Hester Caroline (Butler) Tolfrey-Christie (abt. 1831 - 1915)

Born about 1831 in Soberton, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Died 28 Mar 1915 at about age 84 in Sussex, England, United Kingdom

Biography

Hester (Butler) Tolfrey-Christie was born in Hampshire, England.

Hester Caroline Butler was born in about 1831 and was baptised by her father at Soberton in Hampshire on 22 May 1831^[1][2]. She was the daughter of Reverend Stephen Butler curate of Soberton and his wife, Mary Anne Thistlethwayte.

Her mother Mary Anne died on 21 May 1838. Her father remarried, to widow Caroline Palmer (nee Linton) in 1841.

Her stepmother Caroline died on 28 April 1849.

In the 1851 England Census, Hester C Butler (aged 19) was recorded living with her widowed father Stephen Butler (49 and Incumbent of Trinity Church, Southampton), her sisters Mary M Butler (21), Catherine J Butler (18), Agnes E Butler (7) and stepsister Caroline Palmer (24) at "Town", Hambledon, Hampshire. Also in the household was one visitor and three servants.

Her father Stephen died on 5 November 1855 at about age 53.

On 10 February 1866, Hester married Lieutenant Henry Tolfrey Christie in Barrackpore, India^[3].

Hampshire Telegraph 28 March 1866, page 3:

MARRIAGES.

CHRISTIE-BUTLER.- On the 10th of February, at St. Bartholomew's Church, Barrackpore, India, by the Rev. Charles Garbett, Lieutenant Henry T. Christie, Bombay Army, A.D.C. to H.E. the Commander-in-Chief in India, to Hester Caroline, daughter of the late Rev. Stephen Butler, incumbent of Trinity Church, Southampton.^[4]

They went on to have at least three children:

1. Antonia Mary Hilda Christie (b. 21 Feb 1867, d. 25 May 1942)
2. Douglas Henry Tolfrey Christie (b. 29 Aug 1868, d. 4 May 1959)
3. Violet Cecile Adelaide Christie (b. 18 Sept 1869, d. 30 Sep 1930)

Her husband Henry died on 8 May 1874.

In the 1881 England Census, Hester C. Christie (aged 49 and a widow) was recorded living at 10, St James Square, Kensington, London & Middlesex. Also in the household was her 12 year old son Douglas H T Christie.

By 1891, Hester Christie (aged 59 and a widow) was recorded living at 17, Shaa Road, Acton, Brentford, Middlesex, England. Her three children Hilda Christie (24), Douglas Christie (22) and Violet Christie (21) were also living with her. They also had one servant in the household.

Hester C Christie (aged 69) was boarding at 66, Talbot Road, Paddington, London & Middlesex, England in 1901, and in 1911, was living at May Trees High St Bitterne, Bitterne, Hampshire, England with her 43 year old unmarried daughter Antonia Mary Hilda Tolfrey-Christie.

She was resident at Sundown, Ditchling, Sussex when she passed away on 28 March 1915, and was buried at St. Margaret's Churchyard, Ditchling, Lewes District, East Sussex, England^[5][6]. PLOT: AD-14-64

The following account of her funeral service was printed on page 5 of the Mid Sussex Times dated 6 April 1915:

DITCHLING.

THE LATE MRS. CHRISTIE.- At the Parish Church on Wednesday afternoon there took place the interment of the mortal remains of Mrs. Christie, of Sundown Cottage, whose death occurred on the previous Sunday. This lady was the widow of the late Captain H. Tolfrey Christie and daughter of the late Rev. Stephen Butler, of Surbiton [sic], Hampshire, and showed much interest in various forms of Christian service, as well as in the welfare of the residents at the Thames Lightermen's and Watermen's Homes, which are situated to the north of Ditchling village. Several of the old people from them testified to their respect for the deceased lady by attending her funeral. The coffin was borne shoulder high along the few hundred yards of roadway between Sundown Cottage and St. Margaret's Church, and the members of the bereaved family and the intimate friends followed on foot, the cortege being met at the churchyard entrance by the Rev. A. W. CROCKETT, Vicar of Bitterne, Southampton, who conducted the service. [There followed an extensive list of the mourners.]

