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Rev. Samuel Charlesworth is son of Elizabeth Charlesworth Maria Beddome is daughter of Richard Beddome Parents of Florence Charlesworth |
These are put together on the same page, as they are cousins, both decended from Samuel Beddome, and they married each other.
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Rev. Samuel Charlesworth was a Church of England vicar. His parishes includes Limpsfield, a rural parish, then Limehouse, an East London parish.
In "A Rector's Daughter in Victorian England" by Maud Ballington Booth, she describes her father's earlier career: "Although my father had come from a long line of clergymen, he had studied for the bar. With his degree, he went into his Uncle Richard Beddome's law office. My grandfather was a successful barrister, and my father was, too, in his legal work. But he was not happy, for he thought the work conflicted with his Christian principles. So he went again to college and was ordained as had been his father and all his forefathers back to Queen Elizabeth's time." Maud's grandfather is the same person as her father's uncle, as he was the father of Maud's mother. Maud's parents were first cousins, which confuses family relationships horribly!
In the same book, she describes her father's work in Limpsfield, his first parish: "My father was more to the people there than just their spiritual shepherd. He was their friend in time of need. I did not know at the time - perhaps the event occurred before my birth - but when cholera broke out among a gang of road workers on the outskirts of the parish and no one could be persuaded to nurse them, my father went out and was quarantined with them. He was able to save some of them and gave burial to those who died of the dreaded scourge."
Then she says "My father wanted to work among the London poor, and arranged to exchange parishes with the Rector of St. Anne's in Limehouse."
Maria Charlesworth (nee Beddome) did a lot of work in the parishes of her husband, helping the poor. This is described in "Memorials of a blessed life", a book that he wrote about her.
After Maria Charlesworth died in 1881, the family really broke up. Florence got married. Maud became involved with the Salvation Army and eventually broke with her father altogether. See the account of the break, as played out in the pages of the Times, including letters by Samuel Charlesworth, and further accounts of Maud's life.
Samuel Charlesworth wrote two books:
Memorial of a Blessed Life - A Brief Record of the Work of Mrs. Maria Amelia Charlesworth in the Parishes of Limpsfieid and Limehouse
Sensational Religion as Resorted to in the system called the "Salvation Army" in its Influence upon the Young and in Its effects upon the Duties and Claims of Home Life
Rev. Samuel Charelsworth was strongly opposed to Darwin's views. His brother-in-law and cousin Col. Richard Henry Beddome must have supported Darwin. See a discussion of this.
Among my parent's research is an inscription by Samuel Charlesworth, in his handwriting, on the back of a small portrait of Samuel Favell. Click here for this, and the transcription.
See The Barclay Voice for a comment about an inherited family trait!
Rev. Samuel Charlesworth and Maria Beddome were first cousins. They married 13 October 1857 in Holy Trinity, Clapham, Surrey.
From the Clapham Gazette, December 1st, 1857:
Marriages: On the 13th of Oct., at Clapham Church, by the Lord Bishop of Ripon, the Rev. Sameul Charlesworth, rector of Limpsfield, Surrey, to Mary Amelia, the eldest daughter of Richard Boswell Beddome, Esq., of Clapham Common.
News clipping undated, but must be just after the death of Mary Charlesworth in 1881:
The Rectory of Limehouse, one of the most important parishes in East London, has become vacant by the resignation of the Rev. S. Carlesworth through ill-health. Mr. Chalesworth's loss will be deeply felt in the parish, where he has laboured, indefatigably, for eleven years, and where he is regarded with the deepest reverence and affection. He is brother to the talented and well-known Miss Charlesworth whose death last year was a very heavy blow to him. In speaking of the loss to the parish, we must not omit to mention the large and happy influence of Mrs. Charlesworth, especially among the men. Her man's Bible class on Sunday afternoon was a notable feature in the parochial work. We regret, however, to learn that this devoted lady died, after a very brief illness, on Monday last. Mr. Charlesworth is a large-hearted Evangelical, and has worked most devotedly and self-denyingly, and at the same time, most simply and unostentatiously. The living is in the gift of Brasenose College, Oxford, and we are glad to learn that they have selected the Rev. W. Donne, Vicar of All Hallows, east India Docks, a former Brasenose man, to fill Mr. Charlesworth's place. Mr. Donne's success at All Hallows. where he begun as the Mission curate, which has continued to support the district up to the present time, is the best pledge of his fitness for the charge he is about to undertake - Guardian.
