A supportive family
Jonathan Ayliff; Susannah Ayliff (née Wood); Grahamstown from Fort Selwyn; Ayliff family Bible; Horace and Charlotte Louisa Ayliff; Walter Marshall (Walla) Ayliff.
YOU ARE HERE: The Wrong Marshall ► 9. A supportive family
8. Alfred’s father and mother: William Marshall (1812-1901) and Rebecca Oliver (1817-1878)◄ ● ► 10. The Olivers
The family’s assistance in respect of the illness of Alfred’s younger brother, Walter, further demonstrates a closeness and support for William and Rebecca and their family.
Walter Marshall (1853-1874)
Tim Benthall. ©A.P. Benthall Estate
After matriculating, Walter entered Peterhouse College, Cambridge, in 1872 (Venn 1951b, 336). He contracted tuberculosis and was sent to South Africa, where it was hoped that the dry air of the Eastern Cape would help him recover. He unfortunately died at Grahamstown on 25 October 1874 (Pall Mall Gazette 1874). What is not widely known, but is an oft-repeated family story, is that Walter went to live with family members, Jonathan Ayliff and his wife, Susannah. His death notice, signed by Jonathan Ayliff, confirms that he died in their house at West Hill in Grahamstown. 22
The connection was formed by the marriage in 1863 of William Henry Drake, Charlotte’s father, to his second wife, Elizabeth Lucy Wood (Susannah’s sister) (Times 1863). The family rallied around William and Rebecca and arranged for Walter to go to South Africa to live with Charlotte’s step-mother’s sister. Groenewegen surmised that William would have had to pay for Walter’s accommodation (Gronewegen 1995, 26, 39). It is, however, probable that Walter was accommodated at little or no cost, as it is well-known within the family that Jonathan Ayliff was a philanthropist and benefactor.
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| Jonathan Ayliff ©Cousin Georgia |
Ayliff Residence “Greystone” 2014 With recent addition at far end Diocesan School for Girls |
Susannah Ayliff (née Wood) ©Megan Stevens |
The Waterfield family letters provide more details regarding Walter’s death. On 8 December 1874, Elizabeth Waterfield wrote: (Waterfield 1874a)
To-day I have heard from Louisa Marshall[a]. The “son” of whose illness they had heard, was poor Walter[b], and the news of his death has now arrived. Louisa says “he went to Grahamstown last winter. At first he seemed to rally, but he staid on during the cold season, instead of going northwards. Afterwards he was induced to take a waggon & train of bullocks, and travel northwards. He was not strong enough for that mode of travelling and got dysentry, and was brought back to Graham’s Town. Mrs Ayliffe[c] (Lady Drake’s sister)[d] heard of his arrival, fetched him from the hotel to her house, and nursed him with the tenderest care till he died on the 25th of Octr. She says he was cheerful, delighted in reading the Bible or hearing it read. He had been reading with a Clergyman intending to go into the Church, and all his thoughts were turned heavenwards. On the day he died, which was Sunday, Mrs Ayliffe on her return from Church, found him sitting with his man nurse – he looked up cheerfully and asked her to read a chapter he had marked, and he said “Read these last two verses again”. At night she read to him, and on wishing him good night he felt better and hoped to have a better night, but begged she could come in after he was undressed, and read to him again. In half an hour the nurse came to her and said he had been reading ever since, and on going to undress him, saying “Now then we must go to bed”, found that the dear fellow was not breathing – he was gone – without even a sigh! cough. He was sitting in the arm-chair and still.
[b] Walter Marshall (1853-1874).
[c] Susannah Martha Wood (1834-1890), the wife of Jonathan Ayliff (1829-1885).
[d] Elizabeth Lucy Wood (1841-1921) the second wife of Gen. Sir William Henry Drake (1812-1882).
