The Three Mistresses of Insole Court
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Version date: 10 April 2013 The Three Mistresses of Insole Court Richard L. Ollerton Mary Ann Jones Marian Louisa Eagle Jessy Ann David 1818-1882 1846-1937 1853-1938 1 The Three Mistresses of Insole Court Insole Court is an interesting Victorian pile set in picturesque grounds in Llandaff on the outskirts of Cardiff, Wales. It was built by coal owner and shipper James Harvey Insole (1821 Worcester-1901 Llandaff) on the proceeds of the Welsh coal mining business founded by his father George Insole (1790 Worcester1-1851 Cardiff) after the family moved to Cardiff in the late 1820s. Built in 1856-7, the Court was initially a relatively modest twin-gabled residence known as Ely Court.2 However, the building subsequently underwent various additions and transformations which reflected the growing affluence and aspirations of its owners. The Court was eventually acquired by the Cardiff Corporation in 1932 as part of the Insole Court from the garden (photo A Salisbury) development of the Cardiff orbital road system, although the Insoles continued to live there until 1938. Watson (1997) comments that ‘most of the ladies of the Insole family are shadowy characters owing to the lack of family records’. Recent research Three women presided over the Court during its eighty-one years as has revealed much about these women and events associated with their residence to the Insole family: lives. This article summarises what is currently known from primary evidence held on file, including parish and civil BMD records, wills and Mary Ann Jones/Insole (1818-1882), probate records, newspapers, passenger lists etc. Text in quotes is taken Marian Louisa Eagle/Carey/Insole/Aitchison (1846-1937) and directly from the relevant record. The following accounts involve a large Jessy Ann David/Insole (1853-1938). number of people, most may be found on the accompanying family trees. Hopefully, the three Mistresses of Insole Court can now be seen more 1 Possibly born in nearby Wichenford and brought to Worcester for baptism. distinctly. 2 It was renamed ‘The Court’ after the 1906-9 renovations and was sold under that name in 1932. Although known locally as ‘Insole Court’ by the late 1930s, it was not until much later that this name became official. (While technically anachronistic, it is hoped some literary licence will be allowed for the title of this article.) 1 The Three Mistresses of Insole Court Mary Ann Jones (1818-1882) Mary Ann Jones (23 September 1818 – 4 May 1882) In June 1841 Mary Ann (22) was living in Bristol Road (probably Priory Cottage) with her mother Ann (~56) and siblings James (1817-1872, Mary Ann was born in Birmingham, the engraver; later also printer), John Jukes4 (1820-1895, law stationer; later third of six children and eldest daughter factor, saddler’s ironmonger and coal merchant), Thomas Webb (1822- of Thomas Jones (~1790 Birmingham- 1893, saddler’s ironmonger) and Sarah Lill[e]y5 (1824-1895). A seamstress 1844 Edgbaston) and his wife Ann Jukes 6 and two female servants were also living in the house. (~1785 Birmingham-1851 Edgbaston) who were married in St Martin Two and a half years later, on Thursday 28 December 1843, Mary Ann Birmingham on Christmas Day 1813. Jones (25) and James Harvey Insole (22) were married in the parish church, Mary Ann’s father was a Birmingham Edgbaston. Mary Ann was living in Edgbaston, James Harvey in St Mary’s, saddler’s ironmonger who, by at least Cardiff. The marriage register was witnessed by Mary Ann’s father Thomas 1828, was in partnership with James and sister Sarah Lilly. How did Mary Ann of Birmingham/Edgbaston and Harvey Insole’s great-uncle George Insole James Harvey of Worcester/Cardiff meet? James Harvey is likely to have (1764-1831). George lived in Bristol Road visited his great-uncle George in Birmingham with his father George Insole.7 Edgbaston and Mary Ann’s grandmother Did she meet her father’s business partner’s great-nephew while he was Mary Webb/Jones was his housekeeper before her death in 1830. visiting from Worcester as a young boy (two and a half years her junior)? Or did she see James Harvey at his great-uncle George’s funeral in 1831 while The Jones family lived in Cannon Street3 Birmingham from at least 1816. he was a school-boy? Or did Mary Ann meet James Harvey when he visited Mary Ann was baptized at St Martin’s Birmingham in October 1818. his uncle James Insole (who took over the Birmingham saddlers’ Between 1830 and 1835 the family moved to Priory Cottage, Bristol Road ironmonger business after 1831) as a young man? Any, or indeed all, of Edgbaston. The house was described (in 1844) as ‘very genteel’, these scenarios may have occurred. ‘comfortable and well fitted-up’, ‘consisting of entrance-hall, three parlours, six lodging-rooms, best and secondary kitchens, brewhouse, wine Just six months after Mary Ann was married, in July 1844, the family and beer cellars, Carriage-house, Stable, and all suitable Out-offices with suffered a shock with the death of Mary Ann’s father, aged 54.8 Mary Ann large Garden, walled around, in which is a commodious Green-house and an elegant Summer-arbour, and the ground in front is very ornamental’. 