Notes about the Rowland, Mallett, and Netherclift families and some relations and friends / [Ralph Thomas].

  • Thomas, Ralph, 1840-
Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Notes about the Rowland, Mallett, and Netherclift families and some relations and friends / [Ralph Thomas]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    11/18 (page 11)
    died Tith and was buried i6 July 1908 at Kensal Green in the grave she bought for Netherclift. She had all her life a fear lest she might be buried alive. Among her papers I found a cutting from a newspaper about ‘ The society for the prevention of premature burial ’ whose office was at 12 London street. In her Will she desired her ‘ body to be kept until unmistakeable signs of mortification appear ’ and that two medical practitioners attend and certify this. Though it was manifestly unnecessary I obtained the certificates in accordance with her Will. I then had the task of reading about one thousand letters dating back from 1846 to the present time, which were placed about in every drawer or in portfolios or between books &c. &c. In her solitary vigils she would read through old letters, look at photographs of old friends and live again in the past. Among these old friends were the families of the Keeleys and the Farrens: William Farren (iii) who was about the same age died about three months after her. W. T. Best the organist and his wife Maria Bellini. The misses Bassano presently mentioned and many others. Then one of her earliest and latest friends was Kate Loder singer and composer (afterwards lady wife of sir Ftenry Thompson bart.) Mrs William Edward Newton wife of the patent agent of Chancery Lane and her family were great friends. Mrs W. E. Newton published some thirty pieces of music all of which are under the pseudonym of Mirana, with the exception of ‘A welcome to our Danish bride, by Mrs W. E. Newton, words by Mrs A. V. Newton ’ [T863]. Only some half dozen of these compositions have got to our National Library. Mirana is an anagram of her Christian names Mary Ann. I give the next title as it enables me to reveal another pseudonym ‘Little maid Marion, ballad, the words written by Kona Lee, music composed by Mirana. London G. Emery ’ [1868]. I may also mention ‘ Love’s welcome, ballad written by Kate Rowland, composed by Mirana. London, Metzler’ [1869], Mirana’s husband William Edward Newton son of William (see