During the portion of the service within the church the assemblage united in the singing of the hymns "On the Resurrection Morning" and "Just as I am, without one plea," and the Rev. A. W. CROCKETT gave an address on St. Paul's word to the Philippians (ch. i., v. 21)- "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain." Associating this text with the deceased, the rev. gentleman spoke of the Divine vision having come to her in the time of mature life. To her the Lord Jesus Christ was a living, bright reality, the preciousness of His love a real thing, and the power of his resurrection was constantly in her thoughts. It gave her increased watchfulness and hopefulness, and he was firmly convinced that what was true of the servant of God of whom they were thinking at that time might be true of them all. Mr. Crockett closed with some references to the call of God for the personal activity, service, surrender and love of His people. The rev. gentleman also officiated at the grave, which was prettily lined with primroses, daffodils, ivy &c., and before separating the mourners sang the hymn "Till He come." The coffin bore the inscription:-

HESTER CAROLINE CHRISTIE,

With Christ

March 28th, 1915,

Aged 83 years.

Many beautiful floral emblems were placed on the deceased's resting place.^[7]

Among the mourners were her son Captain Douglas Christie, her daughters Miss Antonia Christie and Madame Violet De La Riviere and her grandson Master Paul De La Riviere.

Her Will was proved on 19 August 1915 at London to her son Douglas Henry Tolfrey Christie, captain second battalion 23rd London Regiment^[8]. Effects: £503.

Sources

1. ↑ Baptismal record, Soberton (22 May 1831 Hester Caroline Butler daughter of Stephen Butler and Mary Ann) Viewed at Ancestry. Text only
2. ↑ "England, Hampshire Bishop's Transcripts 1680-1892," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLYH-ZFWH : 2 January 2020), Hester Caroline Butler, 22 May 1831; citingBaptism, Soberton, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom, "England, Hampshire Bishop's Transcripts 1680-1892," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLYH-ZFWH : 2 January 2020), Hester Caroline Butler, 22 May 1831; citing Baptism, Soberton, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom, Lancashire Record Office and Hampshire Record Office, United Kingdom.
3. ↑ "India Marriages, 1792-1948 ", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FGNG-5XX : 5 February 2020), Hester Caroline Butler in entry for Henry Tolfrey Christie, 1866.
4. ↑ Hampshire Telegraph 28 March 1866, page 3 https://search.findmypast.co.uk/bna/viewarticle?id=BL/0000069/18660328/009&stringtohighlight=henry%20christie%20butler (requires subscription)
5. ↑ England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2J7B-H5P : 31 December 2014), Hester C Christie, 1915; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death, Lewes, Sussex, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/236478437/hester-caroline-christie: accessed 9 June 2023), memorial page for Hester Caroline Christie (unknown–28 Mar 1915), Find A Grave: Memorial #236478437, citing St. Margaret's Churchyard, Ditchling, Lewes District, East Sussex, England; Maintained by Baby Stegosaurus (contributor 49885654)
7. ↑ Mid Sussex Times 06 April 1915, page 5, https://search.findmypast.co.uk/bna/viewarticle?id=BL/0001598/19150406/090&stringtohighlight=christie%20butler (requires subscription)
8. ↑ "England and Wales, National Index of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1957," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPLW-SNDX : 17 September 2018), Hester Caroline Christie, 19 Aug 1915; citing Probate, Sussex, England, United Kingdom, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, Great Britain.; FHL microfilm

See also:

• "England and Wales Census, 1851," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGP8-57L : 12 September 2019), Hester C Butler in household of Stephen Butler, Hambledon, Hampshire, England; citing Hambledon, Hampshire, England, p. 16, from "1851 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.

• "England and Wales Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q273-MM8C : 10 December 2017), Hester C Christie, Kensington, London,Middlesex, England; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 8, Piece/Folio 31/134, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,774,320.

• "England and Wales Census, 1891," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QDKJ-KN2 : 22 February 2021), Hester Christie, Acton, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom; from "1891 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 12, Middlesex county, subdistrict, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.

• "England and Wales Census, 1901," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X94N-PQ8 : 20 May 2019), Hester C Christie in household of Eliza Coe, Paddington, London, England, United Kingdom; from "1901 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing St Mary Paddington subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

• "England and Wales Census, 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWQ2-Z13 : 21 December 2022), Hester Caroline Tolfrey-Christie, Bitterne, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom; from "1911 England and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.