Emma RYDER [2915]

  General Notes:

(Courtesy of LG Ryder 2012)
28 Milman Road, Reading, Berks
Nov.1st 1901
My Dear Cousin,
I was astonished after so many years silence, again to hear from you, and your letter was a bit tantalizing, in as much as it contained no news of yourself and surroundings. Well I will be better than you, and tell you what I can about our branch of the Ryder family. My eldest sister Matilda lives at Barnet, she has two step sons both married, and a step daughter who teaches in the Barnet Board School, and lives at home. My brother you know has been dead many years, his widow married again and has five children by her second husband. My brother had none. My younger sister Lizzie lives at Stroud Green, she has five children, the youngest is 19 yrs old. None of them at present are engaged or married. I gave up school teaching nearly three years ago and am now living on an annuity purchased with my savings and a government pension of 25 pounds a year. Eleven years ago my Aunt Hatton was left quite destitute on the death of her husband, and I took her to live with me for I could not bear the thought of Fathers sister coming to the workhouse.She is now nearly 92 years of age and though feeble has a good appetite and seems likely to live yet for some time. I have found the care of her a great care and burden and it prevents my going from home, for she is too old to be left alone. It seems strange she should live so many years beyond the ordinary span of life, while those we would love to keep a bit longer are taken from us. Aunt says she thinks you in Australia have all forgotten that she is your Fathers sister and your aunt. When you write again it would give her much pleasure, if you only sent her a few lines. She would like to know the date of your Fathers death, his age at that time and the nature of his last illness. I was glad to get your letter, for though I hear from some of my cousins of the Tilley family, I do not hear at all from any one of your family. I was glad to see that you had a son and that he was old enough to criticize your composition. You know you are the only one who can keep the Ryder name from dying out. I shall be glad to know all about your wife and family, their names, ages, what they are doing etc. Please too tell me about your sisters and their families. I can remember your Father and Mother, and your two oldest sisters. I was a little girl when they stayed at our house, before starting for Australia. I wonder how many years ago it is. I am now 59 years old, so I should think it is more than fifty years ago. I expect you saw the Duke and Duchess of York when in Australia. I think you gave them a real royal welcome. They are expected in Portsmouth today and are to have an ovation in London tomorrow. The King and Queen have sailed out into the channel to meet them, taking their little children to meet them. How glad they will be to meet them again. This dreadful South African war still drags on its weary length. My sympathy is largely with the Boers and though I think we should insist on the British being treated fairly, yet I think we have no right to take their land from them. Now I must stop - cousinly love to all my cousins known and unknown. I expect a good long letter mind. A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Your affectionate cousin,
Emma Ryder.

28 Milman Road Reading, Berks.
July 10th 1903
My Dear Cousin,
[I was charmed with] your long and very interesting letter.
I am sure your dear Father if he were still here would be glad, to know that the boy he thought so much of had grown into such an important and useful man. I sent your letters to my two sisters to read, and also read to some of my reading friends. Your descriptions were so graphic and your mode of life so different (from ours) that these things gave a peculiar charm. Especially is this the case with your account of the news of the cousins. I should think your wife must have been very glad to see you return safely. I am glad you have a good wife, and certainly your long courtship gave you plenty of time to know each other. (Church & Sunday School are good places in which to seek a wife.) Your old pastor Rev. Silas Mead has recently (returned ? to Australia ?) and his place at H. . . . . College has been (taken) by my . . . . Reading. Rev Forbes . . . . . . . . sorry to lose him.
I like your account of your boys. Could you not get the Cecil Rhodes Scholarship for Norman and let him come to Oxford University? I am not surprised to hear that Geoffrey is musical. Some musical talent has also been in the Ryder family for years. I am expecting a great future for both your lads, especially so if they while young give their heart to their savior. Among my cousins I hear from several in Mrs Tilley's family, but none in yours but yourself, Mrs Perry and her missionary daughter, Mrs Cooke, Mrs Winfield and her daughter Mrs Milne all write to me.
Aunt Hatton still lives. She is bed ridden for a year and seven months and suffers . . . . . . . . .
In matters of State education you are far before us.
Give my kind regards to your wife and the boys. I expect some days your adventurous spirit will bring you to see the native land of your father.
I am, Yours sincerely, Emma Ryder

