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b.c1834-d.1914
Background
Mary Ann Howchin was born in London circa 1834 to James Henry and Louisa TURNER. Throughout her life Mary said she was born in Mayfair, but this may be wrong. There is a baptism of a Mary Ann Turner on 4th November 1836 at St. Mary, Lambeth; her father is described as a ‘coachman’ and the family home as Lambeth Mews, Mayfair.
Early Life
On the 1841 Census, we find Mary aged 5 living in Chester Place Mews, St George, Hanover Square with her parents James and Louisa and sister Elizabeth aged 1. Mary’s father is a ‘servant’. Mary also had an older brother, Henry who should be around 6 years old at this time, but I have been unable to find him.
Chester Square Mews is a cobbled cul-de-sac, approached through its own arch off Chester Square in Westminster. source https://everchangingmews.com/mews/chester-square-mews/
The 1851 Census records Mary aged 14, living 4 Bolton Yard, Mayfair with parents James (aged 40, born Marylebone) and Louisa (aged 39 born Hinton St. George, Somerset) and siblings Henry 16, Elizabeth 10, James 8, Frances 6, Louisa 3 and Samuel 1. Mary’s father is a ‘cab proprietor’. Mary’s place of birth is given as York Road, Lambeth. Her brother Henry was born in Somerset and the youngest five children were all born in the Westminster area of London.
Mary’s Siblings
- Henry bapt. 5.10.1834 at Hinton St. George, Somerset
- Elizabeth born 13.9.1840; bapt. 14.2.1841 at St. George Hanover Sq.
- James John bapt. 1843 at St. George Hanover Sq.
- Hannah Francis bapt. 1845 at St. George Hanover Sq.
- Louisa born 10.5.1846; bapt. 2.1.1848 at St. George Hanover Sq.
- Samuel born 31.7.1849; bapt. 21.3.1851 at Grosvenor Chapel; m. 13.6.1881
- Sarah Ann born 1854; m. 18.3.1874
By 1861, Mary had left the family home and was working as a ‘house servant’ at 88 Park Lane/Street for Elizabeth ZOTTI, a widowed ‘gentlewoman’.
First Marriage
On 10th February 1864, Mary married Albert Houchin at St. George, Hanover Square, London. Albert’s occupation was ‘servant’. Albert had been born in Gt. Ellingham, Norfolk and was baptised there on 5th April 1840. Albert’s father, Robert, was a ‘shoemaker’. Mary’s father is described as a ‘cab proprietor’.
Later that year on 3rd August, Mary gave birth to a son, Robert Edward in Gt. Ellingham, Norfolk; Robert was baptised on the 14th of the same month, in the local parish church. Unusually, there is no occupation given for his father.
Possible sign of illness?
The UK Lunacy records have a Mary Ann Houchin being admitted to the Norfolk Asylum on 9th October 1867; she was discharged as ‘recovered’ on 25th August 1868. The name Houchin is fairly common in Norfolk so this may not be our Mary Ann.
At the time of the 1871 Census, Mary aged 34, is listed as a ‘visitor’ at Church Street, Gt. Ellingham, Norfolk. The head of the household is her brother-in-law George, with widowed mother-in-law Sarah and Mary’s 6 year old son Robert. Unfortunately, I have not been able to locate Mary’s husband, Albert.
Second Marriage
On 9th November 1879, Mary married again – this time to Albert’s brother George Houchin. The marriage took place at the Strand Registry Office in London. Mary is described as a widow living at 21 Stanhope Street and George is a bachelor of 15 White Hart Street. George was two years younger than his brother Albert, and was also born in Gt. Ellingham, Norfolk and baptised there on 9th April 1843.
What happened to Mary’s first husband – Albert?
The only death record found is dated 2nd March 1877 and occurred at Atkinson Morley Hospital in Wimbledon. The hospital was known for neuroscience and brain surgery; it had opened in 1869 following a donation by wealthy hotelier and landowner Mr Atkinson Morley. Mr Morley made a donation of £100,000 “for receiving, maintaining, and generally assisting convalescent poor patients”. My only concern with this record is the man’s occupation – on his marriage Albert was a ‘servant’ and this man is a ‘surveyor’.
1881 and 1891 Censuses
On the 1881 Census Mary, now listed as Margaret, is living at 47 Gibbons Road, Stratford, Essex with husband George and son Robert aged 18. George is a ’carpenter’ and Robert is unemployed.
Ten years later in 1891, George & Mary Ann were back in central London and living at 33 Waverley Road, Paddington. George is still working as a ‘carpenter’.
Admitted to the Workhouse and Asylum
Mary was admitted to Paddington Workhouse, Harrow Road on 12th December 1896 and discharged to Grove Hall on 23rd December 1896. Grove Hall was located in Bow, East London and was a semi-private asylum, admitting both private and pauper patients.
Just over two years later on 23rd June 1899, Mary was admitted to Horton Asylum. Despite a thorough search I cannot find her on the 1901 Census – she should be in Manor or one of the other Horton asylums.
Mary’s husband George however, now aged 63, is living alone at 58 Marlborough Street, Paddington. The house is shared with two other couples.
Death of Second Husband
Mary’s husband George died on 6th August 1903 at Kensington Infirmary. His death certificate gives the cause as “coma, fracture of skull and laceration of brain, caused by a fall”. His home address is given as 64 Askew Road, Shepherd’s Bush. The death certificate further adds that an Enquiry was held on 8th August.
Further investigation led to the following newspaper report highlighting George’s arrest for being drunk.
The above article mentions George’s widow – Fanny. Who is this? Was he living with another woman whilst Mary was in the asylum?
1911 Census
The last census that Mary appears on is the 1911 Census; Mary simply appears as “M.A.H.” aged 34, a widow, born Mayfair. The entry confirms that Mary is in the Manor Asylum.
Visitors’ Book
The Visitors’ book gives the names and addresses of four visitors. George visited his wife on an almost monthly basis until September 1901 when his visits seemed to stop.
Mary’s sister (probably sister-in-law), Mrs Turner also visited her once in 1900. The other two visitors are described as ‘friends’: H.H. Arnold and Mrs Arnold (late Dallaway).
Henry Heard Arnold and his wife Harriet lived in Hammersmith; Harriet had previously been married to Charles Dallaway.
Mary died on 15th April 1914 aged 80.
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