Mary Laura (Dawkins) Petre (1837 - 1927)

Born 10 Jun 1837 in St George's, Hanover Square registration District, London, England

Wife of James Duff — married 27 Apr 1859 in The Parish Church of St George Hannover Square in the County of Middlesex (London), England

Descendants

Died 13 Apr 1927 at age 89 in Erpingham, Norfolk, England [uncertain]

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Biography

• Mary was born in 1837. She passed away in 1927.
• Mary Laura Duff (born Dawkins) was still a young mother when she was widowed in 1878. Her youngest child was under 2. There is no indication that she remarried, however. In 1882 she nevertheless changed the family name from "Duff" to "Petre". This was necessary in order to inherit a property from her recently deceased uncle John Berney Petre of Westwick in Norfolk. The name change was needed to satisfy a provision in the will of her grandfather. My source states that her other children retained the name "Duff". Researching the genealogy of any of the children may nevertheless call for investigation involving both the family names "Duff" and "Petre".

Sources

• Duffs - The Book of the Duffs by Henrietta (Cousin Hetty) and Alexander (Alister) Tayler, printed privately by T & A Constable in Edinburgh 1914, p. 531
• Her Marriage Certificate. Marriage Certificate data (selection):

• Year of Registration :- 1859
• Marriage solemnized at :- the Parish Church … of St George Hannover Square in the County of Middlesex
• Nbr. In register :- 71
• When married :- 27 April 1859
• Bridegroom (Husband): :- James Duff
• Bride (Wife) :- Mary Laura Dawkins
• Age: Husband :- full age [>21]
• Age: Wife :- full age [>21]
• Condition: Husband :- Bachelor
• Condition: Wife :- Spinster
• Occupation: Husband :- Major
• Occupation: Wife :- “-”
• Residence at time: Husband :- St James’ Square
• Residence at time: Wife :- Upper Brook Street
• Father’s name: Husband :- James Duff
• Father’s name: Wife :- Edward James Dawkins
• Father’s rank or profession: Husband :- Gentleman
• Father’s rank or profession: Wife :- Gentleman
• Church or other location and style :- in the Parish Church [per the] Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church [aka Church of England] by licence … by … Stair Douglas, Off[iciatng] [Min[ister]
• Registry signed :- By the parties in the presence of 5 witnesses who signed the register as
• Witness 1 :- Edward James Dawkins
• Witness 2 :- Zetland
• Witness 3 :- Francis Henry Atherley
• Witness 4 :- W. G. Prescott
• Witness 5 :- J. Tollemache [probably John Tollemache (1805-1890)]

• Document legibility :- Average

• The Birth Certificate of her son.