This weeks post is written by my cousin, Sue Toms, who has been researching the story of her grandmother, Rosina Spillett, who was also my great aunt. Sue and I share the same great grandfather whose son, Henry fell in love with Rosina. They became responsible for the heart of this fascinating story.
My grandmother, Rosie, loved mashed banana with bread and butter, for lunch. To this day I follow her example. Rosina came from a generation of frugal living. Bread and jam. No butter. Porridge and salt. Blackberries picked from the hedgerow, bottled or jammed. Chestnuts in the autumn painstakingly pealed and roasted. Oranges pierced with cloves to scent the room at Christmas.
As well as being a Granny, Rosina was a nanny, a daughter, a mother, and wife to Henry. She lived in Oxted, Surrey for most of her life, near to many of the Spillett family. However, her story begins in London.
Rosina Payne
Rosina Elizabeth Payne was born in 1892, the middle daughter of a family of boys. Her father was Charles Richard Payne, born in 1857, and her mother was Amelia Ann Rowe, born in 1860. They were married in 1882, at Chelsea Holy Trinity Church, when Amelia was 23 and Charles was 26. Their fathers signed the register, Benjamin Payne and Henry Rowe.
Amelia, in most probability, met Charles when she lived near Pimlico and did bookwork for a local shop. Charles was working in a butcher shop in Pimlico at that time. Eileen, the only granddaughter of Amelia and Charles, described them as “go getters”. They enjoyed going to musicals and the theatre and walked by the River Thames in Cremont Gardens, where they would spot famous actors and actresses from the West End. Amelia used to make clothes inspired by these actresses.
Both Charles and his father were butchers, and worked in Wandsworth High Street and Battersea, with Charles later working at Smithfield Meat Market. Charles was known as the Silver King of Smithfield because he had a silver streak in his jet- black hair.
Rosina Elizabeth was named after two of Amelia’s sisters, of whom she had four, Annie, Rosina, Elizabeth and Henrietta. Charles had two sisters Elizabeth, (married Andrew Wotherspoon in St Luke’s Church Chelsea in 1881. Witnesses Robert and Susanna Abbey) and Diana who married James Wotherspoon and moved to live in Newark, Essex, New Jersey)
Rosina was one of 7 living children.
Charles born 1886 (Brockland USA)
William Paul born 1890
Fred born 1890
Arthur
Rosina born 1892
Florence born 1896 (died)
Benjamin born 1897 in Wandsworth
Harry
I know little of Rosina’s childhood. She went, along with her bothers, to Jessops Road School and Garret Lane School, both of which were near to where they were living in Cicada Road Wandsworth. (27 Cicada Road and 44 Pimlico Road were both owned by Benjamin Payne, but it appears they lived in 50 Cicada Road). All are near each other.
Then a series of mysteries occur.
All the family went to the USA before 1886, because Charles junior was born there. However, the family returned before Fred was born in 1890
Did they migrate to be near Charles’s sisters Elizabeth and Diane in the USA? Why did they return?
Charles was alive to father more children, but was dead before Rosina was married.
At this moment I can find no record of Charles Richard Payne’s death. However, by the time. Rosina was 9 and Benjamin was 3 they attended St Augustine’s Children’s Home in Hampstead, which was an orphanage and Charles doesn’t appear to be alive or in London.
Both Benjamin and Charles, Rosina’s grandfather and father were declared bankrupt in 1883 and 1897 respectively. However, when Benjamin died in 1896, he left £800, approximately £83,000 today. What happened to the money? Why were the children in care? There were other family members of the Rowe family in London, why did none appear to help Amelia Ann? This was not discussed with Eileen, Rosina’s daughter, who believed that St Augustine’s was an ordinary school, attended by Rosina. Fred was at the North Surrey District School, Anerley, again a children’s home, although this is anecdotal and has yet to be verified. I have not extended my search for the other siblings who were older.
In the census of 1911, it appears that an Amelia Ann was working as a servant in London.She completed a census form for herself and 3 other servants. She was 50, married for 29 years, having 11 children, 7 alive and 4 dead. The owner of the house, not present for the census, was the Earl of Altamont, and the address was 7, Upper Belgrave Street, Belgrave Square, SW London. I believe that the dates and details fit Amelia Ann, Rosina’s mother. However, Eileen always maintained that her grandmother worked for the Siamese Legation in London, of which I can find no proof.
I believe these mysteries will never be solved and will be part of our family history.
It was well documented that my grandmother, Rosina, became a nanny to the wealthy Chasemore family and was working for them when she was 19. In the census of 1911, the family lived in Wandsworth and consisted of
Archibald Ellis Chasemore,
Edith Rose Chasemore, his wife,
Lilian Dorothy Chasemore, aged 7,
Eileen Edith Chasemore.
