Florence Anna Athya

Florence Anna Athya, daughter of John Athya and Catherine Bell, was born on December 28, 1868 in the Parish of Cathcart, Renfrew County, Scotland, specifically the village of Langside. Florence was the 10th child of 13—Ada Athya, John Athya, Kate Athya, Christina Emily Athya, Alice Athya, Helen Athya, Jane Bigland Athya, Edwin Athya, Maria Watson Athya, Florence Anna Athya, Charles A. Athya, George Howard Athya, and Harriet Sanderson Athya. Her parents had been married for 16 years when she was born. Florence is my husband’s 1st cousin 3x removed with their nearest common relatives being Isaac Athya and Janet Graham. Isaac and Janet are my husband’s 3rd great grandparents.

Birth record (click to enlarge)

The Athya family lived at Kirklinton in Cathcart when the 1871 census was taken. Florence’s father was a grain merchant and her brother John Athya Jr. a grain clerk. If not already, John Athya’s grain business would eventually operate in America. The business was likely doing well and the family lived comfortably in what appears to be a large home. This would have been appropriate considering there were 16 people living there. The census record confirms its size showing it consisted of 15 rooms with one or more windows. Three of the people living in the home were domestic servants—Agnes Strathearn, Margaret Peddie, and Lilias Forgie. Florence was two years old at the time but not the baby of the family. That position was reserved for her five-month-old brother, Charles. Kate, Christina, Alice, Helen, Jane, and Edwin were enumerated as scholars so were attending school.

1871 Scotland census (click to enlarge)

Just two years later, tragedy struck the home with the death of Florence’s 16-year-old sister, Kate, from scarlatina on December 31, 1872. The family still lived at Kirklinton at that time.

By the time Florence was 9, she was attending the Carlton Institution for the Education of Young Ladies and Junior Boys, advertised as being “strong in Music, Languages, and Science.” The school was located at 5 Dixon Avenue in the Queen’s Park section of Glasgow. During the 1876–1877 session, Florence placed 3rd in an arithmetic competition.

By 1881, the Athya family had moved to Liverpool, England, living at 32 Oxford Street. Twelve-year-old Florence was enumerated as a scholar. Fifteen people lived in the home; all were family except two women enumerated as general servants—Marion McDougal and Mary Price. Florence’s father John was a corn merchant, as was her brother John Jr. Her sister Ada worked as a music teacher and brother Edwin as a shipowner’s clerk. The younger children, Maria, Florence, Charles, George and Harriet, were scholars.

1881 England census (click to enlarge)

Now attending Bedford College in Liverpool, Florence received a mark of distinction in Zoology in 1884. In 1886, she received another mark of [high] distinction and was “the only local girl candidate who obtained senior second-class honours at the last Cambridge location examinations.” She also received a prize in the Latin category that year. In July 1887, Florence passed a matriculation examination to enter London University. Of course, I had to look matriculation up having no clue what it meant. According to Wikipedia, “matriculation is the formal process of entering a university, or of becoming eligible to enter by fulfilling certain academic requirements such as a matriculation examination.” Learn something new every day. 

By 1891 and with college behind her, Florence had moved to Llanllwchaiarn in Wales where she worked as a governess. She lived in the home of Sarah E. Thomas, a teacher of music, at Blaenwern House located at 10 Picton Terrace, about 100 miles from the Carmarthen Bay. Others in the home included Sarah’s sisters, Ethel (age 14) and Mabel (age 12), and a domestic servant named Sarah Jones.

1891 England census (click to enlarge)

Florence moved back to Liverpool and was appointed mistress of one of the new technical schools in Heanor, England in June 1894. On May 5, 1895, Florence and her sister Harriet received confirmation by Bishop Royston at the St. John the Baptist Church of England at Toxteth Park in Lancashire. Florence had received 1st communion on April 14. She lived at 109 Park Road in Liverpool.

Confirmation (click to enlarge)

In April 1896, Florence “satisfied the Masters of the Schools” at Somerville College. She was appointed head mistress of the Southport Municipal Secondary School for Girls on Scarisbrick New Road in Southport, England in July 1899.

Head mistress appointment (click to enlarge)

In 1901, Florence lived in the town of Sheffield in Yorkshire County, England in a house located at Bromsgrove Terrace. The head of the household was Isabella Comer Fotley. Others living in the home were Elisa Hedwig Behrend and Jane Hall. Florence, Isabella, and Elisa were all teachers. Jane was a domestic servant.

