Died
12 July 1921
Aged c66 yrs
Born
1854
Sources
Ancestry
Various websites listed in the text
Place
Walks
Themes
Theodosia Henrietta Alice Blondel
With such an unusual name, I Googled daughter Theodosia, and found that a Charity had been founded in her name: Theodosia Henrietta Alice Blondel For The Sick And Poor Relief Fund
The website tells us that the charity was registered on 24 Oct 1961, and removed from the register on 21 Apr 2011.
Reason for removal: Ceased to exist.
The Charity’s purpose had been for the benefit of sick poor people, and made grants to individuals and organisations.
THY
WILL BE DONE
IN MEMORY OF
MARY JANE FELL
WHO DIED NOV. 29TH 1887
AGED 57 YEARS.
ALSO OF THEODOSIA, WIDOW OF THE LATE
HENRY ADOLPHUS BLONDEL
WHO DIED OCT: 20TH 1905, AGED 73 YEARS
ALSO OF
THEODOSIA HENRIETTA ALICE,
THEIR DAUGHTER
WHO ENTERED INTO REST 12TH JULY 1921
SANS PEUR ET SANS REPROCHE
(Without fear and without reproach)
According to Rootsweb, Henry Adolphus Blondel was christened in London on 26 April 1825, parents being Francis Augustus and Elizabeth Blondel. However, the Geni family tree has him dying in 1854.
Theodosia Harriet Alice Blondel
Theodosia Harriet Alice Blondel has the following entries on Ancestry:
National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills & Administrations) 1858 – 1995
Blondel Theodosia Henrietta Alice of Ashlands Church-walk Ulverston Lancashire spinster died 12 July 1921 Probate Lancaster 1 September to Arthur Ward Collins M.D. and Stephen Hart Jackson (the younger) solicitor. Effects £7219 0s 11d.
She was born in the 3rd quarter of 1854 in Brixton (Lambeth), Surrey. A Henry Adolphus Blondel died in Lambeth in the same quarter.
1871 Census
1871 Census living at 3 Hoad Terrace, Ulverston, were Mary Fell (41), born West Indies, living on interest of money; Theodosia Blondel, (39) sister, born West Indies, living on interest of money; Theodosia H.A. Blondel (16) niece, born Brixton, Surrey, scholar; and Mary A. Penney, (22), servant, born Ulverston.
1881 Census
The three members of the family were listed on Church Walk in the 1881 Census with Mary Jane Tyson (16), servant, born Ulverston.
1891 Census
1891 Census living at Ashlands, Church Walk, Ulverston were Theodosia Blondel, (59) born British West Indies, living on own means; Theodosia H.A. Blondel (36) daughter, born Brixton, London; and Margaret A. Sawrey, (30), general domestic servant, born Lowick.
1901 Census
1901 Census living at Ashlands, Church Walk, Ulverston were Theodosia Blondel, (68) born British West Indies, living on own means; Alice Blondel (45) daughter, born Brixton, London; and Jane Shaw, (23), general domestic servant, born Carke (sic).
National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills & Administrations) 1858 – 1995
Blondel Theodosia of “Ashlands” Church-walk Ulverston Lancashire died 20 October 1905 at 47 Gower-street Middlesex Probate Lancaster 24 November to Theodosia Harriet Alice Blondel spinster. Effects £12543 16s.
National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills & Administrations) 1858 – 1995
Fell Mary Jane 23 January 1888 The Will of Mary Jane Fell late of Church Walk, Ulverston in the County of Lancaster Spinster who died 29 November 1887 at Ulverston was proved in Lancaster by Theodosia Blondel of Ashlands Ulverston the Sister the sole Executrix.
Barrow Records Office
In the Barrow Records Office (document BDHJ/286/16), dated 14 Sept. 1922 I found that there had been a dispute over a will. In part the document reads “King Edward’s Hospital Fund for London to A. W. Collins Esq. and S. Hart Jackson Esq. Release and Indemnity.
