The Diary of Nathaniel Bryceson (Part 7)

[Siamese Girl]

From http://schulers.com/books/jo/w/The_Works_of_John_Bunyan_Volume_1/The_Works_of_John_Bunyan_Volume_132.htm


"A lineal descendant of his was living, in 1847, at Islington, near London, aged eighty-four, Mrs. Senegar, a fine hearty old lady, and a Strict Baptist. She said to me, 'Sir, excuse the vanity of an old woman, but I will show you how I sometimes spend a very pleasant half-hour.' She took down a portrait on canvas of her great forefather, and propped it up on the table with a writing-desk, with a looking-glass by its side. 'There, Sir, I look at the portrait, and then at myself, and can trace every feature; we resemble each other like two pins.' 'Excepting the imperial and moustachios,' I replied; to which she readily assented. It was the fact that there was a striking family likeness between the picture and her reflection in the looking-glass."

Now I know what I'm looking for I can find her! 

She left a very brief PCC will. Mentioning her sister Amelia Bradley and her son Thomas Bradley. Also a neice Mary Ireland and a nephew (he must be her husband's) William Pegler Sanigear.

Carole

[avm228]

Wonderful, Carole! Love the bit about the "moustachios". What's an "imperial" when it's at home?

Interesting about the "Strict Baptist" bit, too - hence all the chapel-going. I wonder where she was buried?

[Ruskie]

I wonder what she was doing in Nottingham?

Maybe some of the Notts researchers may be able to help us find her grave. I imagine she would have had a headstone but it remains to be seen if it's till standing ... 

I wonder if this might be her parent's marriage:
John Bunyan = Mary Warren
23 Sept 1759
Luton
Bedford

(Mary appears to have a few siblings)

[avm228]

She seems to have been "of Nottingham" for the purposes of her will & probate

http://tinyurl.com/3aebq5k

...so she apparently lived there at the end of her life and didn't expire during a visit.

[avm228]

A Samuel SANIGEAR was one of the persons authorised by the Bank of England to sign bank notes of £1 and £2* (but not £5 and above), according to a Bank of England notice dated 22 Feb 1821, published in the London Gazette.

*I didn't know there had ever been a £2 note!

[ShaunJ]

There's a PCC Will for Samuel Sanigear that was proved in 1832. He was "of Chipping Sodbury" when he made the will in 1827.

All to wife Mary Sanigear.

[deb usa]

From .' She took down a portrait on canvas of her great forefather, and propped it up on the table with a writing-desk, with a looking-glass by its side. 'There, Sir, I look at the portrait, and then at myself, and can trace every feature; we resemble each other like two pins.' 'Excepting the imperial and moustachios,' I replied; to which she readily assented. It was the fact that there was a striking family likeness between the picture and her reflection in the looking-glass."

so now we know what MRS S looks like ...sans imperial and moustachios  


 

[Ruskie]

She seems to have been "of Nottingham" for the purposes of her will & probate

http://tinyurl.com/3aebq5k

...so she apparently lived there at the end of her life and didn't expire during a visit.

Um, that would be a big move for an 80+ year old - maybe she moved in with relatives who could take care of her.

Interesting find about Samuel Sanigear and the bank notes.

[avm228]

so now we know what MRS S looks like ...sans imperial and moustachios