Katharine Isabel# Powis

  Notes:

Got maiden name from Ann St Wright/G-P research
Got Christening and parents from familysearch.org.

Have copy birth cert (from Cyril Griffiths paper) 17th Feb 1854, South St, Dorking. Father Charles Horlick Powis, surgeon, of same address. Mother Ann Powis (nee Foster).

1861 Census (age 7) living East St (?), Dorking with parents, 4 siblings, grandmother and 2 servants.

1871 Census (age 17) living in Knowl Hill, Wargrave, Berks with parents and some siblings.

1881 Census (age 27) living in 2 Marlborough Road, Putney, London with mother and sister Emma. Also 3 servants (shown as daughters, but obviously not). Occupation; null.

Have wedding cert from Griffiths papers. Witnesses were Emma Powis and Charles Wm Powis.

National Archives;
Records of the Supreme Court of Judicature and related courts
Division within J Records of the Family Division and predecessors
J 77 Court for Divorce and Matrimonial Causes, later Supreme Court of Judicature: Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Files
Subseries within J 77
J 77/403 Described at item level
Record Summary; Scope and contentDivorce Court File: 2252. Appellant: Stephen Lewis Griffiths. Respondent: Katherine Isabel Griffiths. Co-respondent: Hooker Edward Wise. Type: Husband's petition for divorce.
Covering dates 1888
Wendy found;"Petition filed 5 May 1888 on basis that the petitioner Stephen 'had been informed and verily believed that on 30th April 1888 and 1st of May 1888 at Harp Hotel, Dover in the County of Kent the said Katherine Isabel Griffiths committed adultery with Hooker Edward Wix of Rose Hill Hampton, Middx. That on diverse other occasions since the said marriage the said K.I. Griffiths committed adultery with the said Hooker Edward Wix. He also applied for custody of Oswald and Cyril. However a decree nisi was not not obtained."

1891 Census (Age 37) living at 340 London Road, Croydon with husband and children 1 guest (?) and 2 x servants.

1900; Executor of her mother's will.

1901 Census; living in Hamble(?) Villa, Bridge Road, Worthing, East Sussex, Widow, living off own means with 3 children and a servant.

1906; Change of trustee for Griffiths/Powis wedding settlement she is of Weston Farmhouse, Weston, Southamptonshire (presumably Weston nr Petersfield, Hants). As are the 3 children.

1911 Census; Living at Bancroft, Mitten Road, Bexhill On Sea with dau Violet.

Have indenture dated 26th June 1922 where she is living at Willowmead, Upper Bognor Road, Bognor.
Similar document 28th March 1923 she is living at 27 Whitehall Road, Thornton Heath.
The same maid (Clara Selby) is a witness to both ; so presumably moved with her. Cyril's lawyers paid a Miss Selby £30 Dec 1930 on his behalf. As did Oswald's (same) lawyers.

1921 Census (age 67y4m) living at 27 Whitehall Road, Thornton Heath with servant Clara Selby. Widowed. No occupation (Clara is 'Maid Companion').

Sometime between 1920 and 1924; Ann's biog "They (Violet and 'Leo') went, I believe, to India - or at any rate at some time they were in India, because I believe my mother died in India. However also at some time they were at Worthing, Sussex with Violet's mother who had left Bexhill."

1923; Have Power of Attourney release document where she is of 27 Whitehall Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey.

Wendy found her death record; Katharine I Griffiths died aged 75 Q4 1929 Croydon Surrey (Vol 2A p296).
At time of her death (Inland Revenue Estate Duty documents) she was living at 32 Wharfedale Gardens, Thornton Heath ; the property named in her marriage settlement statement of same year. In a (different) document it states this house was bought in 1923 for £890.

