no deserving cause failed to benefit from her tact and charm. Her special care was the Children's Care Society, for which she has done voluntary work for 30 years. Her home was "The Hamlet," 28, Shakespeare Road, Worthing, where her body was brought back. The funeral service was at St Paul’s Church yesterday, and she was buried at Heene Cemetery afterwards. Among those of the family who were present were: Mr. and Mrs. S. Roberts (son and daughter-in-law), Mrs. Hooper (grand-daughter) and Mrs. Hooper (grand-daughter), Mrs Margerison (niece) and Dr. and Mrs Courtney Cole. The congregation also included the Mayor (Councillor E. R. Willoughby and Mrs. Willoughby, and many members and officials of the Town Council with representatives of the various organisations from the town with which the deceased was associated present.

Personal effects
Probate pounds: 
£12,382

Census and miscellaneous information

Census information
1861 census: 

Barracks, Lydford, Devon

John aged 34, warder in Council service. Marian aged 31. John aged 6. William aged 3. James H aged 1. Mary aged 1 month.

1871 census: 

Grove, Portland, Dorset.

John aged 43, principal warder. Marion aged 40. William aged 13. James aged 11. Mary aged 10. Isabella aged 8. Augustus aged 6. Marion aged 4. Flora aged 2. Emily aged 1.

1881 census: 

4 Derby Place, Plemondstall, Chester.

Marion aged 50, wife of warder. James aged 21, railway telegraph clerk. Mary aged 20, telegraphist. Isabella aged 18, milliner. Augustus aged 16, railway clerk. Marion aged 14, pupil teacher. Flora aged 12. Emily aged 10. Frances aged 8.

1891 census: 

48 Dingle Road, Tranmere.

Frank aged 31, civil engineer. Mary aged 30. Sydney aged 4.

1901 census: 

"Kilmorey" Madeira Avenue, Worthing.

Frank aged 41, civil engineer. Mary aged 40. Sydney aged 13. Plus 1 servant.

1911 census: 

The Hamlet, Shakespeare Road, Worthing.

Frank aged 51, borough engineer. Mary aged 50. Plus 1 servant.

1921 census: 

28 Shakespeare Road Worthing, Sussex

First name(s) Last name Relationship to head Sex Birth year Age Birth place Occupation Employer
Frank Roberts Head Male 1859 62 - Borough Engineer & Surveyor Corporation Of Worthing
Mary Cowell Roberts Wife Female 1871 50 Devon, England Home Duties -