4 Middle name not surname, similarly for his brother Thomas Webb. 5 Spelt ‘Lilley’ in the baptismal register (possibly a family-related name as Jukes and In June 1837 Mary Ann’s eldest brother Frederick Watkin died at age 22 Webb) but ‘Lilly’ elsewhere. 6 ‘after a long illness’. Mary Ann’s father has not been found in the 1841 Census. 7 Great-uncle George Insole’s 1831 will and Death Duties file show there was a strong relationship between the two Georges. 8 So the death certificate but possibly in his 54th year. Occupation is given as factor 3 Probably where Mary Ann was born. but his will gives both saddler’s ironmonger and factor. 2 The Three Mistresses of Insole Court Mary Ann Jones (1818-1882) would probably have travelled from Cardiff back to Birmingham to mourn carpets, dining tables, bookcases, a grand piano-forte, maple and gold with the family.9 The death certificate indicates that Thomas committed framed prints etc. Mary Ann was left a share of the estate in her mother’s suicide ‘in a state of Insanity’ by hanging at Priory Cottage. The property will.14 was put up for sale in August 1844 and Thomas’ will left Mary Ann a share By July 1852 James Harvey’s address (and presumably that of Mary Ann and of the estate. [death duty file] family also) was ‘Old Penhill, Llandaff’. Between 1845 and 1847 Mary Ann and James Harvey had three children, James Walter (1845-1898), Mary Ann Lilly10 (1846-1917) and George In October 1853, Mary Ann (35) attended the wedding of James Harvey’s 11 sister Julia Ann Insole in Llandaff Cathedral. Mary Ann signed the marriage Frederick (1847-1917). All were baptized at St John’s, Cardiff while the family was living at Crockherbton,12 probably either with or next door to register as a witness. James Harvey’s parents. In 1855 the Insoles’ address was ‘Old Penhill, near Llandaff’. Mary Ann’s father-in-law George Insole died on New Year’s Day 1851 in 1856-7 – James Harvey builds a modest residence known as Ely Court15 Crockherbton aged 60. The Insole family moved into Ely Court in 1857 and Mary Ann (28) became 13 By March 1851 Mary Ann (32) and James Harvey (29, ‘Coal Miner or the first Mistress of the Court. Merchant’) were living next door to James Harvey’s mother in Crockherbton. Mary Ann’s brother Thomas Webb was also visiting the In April 1861 Mary Ann (42) and James Harvey (39, ‘Colliery Proprietor’) Insoles in Cardiff at this time. The house was described (when sold in 1881) were living at Ely Court. Her sister Sarah Lilly was also with them but their as a ‘large and commodious Freehold Residence’. now teenage children were attending schools in England – Walter and Fred at Cheltenham, Mary Ann at Bath. Three female house servants were also In June of the same year Mary Ann’s mother Ann Jukes/Jones died at her living at Ely Court. home in Grey Place, Bristol Road Edgbaston aged 66, so Mary Ann would probably have again travelled to Birmingham for the funeral. The estate In September 1862 ‘Mr and Mrs JH Insole, Ely Court, Llandaff’ stayed at sale included a large amount of household furniture: beds, wardrobes, Queen’s Hotel, Llandudno. Mary Ann’s son Fred completed his schooling at Cheltenham in June 1865. 9 Probably accompanied by James Harvey who was also an executor of the will. 10 Named after Mary Ann’s sister Sarah Lilly? 11 Named after Mary Ann’s brother Frederick Watkin and/or a reference to James 14 The will left £200 to the eldest son and the residue was to be divided between Harvey’s younger brother George Frederick who died in infancy? the other four children. Unfortunately, after the £200 was paid there was no 12 Then a fashionable area on the outskirts of Cardiff, now part of the central residue. shopping precinct. 15 Information about the house and its remodelling is based on John Isaacs’ 13 Mary Ann’s age is consistently reduced by one year in the 1851-81 Censuses. account of a talk given by Matthew Williams, Curator of Cardiff Castle. 3 The Three Mistresses of Insole Court Mary Ann Jones (1818-1882) Mary Ann’s mother-in-law Mary Finch/Insole died at her home in transform the whole building’ Crockherbton in August 1866 aged 74.