Indenture between King Edward’s Hospital Fund for London 7 Walbrook St. Residuary Legatees and Arthur Ward COLLINS of Fountain Street Ulverston in the County of Lancaster M.D. and STEPHEN Hart JACKSON the Younger of Ulverston aforesaid Solicitor of the other part WHEREAS Theodosia Henrietta Alice Blondel of Ashlands Church Walk Ulverston … (after certain bequests and funerary expenses) left the residue of the proceeds to the residuary legatees absolutely … AND WHEREAS one Jessie Rose Theodosia Fell did on the twenty ninth day of September 1921 claim to be entitled to said real estate as heiress in law of Robert Fell the uncle … but which claim has no foundation in law ….
First Schedule: A freehold dwellinghouse and garden called “Ashlands” situate in Church Walk Ulverston aforesaid.
Second Schedule:
£3867 Furness Railway 3% Debenture
£1600 Midland Railway 2½% Debenture
£560 Midland Railway 2½% Perp. Debenture
£200 Great Central Railway 4¼% South Yorkshire Rent Stock
£100 Great Eastern Railway 3½% Pref.
£3400 Lancashire & Yorkshire 3% Debenture
£100 Metropolitan District Railway 4% Midland Charge Stock
£367 London & North Western Railway 3% Perp. Deb.
£1500 London & North Western Railway 4% Consolidated Guaranteed Stock
£100 Melbourne Electric Supply Co. 5% First Mortgage Stock
£60 William Whitely Ltd. Ordinary £1 shares
£205 5s 3d War Loan 1929-47.”
Thomas Fell
Slave owner According to the University College, London, database, Thomas Fell made St Kitts claim 121 on the abolition of slavery, and was awarded £59 11s 10d on 5th October 1835 for the ‘loss’ of 3 slaves.
(BDHJ/281/2/3) is an Affidavit of Theodosia Blondel sole surviving executrix, sworn before Stephen Hart Jackson 11 April 1890. Regarding the children of Thomas Fell mentioned above, it says:
- Mary Jane Fell died Nov 29 1887
- Had sold the land owned by MJ Fell and herself to brother Robert Fell.
- Elizabeth Ann Fell died June 8 1869.
- Thomas Fell left the island on 6 May 1859 and has never been heard of again.
- Therefore Robert Fell has all rights to land in St. Kitts.
(BDHJ/281/2/4) is a testy letter to Stephen Hart Jackson from Robert Fell, 3 Lorn-road, Brixton, London, dated 18 April 1890. In it he states:
I am not much pleased at such remarks emanating from my sister, for I have acted in every respect honourably, and very fairly, and have not withheld from her any portion of my Father’s Estate to which she was entitled.
I regret very exceedingly that this should arise between us. I had no mercenary intent, and did not know she was ill when I wrote to her March 25 1890.
The younger Theodosia seems to have been called Alice. In (document BDHJ/281/2/6), a letter dated 12 July 1921 – coincidentally the day she died, her cousin R. J. Fell of 66 Denbigh Street, South Belgravia London, SW, wrote:
My Dear Cousin
Peace and greetings, kindly accept, it’s the only way after this last war, in which we all suffered, some more, some less.
I am thankful today that I am again well, mentally and physically, after answering the call for My Country, King and People. You will notice the improvement by photo enclosed.
….
I hope that you will not take umbrage over this letter, families since the war keep in close touch with each (other) now, no matter what their position and personally, I am rather proud of being one of T. Fell’s grandsons.
Good wishes to you, honest & success
Your cousin
R J Fell
On the reverse of this studio portrait (courtesy of Barrow Archive Service) it says:
Wounded in Cambrai Battle, France
20th November, 1917.
R. J. Fell
1st July 1921
Grandson of Thomas Fell, St Kitts, West Indies
On the front it is signed R. J. Fell.
1891 Census
1891 Census 2 Kennington Road, Kensington lived Robert Fell (44), XXX Merchant; Roger W. Fell (14); Robert J. Fell (10); all born St. Christopher.
In WW1 Private Robert J Fell (15110) 6th Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers) and later 6th Reserve Regiment Dragoons. Enlisted 2 March 1916. Discharged physically unfit 20 September 1918. An alternative number may be GS/14816. His middle/ name is given on this second document as Jackson.
1924 Electoral Roll
On the 1924 Electoral Roll he is living at 2 Glamorgan Street, City of Westminster.
