Lavinia Edwardena Walter OBE BSc (1866 - 1962)

Ancestors

Biography

Lavinia Edwardena Walter made her appearance in the world on the 21st February 1866, in Finsbury, Middlesex, England, the eldest of two daughters born to Thomas Robert Walter, pawnbroker and jeweller, and his wife Tabitha Beeston, with the event being registered in the 1st Quarter at St Luke, Middlesex,^[1] and was baptised on the 10 June the same year in the church of St Luke, Finsbury.^[2]

On the 2nd April 1871, the 5-year-old Lavinia was living with her family at 20 Cannon Place, Brighton. Those home at the time were her father: Thomas (44), a pawnbroker; her mother: Tabitha (36); and her brother: 7-year-old Robert Beeston.^[3] It has not been determined where the 20-month-old toddler Kate was at the time.

On the 3rd April 1881, Lavinia (15), at school, was living with her family at 51 City Road, East Finsbury. Those at home were her father: Thomas (54), pawnbroker; her mother: Tabitha (47); her father's maternal aunt: Ashford, Kent-born Mary Ann Vernon née Cocks (72); a visitor: Rotterdam, Netherlands-born Amanda Siselina Hardaker née Richardson (46); Aston, Cheshire-born Auguste S. Edwards (26), ladies help; her father's pawnbroker assistants: London-born Stanley Walter (19); Wandsworth, Surrey-born Edwin J. Bacon (26); and Middlesex-born Edward Hamilton (15); and the household staff: Shropshire-born Harriet Smallman (28), cook; and Bridgnorth, Shropshire-born Mary Jane Southwell (25), housemaid.^[4] It has not been determined where the almost 12-year-old Kate was at the time.

On the 5th April 1891, Lavinia (25), a teacher of Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics, was living at 38 Woodberry Grove, Stoke Newington. Home with her were her father: Thomas (64), jeweller and pawnbroker; her mother: Tabitha (56); her sister: Kate (21); a visitor: Fennemere, Shropshire-born Alice Minton (61), retired dressmaker; and the household staff: Essex-born Annie R Monk (26), cook; and Essex-born Sarah A Monk (24), housemaid.^[5]

On the 31st March 1901, Lavinia (35), HM Inspector of schools (Civil Servant), was still living at 38 Woodberry Grove, Stoke Newington. Also in residence were her father: Thomas (74), pawnbroker and jeweller; her mother: Tabitha (67); London-born Catherine Mott (61), Companion; a couple of visitors: Bethnal Green-born Emma Bradbrook (69); and Brixton, London-born Henry B Bourne (35), manager of an India-rubber works; and the household staff: Haynes, Bedfordshire-born Edith Daniels (27), cook; and Brighton, Sussex-born Alice E Borden (21), housemaid.^[6] Kate having married (Walter Henry Davison) in 1895, she was living elsewhere with her husband.

On the 2nd April 1911, Lavinia (45), employed as H.M. Inspector of Schools (Government Worker), was staying at 55 Granville Park, Lewisham, London. Also in residence were Lewisham London-born Henry Edward Armstrong (62), Professor of Chemistry; his wife: Lewisham London-born Frances Louisa Armstrong née Lavers (67); their children: Lewisham London-born Nora Armstrong (23); Lewisham London-born Harold Lavers Armstrong (20), student of Chemistry; Hackney London-born Eliza Theresa Stuckenschmidt, (26); Neasham, County Durham-born Reginald Thomas Colgate (22), teacher of Chemistry; and Ceovse France-born David Cesthses 24), also a teacher of Chemistry.^[7]

In the 1939 King's Birthday Honours, announced on the 6th June, among the names of those receiving the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) Civil Division was that of Lavinia's pen name Lavinia Edna Walter, MBE, appended with "Member of the Schools Advisory Sub-Committee, National Savings Committee".^[8] What is not known is when she was awarded the MBE.

