During my family history research, I have come across a number of distant aunts or cousins who never married, some of whom lived at a time when a single woman had little or no standing in society. It has been interesting to see what I can learn about their lives.
I recently researched Clara Bullock (MWYM-1V2), who is my 2nd cousin 4 times removed. She was born on 26 May 1888, along with her fraternal twin brother Clarence, in a very small town in Cattaraugus County, New York, where her father was a farmer. She never married and lived with her parents until she was about 31 years old. By 1920, she had moved a town about 25 miles away, where she lived on her own and worked as an assistant in private doctor’s office. She continued her education; in 1930, at the age of 41 years, she attended training in physiotheraphy [sic], the treatment of injury, disease and disorders through physical methods such as exercise, massage, and manipulation.
She used her income and freedom to travel. The local newspaper recorded a few of her trips, some of which seem to be on her own. In 1930, she went on a 2-week vaction spent touring Canada. In 1934, she took a 10-day trip through New England. In 1937, she and her mother traveled to Canada.
She continued to work for Dr. Frank Howard until at least 1934, and during this time she bought a house. Her parents moved in with her in 1933 and lived with her until the end of their lives. She was their primary caregiver until they passed away in 1936 and 1940. Only two years after her mother’s death, her twin brother and last living immediate family member, separated from his wife and came to live with her. They lived together until his death in 1957. She out lived all her family, living to be 85 years.
What I admire about Clara is that she went out and worked and traveled and made her way in the world at a time when it was only just becoming acceptable for women to do this.
Earlier this year, I researched Florence Emily Tucker (G75M-4T1), another 2nd cousin 4 times removed. She is the daughter Fanny Squire and William Tucker, and was born on 9 September 1879 in Islington, London, England. She was the fourth of ten children, which I cannot imagine. As a young woman, she left home to work as a governess. In 1901, when she was 21 years old, Florence was working as a governess for a family in Portsmouth, Hampshire, with two sons; the father was a colonel in the Army. Working as a governess was particularly difficult because the woman did not fit above stairs or below stairs. I don’t have a lot of information on Florence’s life, but it appears she never married. In 1939, when she was 60 years old, she was working as a companion for an 87-year-old lady in Lancashire. Florence died on 24 June 1971, at the age of 91 years, in the Greenwich area of greater London. In her will, she asked to be buried in the same grave as her parents in Mitcham Grove Cemetery and that a fruit tree be planted over the grave instead of any stone or marker.
Again, I admire that Florence made her own way in the world when that wasn’t an easy thing to do. The family probably was middle class—William Tucker worked as a clerk or accountant in for the gas lighting company. Florence may have chosen to become a governess to relieve her parents of one more person to take care of. She seems to have remained close to her siblings despite moving around for various jobs. In her will, she left her estate to be divided among her remaining living siblings and her nieces and nephews. You can see her whole will on FamilySearch.org.
Genealogy Adventures 