Elizabeth Nicholls, Eton Lodge and the Christmas Letter

Elizabeth Nicholls Eton Lodge, The Park, Cheltenham

There is in the Willis Family Archives a handwritten letter from my great aunt Elizabeth
Nicholls to her parents, written just after Christmas at some point between 1913 and
1925. (These are assumed dates as she would have been fifteen in 1913, and died in
1925). The letter was written from 'Eton Lodge, The Park, Cheltenham, nr Gloucester',
on a 'Friday evening'. [A transcription of the letter, and a copy of the original, are included at the
end of this document.]

Within the letter are mentioned members of Elizabeth's immediate family: her sisters
Bertha, Dorothy and Alice, and her brother William ['Willie']. What appears to be her
close friend and colleague - Mansell; and also some other character who, from her use of
the title 'Master' and 'Miss', appear to be members of the family who own the house.
These names are Master Phil and Master Donald, and Miss Emma and Miss Marjorie. There
is also reference to 'the General' (who gave Elizabeth a Christmas present of 5 shillings),
and 'Mrs Stewart' who gave her a pair of new boots.

The following information was supplied by Cheltenham Reference Library concerning the
residents of Eton Lodge in the period from 1915 to 1925:
• 1915 - Mrs Hefferson [her husband died in 1911 and was a Surgeon General]
[source: street directory]
• 1916/17 - the property was emtpy [source: street directory]
• 1919 - Mr Frederick John S Adam [source: Electoral Roll]
• 1920 - Mrs Frederica Sybil Stewart [source: Electoral Roll]
• 1921-1923 - Dr A F Condor [sources: street directory and Electoral roll]

I have highlighted the important link – Mrs Frederica Sybil Stewart. My belief is that
Elizabeth wrote her letter in 1919. This is based on two instances from the letter where
Mrs Stewart is given prominence: firstly, Elizabeth mentions the present she received
from Mrs Stewart first, before any others. Secondly, she mentions that Mrs Stewart asked
her which present she liked the best; Elizabeth says "well I did not know what to say as
they were all very nice so I said the boots, but Mrs Stewart said the muff and furs was
the best present she thought but I said they were all very nice and useful". This sounds
to me as though Elizabeth is trying to give the polite answer to her employer, but saying
that the present she gave her was the best.
I have been doing some research into 'Mrs Stewart'. On searching the internet for her full
name I came across two matches:
A transcription of a column in South Africa Magazine, February 10, 1900, titled 'Domestic
Announcements:
Marriages:
STEWART—ADAM—On February 6, at St. Stephen’s Church, Bandra, Bombay, by
the Rev. R. Hugh Gundry, M.A., Robert Barton Stewart, Indian Civil Service, second
son of the late Robert Stewart, of the Standard Bank of South Africa, to Frederica
Sybil (Freda), youngest daughter of Colonel Adam, Indian Staff Corps.
http://www.genealogyworld.net/ellen/domestic/Domestics2-10-1900.htm

This from the WW2 Roll of Haileybury Boarding School, Hertfordshire:

GUY MILTON STEWART, Brigadier Royal Engineers, who died on Friday 29 January
1943 . Age 42 .
Additional Information: Son of Robert Barton Stewart, formerly I.C.S., and
Frederica Sybil Stewart; husband of Elaine Oenone Stewart, of Camberley.
Cemetery: YORKTOWN (ST. MICHAEL) CHURCHYARD Surrey, United Kingdom Grave
or Reference Panel Number: New Plot. Sec. 2. Row 10. Grave 2.Haileybury
Register 1862-1983
http://www.haileybury.herts.sch.uk/archives/roll/HAILEYBURY%201943.htm

Further searches for 'Frederick J S Adam' (Fredericka's father) produced the following:
THE LONDON GAZETTE, JANUARY 8, 1895.
INDIAN STAFF CORPS.
Colonel Frederick J. S. Adam is transferred to the Unemployed Supernumerary
List. Dated 20th December, 1894.
http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/ViewPDFContent.aspx?pdf=26587&geotype=London&gpn=157&type=ArchivedIssuePage

A trawl through the Census returns produced the following result:

1901 [31 March]:16 Leybourne Road, Dover [Parish of St Peter and St Paul]

Relation to
Names Age Birthplace Occupation
Head
FREDERICK J S St James, Colonel, Indian
64 Head
ADAM London Army
Futtehghur N W
Mary J Adam 62 Wife
P, India
Indian Civil
Robert B Stewart 36 Son-in-Law Chertsey, Surrey
Service
Frederica S Kurrachee Lind,
26 Daughter
Stewart India
Guy M Stewart 4 months Grandson Sydenham, Kent
St Pancras,
Susan Smerdon 37 Servant Cook [Domestic]
London
Grantham, Housemaid
Kate M Marshall 24 Servant
Lincolnshire [Domestic]
Lilian A Beets 22 Servant Dover, Kent Nurse [Domestic
It will be noted that Frederica's Stewart's father in this Census Return is Frederick J S
Adam – the same name as apprears on the Cheltenham Electoral Roll for Eton Lodge in
1919.
A search through the Death Registrations revealed a Frederick J S Adam, whose death
was registered in Cheltenham in the 1st quarter of 1920, aged 83 [ref: Volume 6a page
577]. Again, this would match with the Frederick J S Adam listed in the 1901 Census as
being 64. His birth year would therefore be 1837. Assuming that 'the General' mentioned
in Elizabeth's letter is the same person as 'Colonel' Frederick Adam ('the General' being
probably either a 'form of address' suggested by him, or Elizabeth's misunderstanding as
to his former military rank) I would propose that Elizabeth's letter was written just after
Christmas 1919 - when Frederick John S Adam is listed as the owner of Eton Lodge.