On the 29th September 1939, Lavinia (73), H.M. Inspector of Schools, retired, Chairman ??, was living at 61 Wallace Avenue, Worthing, Sussex. Also in residence were Kathleen G Bayley (40), paid domestic; Kenneth A Bawline (35), clerk of the Bank of England; Doris M Armstrong (32), unpaid domestic duties; and Kenneth William Armstrong (6), at school.^[9]

Lavinia Edwardena Walter, OBE, B.Sc., A.C.G.I., also known as writer Lavinia Edna Walter (and also as L. Edna Walter), of Normanhurst, 8 Orchard Rise, Richmond, Surrey, passed away on the 11th January 1962, aged 95 years.^[10]

In her will, administration of which was granted on the 19th April to John Percy Davies, retired bank manager, Norman Lancelot Rabson, retired police superintendent, and Dairmuid Albert Patrick Ryan, solicitor, she left effects to the value of £32,462 3s 10d.^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Registration — England & Wales births, deaths and marriages registrations, General Register Office United Kingdom, Southport, England, HM Passport Office online search Births: Name: WALTER, LAVINIA EDWARDEENA; Mother's Maiden Surname: BEESTON; GRO Reference: 1866 M Quarter in SAINT LUKE MIDDLESEX Volume 01B Page 753
2. ↑ Birth and Baptism — "England, Middlesex Parish Registers, 1539-1988", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68LF-54MZ : 11 July 2022), Lavinia Edwardena Walter, 1866.
3. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1871," Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1871; Class: RG10; Piece: 1086; Folio: 116; Page: 20; GSU roll: 827501. Name: Lavinia E Walter; Age: 5; Estimated Birth Year: 1866; Relation: Daughter; Gender: Female; Where born: London England; Civil parish: Brighton; Town: Brighton; County/Island: Sussex; Country: England; Registration district: Brighton; Sub-registration district: The Palace; ED, institution, or vessel: 10; Household schedule number: 112; Piece: 1086; Folio: 116; Page number: 20
4. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27S-QJXJ : 8 December 2017), Lavinia Walter in household of Thos R Walter, St Luke, London,Middlesex, England; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 6, Piece/Folio 367/22, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,774,248.
5. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1891," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:3BJD-Y3Z : 1 May 2019), Lavinia E Walter in household of Thomas R Walter, Stoke Newington, London, England, United Kingdom; from "1891 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 12, London county, subdistrict, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
6. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1901," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X98N-WCW : 20 May 2019), Lavinia E Walter in household of Thomas R Walter, Stoke Newington, London, England, United Kingdom; from "1901 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing Stoke Newington subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
7. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1911," Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA) Series RG14, 1911. Name: Lavinia Walter; Age in 1911: 45; Estimated Birth Year: abt 1866; Relation to Head: Visitor; Gender: Female; Birth Place: London, United Kingdom; Civil Parish: Borrowdale; Country: England; Street Address: 55 Granvlle Pk Lewisham London; Marital status: Single; Occupation: H M Inspector Of Schools; Registration District Number: 576; Sub-registration District: Keswick; ED, institution, or vessel: 07; Piece: 31406
8. ↑ OBE Announced — Wikipedia : 1939 Birthday Honours
9. ↑ 1939 England and Wales Register The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register (Series RG101), Reference: Rg 101/2598f. Name: Lavina E Walter; Gender: Female; Marital Status: Single; Birth Date: 21 Feb 1866; Residence Date: 1939; Address: 61 Wallace Ave; Residence Place: Worthing, Sussex, England; Occupation: H M I of Schools Retired Chairman Worther Co N Sya ??; Line Number: 34; Schedule Number: 100; Sub Schedule Number: 1; Enumeration District: Emke; Borough: Worthing; Registration district: 84/1
10. ↑ Death Registration — England & Wales births, deaths and marriages registrations, General Register Office United Kingdom, Southport, England, HM Passport Office online search Deaths: Name: WALTER, LAVINIA EDWARDENA ; Age at Death (in years): 95; GRO Reference: 1962 M Quarter in SURREY N Volume 05G Page 619
11. ↑ Probate — UK Government Probate Service online search: Name: Lavinia Edwardena Walter also Lavinia Edwardina Walter; Death Date: 11 Jan 1962; Death Place: Surrey, England; Probate Date: 19 Apr 1962; Probate Registry: Lewes

• BDM registrations, census data, parish registers.

See also:

• A listing of Lavinia's books : WorldCat Walter, Lavina Edna
• At least one of Lavinia's books was illustrated by Dorothy M. Wheeler
• Mother Goose's nursery rhymes by Walter, L. Edna (Lavinia Edna) First published in 1919, reprinted in 1922 and 1930; as found on archive.org.