The Ward Family
Emily Mason (Ward) Risley
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Emily Mason (Ward) Risley
photograph courtesy of Robert King
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1825/6, in Clerkenwell, Middlesex,
England
Emily is recorded as aged 52 at her death on 8 April 1878, indicating birth
in 1825/6, and listed as aged 35 in the 1861 census, also indicating birth
in 1825/6
At her immigration to South Africa, arriving in Durban on 1 February 1867,
Emily is recorded as aged 38, indicating birth in 1828/9, and if my identification
in the 1851 census is correct, then Emily would have been 20 in 1851,
indicating birth in 1830/1, which latter dates are more in line with her
parents marriage in 1828.
Thomas Ward
Margaret
(Mason) Ward
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Inscription in the bible of Emily Mason
Ward from William Risley, dated 7 February 1850
photograph courtesy of Robert King
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William
Risley on 22 June 1851 in St Michael Chester Square in the parish of
St George Hanover Square, Middlesex
William Risley is recorded as a bachelor, of full age, the son of Joseph
Risley, gardener. William is a gardener, resident at Besborough Lodge,
Putney. Emily Mason Ward is recorded as a spinster, of full age, the
daughter of Thomas Ward, clerk. She is resident at 31 Eaton Square. They
were married after banns by J. H. Hamilton, witnessed by George Delang and
Alicia Gandy.
Banns
of the marriage between William Risley, bachelor of the parish of St
Mary Putney, Surrey, and Emily Mason Ward, spinster of the parish of St Luke
Chelsea, Middlesex, were published on the previous Sundays, 1 June 1851, 8
June 1851 and 15 June 1851.
Emily
emigrated to Natal aboard
the Natal Star, arriving in
Durban on 1 February 1867. She is recorded as aged 38, and surety was
stood by her husband, William Risley, who had emigrated earlier, and her
brother-in-law, Joseph Risley, both of Pietermaritzburg. Accompanying Emily
on the Natal Star were her
children Emily, Arthur, Alice, William J., Fred H., John E., Clara and
Joseph.
An article about William Risley mentions Emily's contribution to charitable
works in Pietermaritzburg.
The Natalian - September 11, 1908
A Great Bereavement
In 1878 William Risley suffered an irreparable loss in the death of his
wife who had so bravely struggled with him in days of poverty, and who
had so nobly helped him towards prosperity. His family lost a
dearly-loved mother, and the whole community lost a true friend and a
grand example. The death of Mrs. Risley made a breach in the charitable
ranks of Pietermaritzburg which was hard to fill. Her charity was "not
as sounding brass" - it was unostentatious, unassuming, and kindly. Her
left hand hardly knew what her right did, but to this day many can
testify to the many solid acts of true Christian kindness of one who had
well bourne her burden and share in the hard work, and difficult
struggles, in the early days when Natal was in the making. The late Mrs.
Risley did the present writer many a little kindness in his early days
in this colony, and he salutes her memory with deep respect. May she
rest in peace!
8 April 1878, at Church Street,
Pietermaritzburg, Natal, aged 52
Emily Risley is recorded as the wife of William Risley, seedsman of
Pietermaritzburg.
The cause of death is listed as acute bronchitis.
(possibly) 1851:
Saint Mary Lambeth, Surrey: Emily Ward is an unmarried servant in the
house of George Bates, a dairy man. She is aged 20, born in Pimlico,
Middlsex
1861: Blyth (West Side), Blyth,
Nottinghamshire
George Mason Ward
10 March 1831
7 April 1831, in Shoreditch St
Leonard, Middlesex, England
George is recorded as the son of Thomas and Margaret Ward. Thomas is a
warehouseman, resident at Winkworth Buildings.
Thomas Ward
Margaret
(Mason) Ward
Thomas Ward
Margaret
Mason on 4 April 1828 in St Luke Old Street, Middlesex, England
Thomas Ward is recorded as a widower of the parish of St Luke. Margaret
Mason is recorded as a spinster of the parish of St Luke. The marriage, by
banns, was officiated by John Howard Rice and witnessed by Baryre
Mason and Matilda Mason.
Warehouseman (1831); Clerk
(1851)
1828: parish of St Luke Old Street, Middlesex (marriage record)
1831: Winkworth Buildings, City Road, Middlesex (baptism record of
son George)
- Marriage
register of St Luke Old Street p217 #650; Thomas is recorded as a
widower, indicating this is not his first marriage
- Warehouseman from
baptism record of son George at parish registers St Leonard Shoreditch;
clerk from marriage register of his daughter Emily Mason Ward from St
Michael Chester Square (1851 p102 #203)
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