Their younger brother, Lesley Archibald Ellis Chasemore was born later.
Archibald Chasemore worked in Putney as an architect and surveyor. I believe the address was 24, Oxford Road Putney.
These addresses are all within a short distance of where Rosina lived and grew up.
Rosina Payne, nanny.
During this period of time colleges were established to train young girls for the career of a nanny. Founded in 1892 by educational pioneer Emily Ward, Norland was the first educational establishment to offer any kind of childcare training. I cannot find any proof that my grandmother Rosina underwent any training, but her style and education seem to make it likely. A wealthy family such as the Chasemores would be likely to hire a professional nanny. Rosina lived with them until she was 28 and got married.
The Chasemores moved to Stockett’s Manor Farm in Surrey by 1915. This was a very large estate and country house, near to Oxted where the Spilletts lived and worked. Here Rosina looked after the 3 children as well as Edith’s mother.
Rosina was very fond of the Chasemore family and they treated her very well. Her own daughter was named after the girls, Eileen and Dorothy (never called Lillian).
Later, when I was about 6, I was bridesmaid at Dorothy’s daughter’s wedding on Limpsfield Chart. Rosina kept in contact with the Chasemore children all her life, both of the girls dying before her. There are several photos of Rosina in her uniform.
It was during this time that Rosina met Henry Spillett in Oxted. Her daughter Eileen imagined this scenario. Rosina would have taken the Chasemore children to school from Stockett’s Manor in Hurst Green to Limpsfield, passing through Old Oxted on the way. The likely means of transport would have been horse and trap. As coach builders it was likely that the Spillett family would have serviced their vehicle, as well as the horse and trap passing the Spillett’s shop on this journey.
Henry Spillet Snr on the left. He was a coach builder and coach decorator by trade but had become a publican and was the landlord of the Wheatsheaf, next door to the bicycle shop which was run by his son Henry, on the right.
Henry Spillett married Rosina on the 10th April 1920. He was 26 and she was 28. They married at St Gabriel’s Church, Pimlico. Rosina’s address was given as 8, Sutherland Street, Pimlico, a short walk from the church. It seemed unlikely that any of the family lived in Pimlico at the time. Henry’s mother and Rosina’s mother were witnesses. There are several photos of the wedding including 2 unknown bridesmaids. These I believe to be Sarah Spillett’s youngest sisters Christine and Ruth, who were near Rosina’s age, and were said to look very much like Rosina. (Sarah was the second wife of Henry Spillett).
Rosina and Henry Spillett on their wedding day, 1920
Rosina Elizabeth and Henry Matthew, always known as Dibby, along with their daughter Eileen Dorothy, who was born in 1922, lived above the cycle shop in Old Oxted. Eileen’s home birth was not an easy one and Dr Bentley was involved as well as the district nurse.
One part of the shop was used for repairs and selling Raleigh bikes, for which Henry had a long service plaque. The other half was used for selling and playing records. Henry had a gramophone with a long handle, which he played with the front door of the shop wide open. Villagers used to come and listen free of charge. Rosina helped in the shop as well as dress making. She made all of Eileen’s clothes, including coats, underwear and nightwear. Rosina was musical and played the piano by ear. She enjoyed singing and joined the church and WI choir. These two stories are from Eileen’s recollections of that time.
Oxted was on the flight path of planes bombing London and Eileen remembers the fear the family had during those raids. Both Henry and Rosina were popular and community minded and became air raid wardens during the Second World War. Henry was also a member of Toc H, a Christian society formed after the First World War to promote social welfare. Eileen records 2 occasions that became part of family history. Firstly, the whine of a Doodle Bug or V2 before it landed, and the time one exploded on waste land to the south of Spillett’s shop. Some twisted metal remained there all of my childhood. Secondly, when the local laundry girls were hanging out washing during the daytime on some waste land near to the laundry. The white of the sheets caught the attention of a German plane which showered the area with bullets ruining the sheets! The girls swore the plane came low enough for them to see the pilot before he continued his journey to London.
Henry and Rosina, Air Raid Wardens for Oxted, Second World War
Amelia Ann, Rosina’s mother, joined the family household and was with them until she died in Oxted on the 3.10.1937. There are many photos of her with Rosina and Eileen She was buried in St Marys churchyard. Amelia left £607.13 to be shared by Benjamin and Rosina. (left to Henry) That is worth £35,000 today, shared by the 2 siblings.
Amelia and Rosina, probably before Rosina married Henry
Rosina and her mother were strict and Eileen was brought up to be “prim and proper”. Eileen attended Beadles Lane School and Oxted Grammar School and took part in village events such as the May Queen parade. It was too expensive to go on holiday, but the family went for days to the sea, such as Eastbourne and Hastings, leaving Henry to man the shop. Rosina had learnt to swim by this time but it was unclear how and where! Eileen never learnt to swim.
