Nero Wolfe solves cases from his brownstone on the south side of West 35th Street in Manhattan. I have got my own Nero Wolfe who solves problems from her home in Queensland, Australia. Brenda is related to me on the Hill side of the family through her husband and she is a a wizard at genealogy. There is a New Zealand Herald Extraordinary, Philip O’Shea, CNZM, CVO, and I will lobby for the post of Queensland Herald Extraordinary to be created for Brenda.
In this post at the end of May I guessed that either Mary or Georgina had some connection with Hammersmith. Brenda put me right: “John Lawrenson died at the Alexandra Hotel, Hyde Park. Mary Lawrenson died in Leamington, previously living in Bath and Clifton. Georgina died in Bath, and had lived there for many years”. So it was a mystery why such an imposing memorial should be in Margravine Cemetery and one that would have gone unsolved if I hadn’t sent Brenda a picture of this adjacent memorial.
Here is what she discovered.
“Jane Simson Aynsworth was a sister of John, Mary Duncan, and George
Lawrenson, and aunt of Georgina Margaret Lawrenson, all mentioned on the
adjacent headstone. She was born in 1807 in Kinnettles, Angus to John Lawrenson and Margaret Simson.
She was married in 1836 in Kinnettles to James Aynsworth of Clonmahery, co Down.
He was a farmer of 100 acres in 1851. He died in 1860 at Invereighty. Jane
is still at Invereighty in 1861. In 1871 she is living at Buckingham House,
Hammersmith. In 1881 she is living at 34 Shaftesbury Road, Hammersmith.
From the National Probate Calendar – Will of Jane Simson Aynsworth, late of
Ashley House, 34 Shaftesbury Road, Hammersmith, widow died 18 November 1887
at 34 Shaftesbury Road, proved by Robert Taylor, 15 Furnival’s-Inn,
gentleman, sole executor.
Lawrenson Aynsworth, son of James Aynsworth and Jane Simson Lawrenson, was
born in 1845 in Kinnettles. In 1861 he was a scholar at “The College” Little
Green in Richmond. In 1871 he is living with his mother at Buckingham House,
his occupation Army Agent. Also at Buckingham House were two other unmarried
sisters, Jemima and Agnes.
From the National Probate Calendar – Will of Lawrenson Aynsworth, formerly
of Buckingham House, Shaftesbury Road, but late of 34 Shaftesbury Road,
Hammersmith, Gentleman, died 08 Sept 1880 at 34 Shaftesbury Road, proved by
Jane Simson Aynsworth, the mother, the sole executrix.
Lawrenson’s funeral notice was in The Sportsman. ” The remains of the late
Lawrenson Aynsworth were interred in Hammersmith Cemetery yesterday, a large
circle of friends and acquaintances assembling at the graveside. The
deceased gentleman was 36 years of age and a member of the London and other
clubs.”
Jane Simpson Aynsworth is mentioned in the will of her brother, General John
Lawrenson. She was left an annuity of of 620 pounds. Another sister, a daughter of
John Lawrenson and Margaret Simson, one Emma Duncan Lawrenson was also left
an annuity. Nieces Georgina Margaret, Jemima, and Agnes are also mentioned in
John Lawrenson’s will. The executors of his will were Maj-Gen. Edward Howard
Vyse and Col. John Grant Kinloch.”
I cannot find out anything about Buckingham House. Shaftesbury Road does not exist today but from its opening in 1873 until 1888 what is now Ravenscourt Park Station was called Shaftesbury Road Station. The road disappeared when the park was created.
It is rather satisfactory that the family have been brought together in Margravine Cemetery and that, thanks to Brenda, I now who they all are and why they are commemorated in the cemetery.