Wendy visited West Norwood cemetery (in Aug 2010) and a helpful chap there got out the burial book for 1895 and we found the entry for Jan 1st and also an entry for Katharine Isabel Griffiths buried with him on Nov 14 1929. They are buried in area 106 plot no 26105 but there are loads of headstones missing and despite spending about an hour searching I could not find any grave - there is a big gap of about 30 missing monuments.

Will details from Wendy: Griffiths, Katharine Isabel otherwise Katie of 2 Wharfdale Gardens, Thornton Heath, Surrey, Widow Died 9 November 1929. Probate London 28 December to Oswald Powis Griffiths, Gentleman. Effects: £231 8 6. Presumably addresss is actually the 32 Wharfedale Gardens mentioned as an asset of the S.L. Griffiths marriage settlement statement of 1931. House was sold for £800 on 13 Aug 1930.

Have her original 1924 will (from Cyril Griffiths papers);
Of 32 Wharfedale Gardens, Thornton Heath.
Gives Oak Davenport to Cyril.
Rest to be split equally between Cyril and Oswald.
Both sons appointed executors.
No mention of Violet or Ann !?

Executors were Oswald and Cecil Dunston Webb (Solicitor)

Description of property on her Estate Duty form 1929#1 (re marriage settlement);
£430 NSWales 4% Stock (estimated value £329)
£85 Great Indian Peninsular Railway Co 'B' (£1987)
£614 Great Western Railway 4% Debenture (£487)
£395 Commonwealth of Australia 5% Stock (£373)
32 Wharfedale Gardens.

Description of property on her Estate Duty form 1929#2 (re Emma Powis Will);
£1635 India 3.5% Stock (estimated value £1054).

Description of property on her Estate Duty form 1929#3 (Will of Mrs Isabel Ann Brenchley);
Entitled to a life interest in a chiming clock (valued at £45) for life, thereafter to Cyril Stephen Griffiths ; this now in possession of Daphne Tinker (nee George-Powell). Isabel Ann Brenchley is nee Powis ; her sister.

Description of property on her Estate Duty form 1929#4 (Will of Edward Hooker Wix);
£431 India 4.5% Stock (estimated value £264). But note attached saying assessed as nil and no duty payable

Have full inventory list of contents of her house at time of her death. Total value £91 8s 6d

************************
HOOKER EDWARD WIX.
Was named as the co-respondent in her 1888 divorce case ; divorce never granted, but husband comitted suicide 7 yrs later.
At the time of his 1910 death he was at Bancroft, Mitten Road, Bexhill ; same house as assorted Griffiths/Wrights lived ; Ann St John Wright was born there 7 yrs after his death.
Was he actually having an affair with Katharine or was he just a friend who stepped in to do the co-respondent thing ? But then why living in a 'Griffiths' house at death? Was he actually the father of some/all of the children !?!?
One of the witnesses to his will was Clara Selby (Glencoe, Bognor) ; presumably the same Clara Selby who witnessed Katharine's 1920's documents above?

Probate for Wix: WIX- Hooker Edward of Bancroft, Mitten Road, Bexhill died 17 August 1910 at The Hall, 7 Marina Mansions, Bexhill. Probate11 July 1911 to Rev William John Blight Wonnacott and CYRIL STEPHEN GRIFFITHS Mining Engineer & Thomas Edwards Solicitor £10,103 1s 6d

Announcement of his will ; "Mr Hooker Edward Wix of BANCROFT, Mitten Road, Bexhill, Sussex who's death occured on the 17th August 1916 has left property amounting to £10,163 1s 6d. Probate of his will have been granted to the Rev William John Blight Wonnacott of Southampton, and Mr Cyril Stephen Griffiths, of BANCROFT and Mr Thomas Edwards of 32 Newbridge St, London. By his will dated 14th June 1905(?) testator leaves his leasehold premises in Wall Street, Nichol Square, London to pay the sum of £25 to his executor the Rev William John Blight Wonnacott, if he acts, and his funeral expenses, and the remainder upon trust for life to Katherine Isabel Griffiths, widow of the late Stephen Griffiths, and on her death to her children, Oswald Powis Griffiths and Violet Mabel Griffiths, and the residue of his estate upon trust for life to the said Katherine Isabel Griffiths, and the ultimate residue is to be divided between Cyril Stephen Griffiths, Oswald Powis Griffiths, and Violet Mabel Griffiths" ..... although if having children with a married women odd that Wix would nominate a Rev as an executor !

