Minnie Clara West died, aged 62, on 21st August 1919 at Pitsani, in Browning Road. She was described as a Lady's Companion. Her death was registered by her sister-in-law, Annie.E.West, of Keepers Cottage, Bishops Hall, Lambourne End, Essex. Minnie's younger brother, Frederic William, born in Theydon Mount, was a Gamekeeper. His wife Annie, was born in Surrey, and they had two children by 1901.
Minnie was born in Theydon Mount, Essex, in 1857, sixth child of Thomas and Elizabeth (nee Maryon), both from Essex, who married in London in 1839.
Thomas was a Bailiff in 1861, a Bricklayer in 1871 and a farmer of 35 acres in 1881.
At the age of 23 Minnie was living in Marylebone, in London, in her Uncle Joseph's family. Joseph West, also an Essex Man, was a Greengrocer, living with his wife and son, a Butcher, above his shop. Minnie was recorded as having no occupation. She must have left the family farm to seek employment in London.
By 1891, Minnie was a Ladies' Maid at Manley Hall, in Weeford near Lichfield, the home of Augustus Manley, a County Magistrate and Deputy Lieutenant of Staffordshire.
The Manley Family also had a home in Albemarle Street, not very far from the part of Marylebone where Minnie's Uncle lived. Their daughter, Louisa Georgiana, was christened in Marylebone in 1855.
Weeford Hall is described as an elegant mansion of stone, in the style prevailing in the reign of Queen Anne, and is partly secluded by a wood, above which its towers and pinnacles rise majestically. The river Bourn takes a circuitous route through the park, and is celebrated for its fine trout.
Minnie was one of eight Servants, including a Butler, Footman and Usher, looking after the family Augustus, his wife, Margaret Christabel, Louisa Georgiana and her older brother Augustus, living on their own means.
Still with the family in 1901, with only daughter Louisa still at home (son Colonel Francis Capel, who married in 1887, was now retired from the Coldstream Guards, and living in Monmouth, Augustus junior had died in 1894), Minnie was one of seven servants.
Augustus died in 1904 in Weeford, and Margaret Christabel died in 1908, in London, and was buried at Weeford.
How Minnie came to Worthing is not clear but she was no longer needed at Manley Hall by 1908.
In the Kellys Directory for 1917, Ide Evershed, Littlehampton born, and in the Sussex Yeomanry, lived at Pitsani. From 1918, the Occupant was a Miss M E Skeete.
If anyone can find a link between them and Minnie, Id be glad to know about it!