As mentioned above, after Maria Charlesworth died, Samuel Charlesworth wrote a book about her life.
Angela Whitcombe, the daughter of Florence Barclay told my parents that after Maria Amelia Charlesworth (nee Beddome) died, Samuel Charlesworth went and lived in Bath by himself. In fact, he lived in Clapham for a time after Maria's death, as the letters that he wrote to the Times show. The census of 1891 shows him living in Bath.
| Name | Born | Married | Died |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anne Maria Charlesworth | 1858 at Limpsfield | 1894 Frederick Mann | 1911 |
| John Bickersteth Charlesworth | 1861 at Limpsfield | 1861 Godstone, Surrey | |
| Florence Charlesworth | 1862 in Jersey | 1881 Rev. Charles Barclay (1853-1925) | 1921 |
| Maud Elizabeth Charlesworth | 1865 at Limpsfield | 1886 Ballington Booth (1857-1940) | 1948 |
Here is a page from my parents' research. Angela Whitcombe was a daughter of Florence Barclay. The description is probably more-or-less correct, except that Maud Charlesworth did not elope with Ballington Booth. They married, perfectly properly, (just) after Maud was 21 years old, but against the wishes of her father. However, it is quite possible that the frame of the three photos of the daughters was altered after this happened. Angela Whitcombe said (as an old lady) that the family NEVER mentioned Maud!
This is interesting for two reasons. It seems that the family used the second names of the mother, Maria Amelia, and the oldest daughter, Anne Maria. This also has one of the very few references to the oldest daughter, a rather distant person among a family of strong, dominant people!
This hand-written letter was stuck in Samuel Charlesworth's own copy of his book about his wife (see above). The signature has been cut off but it is obviously by him, and to his uncle, Richard Boswell Beddome. The reason it was kept was that the "amiable daughter" was Maria Beddome, Samuel Charlesworth's future wife! He was 25 years old at the time, and she was 16. They married 15 years later.
Clapham June 14 1842
My dear Sir,
I have received at different times very kind letters from many of my excellent parishioners: but a kinder than yours cannot be written. Such testimonies of regard are very cheering to a Minister. And I wish I could express to you as I ought how deeply I feel your kindness and how thankful for your rayers on my behalf. May it please Him, without no good can be done, to guide and support mt Brother-Minister and myself by the heavenly grace and to betow his blessings on our families!
Permit me to thank you - which I do most cordially - for your very liberal donation to our parish: it shall be applied in the way you wish. That I have some feelings of disappointment at the result of our appeal on this Sunday is, I fear, but too true: perhaps I was unreasonable in my expectations, but the truth is, that I have all along had the welfare of the school very much at heart and I was apprehensive that if this effort failed, one or more of them must necessarily be abandooned. I am happy now to day that from increasing subscriptions there is good prospect of all being maintained and renered I trust, generally more efficient. Whether the regulations adopted on the erection of the last of the last parochial School-room can be modified as to remove your objections I know not: but I should be very glad if we could obtain your final concurrence.
I mus not close this note without stating the pleasure which I derive from conversations with your amiable daughter previous to her confirmation: and further how gratifying it was to me to unite with her and her Parents at the Lord's Table. May God bless her and all who are dear to her: and may she live to be a source of great happiness to you Mr. Beddome as long as he is pleased to spare you.
Yours very gratefully and affecty ...
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This is the memorial to Maria Amelia Charlesworth, in the Hawksmoor Church, St Anne's Limehouse: In loving memory of Maria Amelia Charlesworth, the beloved wife and fellow helper in the work of the Lord of The Rev. Samuel Beddome Charlesworth, 12 years Rector of this parish, and previously rector of Limpfield, Surrey. She was born at Clapham 8th May 1826, and fell asleep in Jesus at the home of her youth on Clapham Common 7th November 1881. Her mortal remains are interred in Limpsfield Churchyard. Her whole life from early childhood was consecrated to the service of God, as the friend and loving instructor of the poor and their children , and in seeking to lead sinners to the Lord Jesus Christ, as God their Saviour. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth, yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from the labours and their Works do follow them. Rev 14 13 |
© Jo Edkins 2015 - Return to Beddome index