Three generations – Rosina, Eileen and Susan
The shop was an old building and had several disadvantages. It had no real garden, and an outside toilet located some distance away, which Eileen dreaded using at night. It also had a cellar for storage and in wet weather a spring which used to bubble up.
Rosina at the entrance to the Spillett’s bicycle shop. Note that they also sold Osram lamps, perams and gramophone records as well as bikes.
Amelia Ann was notorious in the local butcher shop, where one of the butchers constantly tried to engage her in “banter’ which she took to be over familiar! The family ended up changing butchers!
These were my memories of Rosina, who lived with us all her life.
I grew up in 15, High Street, Old Oxted, next to the cycle shop that had expanded to deal with motor bikes. It was owned and run by the Hillier family. This house was built because of war damage to the shop.
Rosina looked after me for much of my life, making my clothes and cooking my food. Both my mother and father worked, my father later divorcing my mother and leaving.
Henry had died in 1944, I think from a heart attack following cancer, he was deeply missed and never forgot. However, Rosina seemed happy in our family, but did not seem to keep close contact with all of Henry’s family. I knew their names and saw presents and cards at Christmas and birthdays.
Rosina was religious and attended St Marys Church in Oxted, where she organised the choir, and attended all the services and weddings, and continued singing in the choir until age and poor sight forced her to resign. It was here that she met Miss Maldon, who was her best friend. Miss Maldon had adopted 2 girls, Brenda and Theresa. I think she relied on my Gran to give her advice. To this day Brenda and I maintain contact. She came to my wedding, my mother’s funeral and my son’s wedding.
Rosie was also spiritual and used to attend spiritual meetings and seances, where she tried to contact Henry.
Rosina and Eileen, around 1980
Rosina continued to play the piano and sing at home. She also knitted to relax, even when she lost her sight Rosina knitted dishcloths.
She maintained contact with Eileen Chasemore all my childhood. Eileen had never married as her fiancée had died in the war. Whatever happened to her father’s money I do not know because she lived in relative poverty, although genteelly. Eileen rented a round house on a farm for many years, which I loved to visit as she kept her horse there. Later she lived in a tiny cottage, which can be seen in a postcard printed by the Post Office to promote a Post Bus.
Eileen Chasemore with her former nanny, Rosina Payne in Oxted
.
As a family we remained in contact with some of Rosina’s brothers and their families. Certainly, my mother knew quite a lot of information about them. Sadly, I have no contact at all. I will in the future try to trace some of them. This is what my mother related to me.
Benjamin. The youngest of the family and Rosie’s favourite. He was in the Grenadier Guards, then a postman. He visited Rosie in Oxted frequently and married a local, Oxted, girl Hilda Cox, whose mother ran a sweet shop in the village. They lived in Wimbledon and had one daughter Molly who married Malcolm Lee. He deserted her, leaving two children, Merida and a boy. (Michael?)
Harry. He joined the merchant navy and lived in Newcastle with his family. When in port in London he came to visit, complete with Geordie accent. He gave me some money when he left, half a crown, a fortune in those days.
Arthur was in the army, the Hussars. He lived in Brixton, marrying a widow late in life (in his 50s) Called Muriel. She bought and sold dresses from actresses.
Arthur was a driver.
Fred married Mary in 1915 and had 2 children, Kathleen and Peter. They lived in Willesden, NW London. He had a bakery and confectionary shop over which they lived. Mary was an Eastender and very good hearted. Her father was a chief inspector in the police.
Charles was born in the USA. He joined the army in South Africa where he became a Regimental Sergeant Major. He later became a baker and returned to England. He married Olive, from Gravesend, and had a daughter, Rose Edith, and a son, Cecil Charles. (Olive was my father’s oldest sister, born 1902) Charles died in 1982 aged 83. His daughter Rose married Reginald Miles and had a daughter Jennifer, who married Hugh Campbell from Northumberland. They had one son Hughie Campbell.
William had a funeral business in north London. He disappeared.
Rosina did most of our family cooking. Mince and dumplings, (I still have her mincer), steak and kidney pudding, jam and treacle pudding, rice pudding, porridge with salt, steamed fish, roe on toast. Her beloved mashed banana. She cooked jams and marmalade, bottled fruit and wrapped apples in newspaper for the winter storage.
Rosie had a sweet tooth and loved her toffees, humbugs, liquorice and little throat sweets called Nipits, (“clarifies the voice and clears the throat”)
Rosie was always interested in everything I did, and I always regret moving away from Oxted at 18 and never returning to live there. I could and should have learnt so more about Rosina’s life and perhaps know what happened in her childhood.
Rosina died in Oxted in October 1981 and was buried with her husband in St Mary’s churchyard Oxted.
All photos from the private collection of Sue Toms.
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