As Elizabeth's letter was dated 'Friday evening', a look at the calendar for 1919 reveals
that Christmas Day was on a Thursday, and therefore it is quite probably that the letter
was written on Boxing Day evening.

So, we have a link with Dover! I can only assume that, at some point, Elizabeth Nicholls
went to work for the Adams/Stewart family and moved with them when they went to
Cheltenham.

In 1919 Frederika Stewart was 44, Elizabeth would have been 22. Five years later, on 2nd
September 1925, Elizabeth died at her parents home in Dover. The causes of death were
recorded as (1) Chronic Nephritis and (2) Pernicious Anaemia. Her occupation was listed
as 'House Parlour Maid'.
Transcription of letter from Elizabeth (Lizzie) Nichols to her parents, William and
Susannah. The letter is not dated, but simply says 'Friday night'.

Eton Lodge
The Park
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire

My Dear Mother & Father

Thank you very much for your most lovely gift. I was very delighted with them indeed now I
shall be able to go swanking about with the muff and furs and shoes[.] The nuts were very
exceptable.

Mansell and I had the mince pies for our supper and we had to go to bed because they
made us feel so queer (it was bed time). We enjoyed them very much only there was not
enough. We were very quiet and we also had a good dinner. We had turkey, potatoes,
sausages, brussell sprouts, bread source, and gravy. Then there was the Christmas
pudding I had to carry that in while it was all alight we stuck a piece of holly in the middle
of the pudding, Mansell found sixpence in her piece of pudding but I did not have any in
my piece. It was very rich and then we had mince pies so we did not do bad at all. I told
Mansell I expected you were all enjoying yourself while we were just sitting by the fire
reading we were in bed at 9.30.

I had some very nice presents, what do you think Mrs Stewart gave me, why a new pair of
boots they are lovely. I never expected such a present. Then the General gave me 5/-,
Miss Emma a set of collars and cuffs, Master Phil and Master Donald gave me a lovely
box of stationery one each. Miss Marjorie a little scented handkerchief cushion, Mansell
gave me a pendant and chain which belonged to her dead sister she said she knows that I
shall take great care of it and prize it as it belonged to her sister, then I had a fancy
handkerchief from Mrs Davies that is the person that comes to work here and I had a
photo frame from Marion, and a pair of gloves from Bertha which I was most thankful for,
and Hilda a matchbox case. I had a card from Auntie Edie, I had several cards. Oh, and I
had some toffee and a card from Mr and Mrs Mussett, so I did very well this year.
Mansell is also giving me a shimese she bought the stuff some time ago its a lovely piece
of calico it is one of those patterns that you do all the fancy work round the neck with silks
she tried to get it done in time for Christmas but she did not manage it we have been so
busy.

Master Phil and Miss Marjorie are going away for a weeks holiday in January. Master
Donald goes back to school on the 16th of January. I do not think we are coming back to
Dover at Easter. We shall be coming in July as far as I know.

Well dear Mother and Father I am still keeping well and I have to still continue to go to the
hospital every Tuesday and I have to still keep gargling my throat. We are having very bad
weather it is pouring with rain tonight.

I hope Jack enjoyed his bone give him my love and tell him to keep smiling. Our turkey is
all gone, it was a very small one. Has Dorothy got a place yet? Thank Alice very much for
her letter tell her she [has] no business to stay out till that our. Our chickens have all
stop[ped] laying we have got 8 chickens hanging up in the larder that we had killed on
Tuesday. How are all of you getting on is your mouth better? I was very pleased with
Willie's letters. I could not make out who ever the letter was from as the address was
written so nicely and such a nice letter. Tell Willie to try and work hard. Tell him we will
have a good time when I come home again we will have a piano and a tin can so as to
make a grand noise. I wonder how Winnie is getting on, having a good time I expect. Has
Bertha got a young man yet? I never hear anything. How is Mr and Mrs Clifford and family
are they still keeping well? Give Mrs Clifford my love when you see her and tell Bertha I
shall write to her and Hilda on Sunday or perhaps tomorrow. I am not certain when I shall
write but I expect it will be Sunday.

Oh and I must tell you Mrs Stewart asked me which I liked best out of all my presents, well
I did not know what to say as they were all very nice so I said the boots but Mrs Stewart
said the muff and furs was the best present she thought but I said they were all very nice
and useful.

Well dear Mother and Father I don't think I have any more news at present so give my love
to them all at home and Mansell sends her love to you all and thanks you very much for
the card. So now I close with heaps of love to you all.

From your loving daughter,

Lizzie xxxx

PS Mansell said she wishes you all a happy new year.

Elizabeth's original letter:
(Elizabeth's greetings and wishes continue in the top margin of Page 1)