1901 England census (click to enlarge)

In 1907, controversary arose when Florence was being considered as head mistress of the Secondary School for Girls. She was eventually confirmed after several meetings to discuss. The Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser of Manchester, England reported the news of the controversary on June 21, 1907:

School Appointment: Breeze at Southport. Quite a breeze took place yesterday among members of the Southport Education Committee in respect of a recommendation to the Council to appoint Miss Florence Athya, M.A. (Dublin), of the Cheltenham Grammar School, as head mistress of the new secondary school for girls. One of the candidates was Miss Vance, head teacher of St. Andrew’s School, and Councillor Paton said that from comments he had heard outside he believed Miss Vance had not been properly treated, and moved an amendment that the Council be recommended to appoint Miss Vance.

Mr. J. B. Foggitt seconded, on the ground that Miss Vance had been a great educational success in the town.

Professor Muir, Liverpool University, a co-opted member, said it was surprising that voting by ballot in a private committee had been reported in the local Press, accompanied by statements which grossly misrepresented what took place. It was an unfortunate suggestion that the votes of co-opted members were of less value than those of other members.

Mr. Paton denied that he had ever suggested that Alderman Griffiths, the chairman, had set one portion of the committee against the other, and the chairman remarked that it was scandalous the way the claims of these two ladies had been discussed since the appointment was made, and the situation had arisen because some gentleman had disregarded the rules of fair play. The General Purposes Committee allowed Miss Athya to conclude she had been appointed.

The Chairman warmly dissented from a statement by Mr. Foggitt that he had the greatest difficulty in finding a proposer for Miss Athya, and ultimately the committee confirmed the appointment by the General Purposes Committee of Miss Athya, which will now come before the Town Council for confirmation.

The Manchester Evening News of Manchester, England reported the resolution on July 10, 1907:

At last night’s meeting of the Southport Town Council an amendment rescinding the appointment of Miss Florence Anna Athya as headmistress of the new secondary school of girls was defeated by 17 votes to 14.

An interesting event took place at the Secondary School for Girls in December 1910. The Ormskirk Advertiser of Ormskirk, Lancashire, England reported the event on December 15, 1910:

Secondary School for Girls, Exhibition of Work. A very interesting exhibition of work was held at the Girls’ Secondary School, on Monday afternoon, and many ladies availed themselves of Miss Athya’s invitation to be present. The work was exhibited in the gymnasium of the school, and was all done by the schoolgirls, at home, for a Christmas gift to the infirmary. Each of the 232 girls contributed a garment, or dolls, or toys, and the collection was such as would gladden the heart of any institution. There were shawls, knitted and crocheted, bedsocks, bedroom slippers, dressing jackets and heaps of other useful and pretty things, and garments for children were also wonderful. There was a lovely collection of dolls, many baby dolls in long clothes, and some in character, a Red Cross Nurse, Grace Darling, Little Red Riding Hood and a Pierrot being conspicuous. Dolls cots and beds, all complete, with lace frilled pillows, sheet, button stitched blankets, and lace trimmed quilts, and most of them with a tiny nightdress case, were beautifully made. Teddy bears, of various sizes, had also been dressed, and one tiny teddy boasted a knitted suit of brown and a brown cap and tassel. A larger one was resplendent in scarlet cape and hood. There were many other toys and plenty of scrapbooks nicely filled. The exhibition was a fascinating one, and the things will delight the hearts of those for whom they are intended. Quite a number of drawings done by the girls were displayed on the walls, and proved to many of the visitors quite an interesting as the needlework. The specimens of brushwork and snapshot paintings were well worth studying. The snapshots included drawings done from memory, after from a half to one minute’s observation. Others were sense snapshots, drawn after feeling the object with eyes shut, and others again after smelling, tasting, or hearing. There were many botanical drawings, and some most interesting studies from the life. A girl’s head was beautifully drawn, and another study, by the same young artist, was very good. Some of the drawings by the younger girls were quaint, and many were clever. Some illustrations of Guy Fawkes’ celebrations were funny, and there was a most-amusing one of Brer Rabbit, a really clever little sketch. The exhibition was open for an hour or two only, but there was material enough to interest for, at least, a day.

In 1911, 42-year-old Florence lived as a lodger in a home located at 69 Promenade in Southport, England, a seaside town. As far as I can tell, the home was a large row house of some sort with several other people living at the same address. The census record shows that Florence was still head mistress at the Secondary School. 

1911 England census (click to enlarge)

By 1924, Florence had moved to another home in Southport, living at 30 Moss Lane. This home appears to be more of a traditional single-family home with four bedrooms. By 1926, I believe Florence had retired from her head mistress position and spent some of her time traveling. On September 25, 1926, she departed England aboard the Ulysses, part of the Blue Funnel Line, traveling first class to Sydney, Australia. 

