Lady's companion in Birkenhead

[brigidmac]

 1939 My great great aunt  Rebecca Jones was a domestic servant probably a cook as previous profession 

The name of the lady she worked for was Selina B Claxton b 1849

Lady's companion
 Elphemia J Shinnia b1881
 domestic servant Florence M Wright 1888

I imagine a grand house
 ..it was 6 Branton Road Birkenhead

I wonder what became of these single ladies

[CaroleW]

Selina Bloomfield Claxton died 15.10.1941.  Probate to Ecroyde Ihler Claxton (b 1876 per freebmd)

I think the name is Euphemia Shimmin or Shimmins who was possibly born as Euphemia Little in the IOM

I have the surname Shimmin in my FH and it’s a pretty common IOM surname

[mckha489]

They may have been provided for in some way in Selina’s will

My grandfather remarried late in life to someone who had been a ladies’  maid all her life. So that’s how she was provided for, but after he died she lived in a retirement complex at which other former staff of the family she worked for also lived and I know they had all been give small pensions by them.

[CaroleW]

Ecroyde Claxton & Selina Bloomfield Ihler married 1872 at All Saints Childwall.  Both born Lancashire

[brigidmac]

 Wow good finds
I'm glad you could find examples of these names .

I looked carefully at the name Elphimia because I'd never seen it before and have Euphemias on my Scottish side .the writing is much clearer than for the surname which Ive also never come across before .
Rebecca Jones worked as a servant or cook in private families all her life .my great grandfather made his will out to her and spinster sister Mabel who also worked in domestic service his 6 married children were not included in the will. Probably forseeing that they might need it more

[brigidmac]

Rebecca Jones lived til 1950 I don't know where she was between 1939 and her death

[CaroleW]

Euphemia is a christian name often mis-transcribed.  There is a 1909 birth on freebmd for a  Euphemia C Shimmin.  1911 has her transcribed as Enphemia Catterine (Catherine). 

If she did originate from the IOM - she may have returned there after Mrs Claxton died

[Colin D Gronow]

I imagine a grand house
 ..it was 6 Branton Road Birkenhead

The house was in Brancote Road, No.6 now demolished.

[brigidmac]

Thanks for including the map  Colin. None of the nearby roads named correspond with where Rebecca s half brother my grandad grew up .looks like these were all detached houses so a more affluent side of Birkenhrad