Hooker Edward Wix was, I believe, the son of;
Rev Richard Hooker Edward Wix (died Augst 1893) formerly of Rosehill, Hampton, Middx, and of Brighton and his wife Catherine Wix. Took over his father's parish in Swanmore (near IoW).
Richard's father was Archdeacon Edward Wix (1802-1866), Archdeacon of Newfoundland ; Trinity Coll, Oxon, who was buried at Swanmore.
Edward's father was Samuel Wix (1771-1861) , educated Charterhouse and Christ's College, Cambs. Fellow of the Royal Society.
Samuels's father was Edward Wix of St. Peter's, Cornhill.
------
Have (from Cyril Griffiths papers) a HUGE pile of papers relating to his estate.
1.His will he is of the Constitutional Club, Piccadily.
2.He appoints Rev WJ Wonnacott, Cyril Stephen Griffiths (Glencoe, Felpham, Bognor) and Thomas Edwards, solicitor as his executors.
3.Left life interest for the income to Katharine.
4.Some leasehold properties in Wells St and Nicholl Sq, London to Katharine for life with remainder to Oswald and Violet (NOT Cyril). These leases sold in 1922.
4.After Katharines death rest divided between Cyril, Oswald and Violet.
5.Witnesses Joseph Selby, 41 London Road, Bognor, Messenger and Clara Selby, Glencoe, Felpham, Bognor, Maid .

Will of RevJohn Birkett Cumberland Lodge, Montpellier Road, Cheltenham leaving everything to "my sister Fanny Wix widow of the late Rev Edward Wix"

Marriage Settlement of £5,000 with wife (no issue).
Another document seemingly relating to the life interest of Miriam Adeline Shawe Wix to some residuary estate. Copy of her 1865 birth cert (Gillingham) dau of George Kittoe (Capt 4th Foot) and Augusta Hart Kittoe (nee Shawe).
Cyrils mortage against his future inheritance mentions a marriage settlement between Hooker Edward Wix and Miriam Adoline Shaw Kittoe. And said H.E.Wix died without issue 17th Aug 1910.
1931 Statement of the Trustees; Christoper St John Wright inherited his late wifes interest in the estate and assigned it to Ann St John Wright. "There is also a fund which at the death of Mrs Maria Adeline Shawe Wix (widow of the Testator) which will fall into the residual estate" ; to be divided between Cyril , Oswald and Violet (so Ann). ....
...looks like she died in 1939 'cos statement showing £1,431 15s 2d paid to each of Cyril, Oswald and Violet (so Ann) and the trustees saying that closed their involvement. Later; yes, she died 7th June 1939 ... Inland Revenue form .... and THAT says Violet sold her interest to General Reversionary & Investment Co. (and document later saying Oswald did same)

1910 document states the London leaseholds are;
13 Nicholl Square, Cripplegate
2,4,6,8,10,12 Wells St, Cripplegate
.... they were sold for £7680 but after mortages, costs, duties etc. the nett was £155 !

On HIS marriage settlement he is Stockbroker of 4 Austin Friars, City of London.

Katharine married Stephen Lewis# Griffiths, son of Peter William# Griffiths and Ann# Fry, on 10 May 1881 in Putney Church, Wandsworth, London. (Stephen Lewis# Griffiths was born in 1837 in Lambeth, Surrey, died on 26 Dec 1894 in Penge, Surrey and was buried on 1 Jan 1895 in West Norwood Cemetry, Surrey.)