Elizabeth Waterfield, in this same letter, also commented on Rebecca Marshall’s illness that was concerning the family at that time (Waterfield 1874a):
His poor Mother[a] knows nothing and she harrows their feelings by talking constantly of Walter, hoping soon to hear that the waggon expedition has been a success, and so on. She lacks rallying power, otherwise her illness need not be dangerous. Wm.[b] is of course greatly overstrained and how all this will affect him is an anxious thought. I would go to them, but their house[c] is full with the nurse & Alfred and they say I am not wanted, which I am here …. Poor Louisa seems almost crushed by the succession of troubles and anxieties. She says “A wave of sorrow seems passing over our family, and where will it end?”
[b] William Marshall.
[c] 12 Victoria Road (now Victoria Rise), Clapham Common, London.
The reference to Louisa Maria seeming almost crushed by the succession of troubles and anxieties almost certainly refers to Walter’s death coming on top of the death of her brother, Charles Henry Marshall, on 10 August 1874. Charles’s death certificate shows that William, rather than being shunned, was “in attendance” at his death and that William undertook the task of registering his death, undoubtedly to save Charles’s wife, Charlotte, from this sad duty, four months before she gave birth to their son Charles Henry Marshall junior on 2 December 1874.
Rebecca was also embraced. The wider family, including Elizabeth Waterfield, took a keen interest in her illness and kept each other informed. On 17 December 1874, Elizabeth wrote (Waterfield 1874b):
I heard again from Louisa Marshall on Tuesday. Charlotte[a] was going on quite well, but they had received a worse account of Mrs. W.M.[b] and I have not heard of her since.
[b] Rebecca Marshall.
Elizabeth wrote again ten days later (Waterfield 1874c):
We heard a very bad report of Mrs W. Marshall[a] some days ago. Her daughter Agnes[b] wrote to Margaret[c] that the London doctor thought she could not recover, but there had been a slight improvement, and they did not quite despair. We have heard nothing since.
[b] Agnes Marshall (1854-1894).
[c] It is not clear who Margaret was.
And once again on 12 January 1875, also from Totnes (Waterfield 1875): “Nor have we heard anything more of Mrs. W. Marshall so we conclude that no particular change has taken place in her.”
Rebecca did recover from this bout of illness. In letters to Herbert Foxwell, Alfred Marshall wrote on 27 January 1875, “I have been occupied in my mother’s sickness. After hovering at the gate of death for five weeks, she has taken a sudden start & is now out of immediate danger.” ( Whitaker 1996a, 30) On 31 January, he wrote, “I left my Mother progressing with rapid strides.” ( Whitaker 1996a, 31)
Horace Ayliff at Tileworth
©Megan Stevens
Walter’s move to Grahamstown had an unforeseen outcome that prompted further family engagement. Horace Ayliff, Jonathan and Susannah’s eldest surviving son, was a little younger than Walter. He would certainly have got to know Walter quite well prior to his death and Walter seems to have made an impression. In 1879, Horace entered Cambridge University where he obtained a B.A. While in England, he visited Charlotte, where he met her eldest daughter, Charlotte Louisa, who was to become his wife.
Horace returned home to South Africa after graduating in 1884. Charlotte Louisa followed him, and they were married in Cape Town on 23 May 1885. Before she departed, Charlotte Louisa received a Bible as a wedding present. I have that Bible. It is inscribed as follows:
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Charlotte Louisa Marshall Presented to her on the occasion of her marriage May 1885 “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every ©Megan Stevens 2018 |
This was a loving gesture from a religious man. Charlotte Louisa obviously valued it, as the Bible was used to record the births, deaths, and marriages of her descendants (Family Chart). In the context of this discussion, the most interesting entry is the one for Charlotte Louisa’s and Horace’s second son, born in 1896. His name was Walter Marshall Ayliff.
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| Ayliff Bible ©Megan Stevens |
Walter Marshall Ayliff ©Cousin Janet |
Walter had indeed made an impression on Horace.
8. Alfred’s father and mother: William Marshall (1812-1901) and Rebecca Oliver (1817-1878)◄ ● ► 10. The Olivers
Megan Stevens
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