Upper class single women in the 19th century were not generally not permitted to undertake paid employment. In order to use their intelligence, knowledge and skills, they often pursued philanthropic activities, championing and funding local charitable causes and setting up committees to establish and administer good works. These often included nursing associations and cottage hospitals prior to the establishment of the National Health Service in 1948.
I am currently researching the following women. Who were they? What are their stories? Do you know of them? Are you related? Can you help add to their story? If so, please get in touch at spinstorian@gmail.com.
Alice Forbes (1852-1929)
Alice was the youngest daughter of Alicia Forbes (nee Wauchope) and James David Forbes, Principal of St Andrews University. She was born in Clifton, Gloucestershire and the family spent their summers in Pitlochry, Perthshire, Scotland. Alice kept her connections with the area, living there in the 1890s and acting as Honorary Superintendent of the Pitlochry Nursing Association at its inauguration in 1895. She moved to Golders Green in London around 1910 where she lived until she died in 1929.
Marion Jane Stirling Stuart (1861-1953)
Marion was youngest daughter of the Stirling Stuart family of Castlemilk House in Carmunnock, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Her mother was Harriet Boswell Erskine Fortescue and her father, James Crawfurd Stirling Stuart. Marion, like Alice Forbes, whom she knew, holidayed with her family in Pitlochry, also living there on and off between 1891 to 1900. From 1897 she acted as Honorary Secretary to the Pitlochry Nursing Association, moving to Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire in 1900 to set up a convalescence home, St Margaret’s (previously known as Tickford Lodge) with Sister Louisa Mary. She died on 24 March 1953 and is buried in the Stirling Stuart vault in Carmunnock Parish Churchyard.
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