In the previous post I described the early years of Frances MacPherson. While the details are sketchy, we can follow her in place and time from her birth at Littleburn Colliery to her employment as a house maid in 1901 for a well to do family in Old Durham town in the shadow of Durham Cathedral. Much less is known about the next stage of her life which was as distinct from the former as could be imagined.
In the first quarter of 1902 she married Peter Smurthwaite thereby changing her name to Frances Smurthwaite, a name which went unexplained in our family for many years. The marriage certificate is on order.
Update January 16, 2008:
Marriage Certificate – Peter Smurthwaite and Frances Macpherson were married on June 3rd, 1901 in the Wesleyan Chapel, Old Elvet, County of Durham. He 29, bachelor farmer living at Shincliffe Bank Top, Shincliffe. His father John Smurthwaite (deceased) Farm Bailiff. She 26, spinster house maid living at South Bailey, Durham. Her father William MacPherson, Coal Miner. Witnesses: Robert Smurthwaite and Dorothy Macpherson
According to the 1901 census, Peter was a 29 year old farmer’s son and local preacher living at Halvert Hill. He had previously worked as a railway porter (1891 Census – Port Clarence) and at 9 years old (1881 Census) was attending school in Salt Holme. He was born in September of 1871 at Stockton.
Tragedy soon intervened in the young marriage with the death of Peter in the fourth quarter of 1902. Peter was only 31.
Update January 16th, 2008:
Death Certificate – Peter Smurthwaite died Novemeber 4th, 1902 at Grange Farm, Shincliffe, aged 31 years, wool merchant. Cause of Death was General Tuberculosis. Witness: James Smurthwaite, brother in attendance.
Sometime following Peter’s death in 1902, Frances became a Wesleyan Methodist Deaconess.
Update September 6, 2009:
The 1911 Census records Frances age 36, a widow, living in a boarding house at 18 Harris Street, Rochdale, Lancashire with Nancy Wrigley also a widow. She is listed as a Wesley Deaconess working at Rochdale Mission. The entry also records the loss of one child.
According to a wikipedia entry describing the modern history of the Deaconess: The spiritual revival in the Americas and Europe of the nineteenth century brought rapid social change. Women who began to seek new roles for themselves turned to deaconess service. For women with a calling to serve God, this was a socially acceptable role at that time. Allowed to function as lay ministers or servants and not ordained clergy, women filled the traditional societal role of caregivers and teachers for various churches.
Photo by Bob Charlton of a silver tray presented to Sister Frances by the Ebenezer “Women’s Own” July 22, 1918.
Sister Frances was working at Westgate Mission Hall in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1918 when Reverend and Mrs. Charlton came from Canada with there two young boys (my father and uncle) for a visit and ended up taking on the administration of the hall. When the Reverend’s wife died suddenly in March of 1920, Sister Frances would have been a work associate of the couple and found herself with much in common with the grieving Minister.