Ulysses passenger list

Ulysses (ship) Steamship, State Library of Queensland
(see page for author, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

I do not find Florence returning to England until 1928 when she traveled aboard the SS Chitral, departing Australia and arriving in London on March 10. That does not mean she stayed there all that time; it is just I do not find her on any other passenger list. The 1928 passenger list recorded the “Country of last Permanent Residence” as New Zealand, but again, I do not find a record of her traveling there.

SS Chitral passenger list (click to enlarge)

Florence, age 71 and enumerated as a retired teacher, was still living in the Moss Lane house in Southport in 1939. Bertha Garlick, a 61-year-old maid servant, lived in the home with her.

1939 England census (click to enlarge)

On January 19, 1953, Florence died in Newton, Lancashire, England at the age of 84. Her body was cremated on January 24 and buried in Liverpool. A death notice was published by The Daily Telegraph in London on January 23, 1953:

Athya.—On Jan. 19, at a nursing home. Florence Anna Athya, of 30, Moss Lane, Southport (formerly Head Mistress of the High School for Girls, Southport). Service and cremation at Anfield Crematorium on Saturday, Jan 24, at 12 noon. Inquiries to Boothroyds Ltd., tel. Southport 4145.

Death notice

The Register of Cremations recorded her cause of death as cerebral softening general arteriosclerosis. The name of the nursing home she died at was Haydock Lodge. 

Register of cremations (click to enlarge)

Florence’s will was probated on March 9, 1953 in Liverpool. The National Probate Calendar listed her as a spinster. 

National Probate Calendar

The Guardian in London published a list of recent wills on May 16, 1953 and listed her as a former head mistress.

 References

• Cambridge Local Examinations: Lancashire Students in the Merit Classes, Liverpool Mercury, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, April 5, 1884.
• Census, Civil Parish Cathcart, Scotland, 1871.
• Census, Lancashire, Southport, North Meols, England, 1911.
• Census, Liverpool, England, 1881.
• Census, Llanllwchaiarn, Cardiganshire County, Wales, 1891.
• Census, Sheffield, Yorkshire County, England, 1901.
• Census, Southport, England, 1939.
• County Borough of Southport, Secondary School for Girls, The Guardian, London, England, June 28, 1919.
• Deaths, North British Daily Mail, January 1, 1873.
• Deaths, The Daily Telegraph, London, England, January 23, 1953.
• Education, Glasgow Herald, Glasgow, Scotland, June 23, 1877.
• England and Scotland, Select Cemetery Registers, 1800-2016.
• England and Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966, 1973-1995.
• Florence Anna Athya, Statutory Registers Births 560/12, National Records of Scotland, 1869.
• Florence Athya, Census 560/7/12, National Records of Scotland, 1871.
• Florence Athya, England and Wales, Girls’ Day School Trust Records, 1873-1950.
• Florence Athya, Liverpool, England, Church of England Confirmations, 1887-1921.
• Heanor, The Derby Mercury, Derby, Derbyshire, England, June 6, 1894.
• Kate Athya, Statutory Registers Deaths 560/1, National Records of Scotland, 1873.
• Local News, Bedford College, Liverpool Mercury, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, December 22, 1886.
• Local University Notes, Liverpool Mercury, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, July 14, 1887.
• Matriculation; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matriculation. 
• Recent Wills, The Guardian, London, England, May 16, 1953.
• Rightmove, 30, Moss Lane, Churchtown, Southport, Merseyside PR9 7QR; https://www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/details/england-39735408-89086257?s=d415b8421324a1827cada6ac6a57366d6783d35e120aff5013f2fef55a6386f9#/.
• School Appointment, Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser, Manchester, England, June 21, 1907.
• Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950.
• Secondary School for Girls, Exhibition of Work, The Ormskirk Advertiser, Ormskirk, Lancashire, England, December 15, 1910.
• Secondary School for Girls, The Guardian, London, England, November 16, 1918.
• Southport County Borough Education Committee, The Guardian, London, England, July 20, 1918.
• Southport Town Council Meeting, The Manchester Evening News, Manchester, England, July 10, 1907.
• The Carlton Institution, Glasgow Herald, Glasgow, Scotland, August 11, 1880.
• UK and Ireland, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960.
• UK and Ireland, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960.
• UK, City and County Directories, 1766-1946.
• Ulysses (ship) Steamship, State Library of Queensland; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Funnel_Line#/media/File:StateLibQld_1_121348_Ulysses_(ship).jpg. 
• University Intelligence, The Guardian, London, England, April 6, 1896.