By 1856, Raymond Nias and Henry (now
regarded as Harry) Nias had moved on from Providence, leaving Georgiana devoid
of family. A relative remarked of
Georgiana’s children some years later that she “believe(s) that her sons,
Raymond and Harry, emigrated to the west.” (Publications of the Rhode Island
Historical Society, Volume 6) The boys
did not move west together but did go west, though in completely different western
lands. Those stories will be resumed
after following Georgiana back to England.
Fanny Staples, Georgiana Nias’
ward, remained in Providence. She
helped run Georgiana Nias’ school and appeared to, later, take control as manager,
proprietor, and principal (Fanny Staples obituary). By 1870, Staples was single and running a
children’s school in a one-story building at 195 Benefit Street, the location
almost directly opposite of Thomas Street.
The school was known as “Benefit Street Pageant.” In the 1880s, Fanny moved to Cambridge,
Massachusetts and opened a school on Concord Avenue. She died single and retired in Cambridge just
before Christmas 1909 (Cambridge Tribune and Cambridge Chronicle).
“To [Mrs. Georgiana Nias], [Fanny Staples] was ever devoted, full of
clever entertainments, and longing to gain [her] affection.” (The Critic,
Volume 43, edited by Gilder and Gilder)
Georgiana Nias left Sarah S.
Jacobs in charge of operations at Congdon Street School (Publications of the
Rhode Island Historical Society, Vol 6).
It is unknown as to whether Georgiana expected to return to
Providence. However, she did retain
control of operations and the school until the Civil War broke out in the early
1860s. Regarding her journey back to England, it is impossible to understand the situation. Had a marriage been arranged for through mail or did it just happened during her visit? Regardless, on 12 August 1857 Georgiana Nias married Judge
John Tyrrell in Topsham, Devonshire.
Recall, Devonshire is the family home of Georgiana’s Duins clan.
A marriage record from the Exeter Flying Post in Exeter, England edition 20 August 1857
Judge John Tyrell, born in
Ireland, was a 67 year old widow, having recently lost his third wife. And so, 49 year old Georgiana became the fourth wife of a
successful county court judge and magistrate in Devonshire. They would live at Newcourt House in Topsham
and raise the judge’s three young children – Arthur Tyrrell (5), Walter Tyrrell
(4), and Louie Tyrrell (2). Three boys,
perfect for Georgiana who had birthed three boys and raised two to adulthood. She would have help. In 1861, three servants lived with the
Tyrrell family – Emma Arscott, Prudence Green, and Mary Ann Headon.
Topsham is a suburb or Exeter,
Devonshire
A July 1868 obituary for Judge Tyrrell appeared in many different England newspapers
After nearly 11 years of marriage, Georgiana's comfortable life was suddenly
and abruptly interrupted by the passing of 78 year old Judge Tyrrell on 10 July
1868. His will was proven in July 1868
at Exeter in Devonshire by his executrix Georgiana Tyrrell. His probate described him as an esquire
Barrister at Law and his will left about 16,000 pounds in effects from his
estate (England and Wales National
Probate Calendar 1868 page 233).
Though it did not happen immediately, Georgiana eventually married for a third time. Thomas Ensor, esquire,
had recently lost his wife Harriet (16 May 1869) in Exeter, Devonshire. Together Thomas and Harriet had been the
parents of ten children. 62 year old Thomas and 62 year old Georgiana were married by 1870 and at that time were living at St. Leonard’s Cottage
in St. Leonard, Exeter, Devonshire. Ensor
was a retired manufacturer and land owner.
St. Leonard’s Cottage was the home to three servants – Emma Basten,
Matilda Taylor, and George Leed. Also in
the home was a Thomas Ensor child, 29 year old Rosa Ensor, and Walter
Tyrrell, who was living with his former stepmother while going to school to be a
dental surgeon.
From a Cardiff, Wales newspaper dated 19 May 1869
From the Exeter Flying Post newspaper dated 5 January 1870
St. Leonard was just up river from Topsham in Exeter, Devonshire
Again, the companionship provided by her third husband did not
last. Thomas Ensor, at the age of about
67, died on 10 June 1875 at Sussex House Hammersmith in Middlesex County,
though he was still considered of St. Leonard’s Cottage. Ensor left about 30,000 pounds in assets to
his family which was divided by his sons Thomas and Robert, executors (England
and Wales National Probate Calendar 1875 page 273-274).
From the Exeter Flying Post dated 16 June 1875
By 1881, Georgiana had elected to
retire with her portion of the Ensor estate (which would have been lost if she had
elected to remarry). She was living at
The Bungalow, situated beside St. Leonard’s Cottage in St, Leonard,
Devonshire. She was 72 and enjoying the
comforts of a large and wealthy estate.
Helping her was a domestic servant named Sam Hall. Though she was comfortable, she was forced to
work and her occupation involved maintaining income and bonds for the railway (1881 England census).
Georgiana’s son Raymond stayed in
touch with his mother, though thousands of miles separated them. In 1883, Raymond’s daughter Georgiana Nias
was in Devonshire and married a Devonshire man in 1883 (her biography).
Georgiana’s story ends on 26 September 1887 at the age of 79. Her death occurred in St. Leonard’s, Exeter,
Devonshire, where she had made her home for nearly 20 years. A simple notice, among many others, was found
in the London Magnet on 3 October 1887:
“26th Sept., at The Bungalow,
Exeter, GEORGIANA ENSOR, in her 80th year.”
Her will was proven in November 1887 by John Gould King of Belle Vue
House and her personal estate was found to be worth nearly 1,500 pounds (England
Wales National Probate Calendar 1861-1941) (England and Wales Free BMD Death
Index 1837-1915, vol 5b page 63).
Though Georgiana’s story had
ended, an important portion of her life, though mostly unknown to her, remained
to be told. She made great sacrifices
for her children, and their stories remain.
As Georgiana’s life after Providence was to the east, her children’s
stories were to the west.
