Writer. Born Tavistock, Devon. Née Rundle, married Andrew Charles. Wrote and translated hymns. Wrote over fifty books, the majority of a semi-religious character, and is best known for 'Chronicles of the Schönberg-Cotta Family' about Martin Luther. Died Hampstead.
In addition to her and our Picture Source our research has found that she was born as Elizabeth Rundle on 2 January 1828 in Tavistock, Devon, the daughter of John Rundle MP (1792-1864) and Barbara Rundle née Gill (1804-1889).
In March 1851 she married Andrew Paton Charles (1820-1868) in Tavistock, Devon. The 1861 census shows her living in Hampstead Heath with her husband, her parents, her brother-in-law Arthur Charles (1839-1921), together with a cook and three female house servants. Her husband was described as a soap manufacturer.
Probate records show that her husband died, aged 48 years, on 4 June 1868 at Lower Heath, Hampstead, and that his will was proved by his widow on 26 June 1868 with his effects recorded as being under £35,000. It was subsequently resworn in February 1869 when the effects were listed as under £40,000.
In the 1871 census she is shown as a widow living off the 'interest of money', in Victoria Street, Westminster, with her widowed mother and three female domestic servants. The 1881 census shows her still living off the interest of money at Combe Edge, Branch Hill Park, Hampstead, with her mother, together with a cook, a parlour-maid, a housemaid, a gardener and his wife.
On 27 December 1887 she changed her name by deed from Elizabeth Charles by 'assuming the name of Rundle as a surname in addition to my said surname of Charles and shall at all time hereafter in all deeds, writings, dealings and transactions be known as Elizabeth Rundle Charles'.
She died, aged 68 years, on 28 March 1896 and was in the St John-at-Hampstead Churchyard. Probate records read: Elizabeth Charles otherwise Elisabeth (sic) Rundle of Combe Edge, Hampstead Heath, Middlesex, widow, died 28 March 1896. Probate granted 8 June 1896 to Robert Fletcher Charles schoolmaster, Mary Lang Hadow (wife of the reverend William Hadow clerk) and the reverend Robert Charles Lewin Reade clerk. Her effects totalled £22,134-11s-9d. Subsequently resworn in November 1896 as £21,943-7s-2d.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan
Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in to see them