England & Wales National Probate Calendar
RYDER Emma of 28 Milman-road Reading Berkshire spinster died 27 August 1908 at Hendra Clifford-road New Barnet Hertfordshire Probate London 11 September 1908 to Matilda Lewis (wife of John James Lewis) and Elizabeth Parker (wife of George Parker). Effects 9s. 5d. [New Barnet = northern outskirts of London]

England & Wales National Probate Calendar
I EMMA RYDER of number 28 Milman Road Reading in the county of Berks spinster hereby revoke all testamentary instruments heretofore made by me and declare this to be my last will I appoint my sisters Matilda Lewis the wife of John James Lewis of Hendra Clifford Road New Barnet and Elizabeth Parker the wife of George Parker of Number 10 Albert Road Stroud Green London (hereinafter called my trustees) to be the EXECUTRIXES and trustees of this my will And I declare that all the trusts powers and authorities hereinafter vested in my trustees shall devolve upon and be exerciseable by the survivor of them and the executors or administrators of such survivor or other the trustees or trustee for the time being of this my will I bequeath to my trustees all monies standing in my name in the Planet Building Society 7 Finsbury Square London upon trust to purchase an immediate annuity in the Post Office for the sole use and benefit of my niece Jessie Matilda Parker the daughter of the said George Parker I devise and bequest all my real and personal estate whatsoever (except what I otherwise dispose of by this my will or any codicil hereto) unto and to the use of my sisters the said Matilda Lewis and Elizabeth Parker in equal shares IN WITNESS whereof I the said Emma Ryder have to this my last will set my hand this thirteenth day of December one thousand nine hundred and five - EMMA RYDER - Signed by the above named testatrix Emma Ryder as her last will in the presence of us present at the same time and who in her presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses HENRY MEDWAY 12 Milman Road Reading Solicitors Clerk EMILY MEDWAY 12 Milman Road Reading
ON the 11th day of September 1908 Probate of this will was granted to Matilda Lewis (wife of John James Lewis) and Elizabeth Parker (wife of George Parker) the executrixes
(Image of original in Events Gallery)

  Other Records

• Census: England, 30 Mar 1851, 15 Pakenham Street, St Pancras. Emma is recorded as Daughter age 9 Scholar

• Census: England, 7 Apr 1861, 64 High Street, Norwood, Middlesex. Emma is recorded as Servant for Charles & Caroline Tamplin age 20 born Norwood Middlesex and described as House Maid.

• Census: England, 2 Apr 1871, 6 Pakenham Street, St Pancras, London. Emma is recorded as Daughter unmarried age 29 Schoolmistress.

• Census: England, 3 Apr 1881, 2 Shepton Villas, Reading (St Giles) Berkshire. Emma is recorded as Board age 39 unmarried and described as a Public Elementary Teacher

• Census: England, 5 Apr 1891, 28 Milman Road, St Giles. Emma is recorded as Head Single age 49 born St Pancras London and described as a Certified Schoolmistress. A visitor is recorded staying Anne Rivers Single age 46 born ?Upham Kent and described as a Certified Schoolmistress.

• Census: England, 31 Mar 1901, 28 Milman Road, St Giles, Reading. Emma is recorded as Head, Single age 59 and described as Retired School Mistress (Aunt Ann Hatton living with her).

• Emma Ryder: Probate, 11 Sep 1908, Hendra Clifford-road New Barnet Hertfordshire. RYDER Emma of 28 Milman-road Reading Berkshire spinster died 27 August 1908 at Hendra Clifford-road New Barnet Hertfordshire Probate London 11 September to Matilda Lewis (wife of John James Lewis) and Elizabeth Parker (wife of George Parker).
Effects 458. 9s. 5d.