Edith Bessie HODGE, formerly WEBBER, nee JEFFERY (1886-1944)

My last post was about the second wife of my ancestry Sebastian HODGE (1833-1889). This post is about the second wife of his son, my great great grandfather Walter Herbert HODGE (1871-1956). There is some biographical information on Walter, including a photo of him, here: http://thehistoryofmatt.blogspot.com/2016/04/the-children-of-sebastian-hodge-1833.html

In that post, I noted that Walter's first wife Grace (nee SMITH) died in 1934 'at a private hospital, Vaucluse' (SMH 5 Mar 1934), buried at Waverley cemetery. 

The same year, Walter married Edith Bessie WEBBER. I actually believe that Walter and Grace were separated prior to her death. Firstly, the multiple death notices for Grace in the SMH don't mention Walter at all (but do mention her daughter, and extended family). Secondly, the electoral rolls for 1933 (year prior to Grace's death) show her living with her daughter and son-in-law at Bondi, while Walter was living in Darlinghurst, with the same address as Edith as early as 1931

NSW Electoral Roll 1930, East Sydney, Darlinghurst
Hodge, Walter Herbert, 7 Challis Flats, Victoria St, valuer, M
Webber, Edith Bessie, Challis Flats,  Victoria St, home duties, F

1933 Electoral Roll, NSW, Wentworth, Bondi North
646 Border, Samuel Arthur, 20 Glasgow Avenue, Bondi, Grocer, M
647 Border, Eileen Helen, 20 Glasgow Avenue, Bondi, home duties, F

3478 Hodge, Grace, 20 Glasgow Avenue, Bondi, home duties, F

So. Tracking down Edith's past was not easy initially, but her marriage certificate revealed a great deal (and confirmed they lived at the same address).

NSW MARRIAGE REGISTRATION, REG# 1934/10649
GROOM: WALTER HERBERT HODGE
Status: WIDOWER
Place of Birth: SYDNEY NSW
Occupation: VALUER
Age: 62
Usual Residence: 7 CHALLIS FLATS, VICTORIA STREET SYDNEY
Father: SEBASTIAN HODGE (DECEASED)
Occupation: LICENSED VICTUALLER
Mother: HARRIETT SMITH (DECEASED)
BRIDE: EDITH BESSIE WEBBER
Status: WIDOW
Place of Birth: KENT ENGLAND
Occupation: DOMESTIC DUTIES
Age: 48
Usual Residence: 7 CHALLIS FLATS, VICTORIA STREET SYDNEY
Father: GEORGE JEFFERY (DECEASED)
Occupation: BUILDER
Mother: ELIZABETH FRANCES COAST (DECEASED)
DATE OF MARRIAGE: 28 SEP 1934
Place of Marriage: THE REGISTRAR GENERAL'S OFFICE SYDNEY
Religion: MARRIAGE ACT NO 15 OF 1899
Witnesses: (SIGNED) SOPHIE M L SMITH, (SIGNED) SYDNEY G SMITH
Minister: A C L BAYLIS, DEPUTY REGISTRAR GENERAL


Working back from this I constructed her life. 

Edith Bessie JEFFERY was born in Sheldwich, Kent, England in 1886 (registered 1886 Faversham, 2a, 857) to George and Elizabeth nee COAST. George and Elizabeth appear to have had many children, and in the 1891 census George was listed as a 'horse steward and builder'. By 1911, Edith was a shop assistant in a drapery store in Deal, Kent. 

Also living in that town in 1911 was the widower Ambrose Webber (aged 44, born St Columb, Cornwall abt 1867), a photographer and grocer with many children. That year, they married (Sep 1911, Faversham, 2a, 2185), and in 1912 they emigrated for Australia, and settled in the Sydney suburb of Auburn. Ambrose rose to prominence in Auburn, lost 2 sons in the great war (which were covered in the Sydney newspapers). He became ill in the early 1920s, travelled briefly to England with Edith, and returned to NSW and died in 1923 (NSW Deaths 111/1923). He was buried in Rookwood Independent Cemetery (Zone F, C Independent, 647).

Cumberland Argus

18 Oct 1919

Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate

Saturday 27 January 1923

As mentioned in the obituary above, Edith and Ambrose had relocated to Rose Bay prior to his death, and she appears to have remained in those Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, marrying Walter. I can find no other specific reference to Edith in the newspapers, and Edith died in 1944 in the Northern suburb of Cremorne. She was cremated at the Eastern Suburbs Crematorium, listed as 'buried in accordance' - I am not sure what this means but wonder if it means '...with her wishes', which may be with her first husband in Rookwood.

I do not know where Walter Herbert Hodge was buried when he died in 1956, but perhaps he is there also. Time will tell.