Emma (Rayner) Ruse (abt. 1856 - abt. 1923)

Born about 30 May 1856 in Hengrave, Suffolk

Ancestors

Wife of Arthur John Steele — married 1876 in Bury St Edmonds, Suffolk

Descendants

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Biography

Emma Rayner (or Rainer) was born on the 30th of May 1856, to parents John and Rachael Rayner, and baptised on the 7th of October 1856 at St Catherine's, Flempton, in the parish of Hengrave, Suffolk. ^[1] Alternatively, her birth year appears as 1855 in the register of births, with her mother's maiden name recorded as Stone.^[2]

Note - John and Rachael had a previous daughter Emma, born 17 February 1854, private baptism 28th of February, buried 18th of June.^[3]

In 1861^[4] Emma lived with her parents John and Rachael Rayner in 'High Road', Flempton, along with siblings David, Charles, Henry, John, Rachael, Sarah, James, and William. John and the older boys were agricultural labourers. Rachael was born in Hengrave, and all the others in Flempton.

By 1871^[5] Emma was in service at 40 Churchgate St, Bury St Edmunds. She worked as a domestic servant for Frederick and Elizabeth Norman and their five children. Frederick was a 'Brulah(?)maker, employer of 2 men and 2 boy'.

Emma married Arthur Steele in late 1876, in Bury St Edmunds.^[6]

In 1881^[7] Emma lived with husband Arthur, with children William and Arthur. The family lived in Wigston's Lodge, Hawstead Road Horringer. William, aged 4, was born in Bury St Edmunds, and Arthur aged 8 months in Horringer. Arthur was a groom and coachman. The previous listed house was Wigston's House, home of Richard Wigston, a landowner of 336 acres, employing 13 men and 6 boys, with 4 domestic servants. Arthur was presumably working for the Wigstons.

In 1891^[8] Arthur and Emma lived with children William, Margery, Arthur, Agnes and Charles. Arthur was a groom, and William was a coach farrier's(?) apprentice. They lived at number 11 The Butts, in Southfield ward, Bury St Edmunds.

I haven't managed to find records for Emma on the 1911 census. Family recollections are that Emma married several times, including a Mr Earl, Mr Steel and Mr Ruse.^[9]

There is a marriage record for Arthur Herbert Ruse to "Emmaline Earle" in 1903, which would match the family recollection and the later 1921 census information.^[10] Searching for her under that name also shows a previous marriage of Emmaline Steele to James Earle in early 1900.^[11] James Earle died in late 1902.^[12]

Emma's daughter Agnes died in 1818, leaving four young children, and one of these, Jessie, remembered being sent to live with her maternal grandmother in Hargrave. Emma's husband was an invalid, and never came downstairs. Emma was also not fully mobile, (with an injured foot?).^[13]

A war gratuity due to Agnes' husband in 1919, after both of their deaths, was recorded as paid to "Brother in law and Guardian Arthur H Steel", £2 12s 6d, and "Mother in law and Guardian Mrs Emma Rouse", £7 17s 6d.^[14]

The 1921 census shows Emma Ruse living with Arthur Herbert Ruse and grandchildren Jessie, Eva and Flo, in Hargrave. Arthur was 78 and 11 months, markes as unable to work, and a retired farm labourer, he had no children of his own. Emma was 66 and occupied with home duties. The girls were all in full time schooling. ^[15]

Arthur Ruse died in late 1923, aged 79.^[16]

Family records indicate Emma died about 1920-1923, but I don't have a documented source for this. Agnes' children were split up, with William joining the army, Flo going into service, and Jessie sent to an uncle in Stansted.^[13] There is a possible probate record for Emma Rouse in Suffolk, with a death date of 22 Jan 1925, with the beneficiary John Rouse.^[17]

Sources

1. ↑ Suffolk Baptism Index (part 3), Entry number 33213
2. ↑ General Register office index search, registration district Thingoe, which includes Flempton and Hengrave
3. ↑ Suffolk Baptism Index (part 3), Entry number 33212; National Burial Index for England & Wales; birth also listed in General Register office index search, with mother's maiden name again listed as Stone
4. ↑ 1861 England Census, Class: RG 9; Piece: 1138; Folio: 81; Page: 4; GSU roll: 542761
5. ↑ 1871 England Census, Class: RG10; Piece: 1727; Folio: 170; Page: 19; GSU roll: 830766
6. ↑ England & Wales marriages 1837-2008, Volume 4A, Page 1005
7. ↑ 1881 England Census, Class: RG11; Piece: 1839; Folio: 36; Page: 7; GSU roll: 1341445
8. ↑ 1891 England Census, Class: RG12; Piece: 1450; Folio: 49; Page: 18; GSU roll: 6096560
9. ↑ Notes made by Holley-843 from conversations with Emma's granddaughter Jessie
10. ↑ Thingoe District, England & Wales Marriages 1837-2005, Volume 4A, Page number 1623
11. ↑ Also Thingoe District, England & Wales Marriages 1837-2005, Volume 4A, Page number 873
12. ↑ England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007, Volume 4A, Page 495
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} Recollections of Flo's daughter Scott-16800, emailed to Holley-838 in January 2016
14. ↑ National Army Museum; Chelsea, London, England; Soldiers' Effects Records, 1901-60; NAM Accession Number: 1991-02-333; Record Number Ranges: 620501-622000; Reference: 364
15. ↑ 1921 Census of England & Wales Image, Reg district 207, sub district 4, ennumeration district 5, Schedule 55
16. ↑ England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007, Volume 4A, P age 914
17. ↑ "England and Wales, National Index of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1957," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPL8-9KWF : 17 September 2018), Emma Rouse, 8 Aug 1925; citing Probate, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, Great Britain.; FHL microfilm .