Edith Chaplin Ayrton

Edith Chaplin Ayrton

b: 1 OCT 1874
d: 5 MAY 1945
Biography
Far End,
East Preston,
Littlehampton
, Sussex,

UK From "Hertha Ayrton: A Memoir" by Evelyn Sharp, publ Edward Arnold, London, 1926:

p.118: "Besides their mutual interest in Will Ayrton, who was regarded as a brother in the Chaplin household, [Hertha and Edith Ayrton] had a common bond in the little stepdaughter [of Hertha's] Edith Ayrton, who, since her mother's death, had spent most of her time at the Hermitage, Uckfield, in Gloucestershire, where the Chaplins kept a small school on rather original lines for boys and girls, most of whom were relatives and Anglo-Indian children. Here Edie had been rapturously happy, always regarding the place as her home, although she came occasionally to London for holidays. It was during the Christmas vacation of 1884 that she first met her future stepmother, at a children's party in Mrs Hancock's house. Professor Ayrton had been amusing the children at this party by doing conjuring tricks, one of his most popular accomplishments; and Mrs Zangwill [Edie] realls how, on their way home in the cab, her father talked to her for the first time about Miss Marks, especially praising her nobility and unselfishness in working so hard to support her relatives."

p.124: After a difficult start with her stepmother (see Hertha Ayrton), relations improved, especially after Barbara was born. Hertha kept Edie posted about Barbara when she went with her father to attend the Electrical Exhibition at Frankfurt or, later, to the Chicago Congress.

p.153: Letter from Hertha: "My dear, dear Edie, How could you! It was very wrong of you to spend such untold sums in such a way. It must have cost mints of money, even in spite of Sir William Crookes's 'expert assistance'! It was very good of you, dear, but you know it was quite unnecessary. There is no need for any talk of what I have done for you, any more than there need be from Barbie. Without any wish to take your mother's place, I have, I hope, been a friend to you, and you have been equally one to me, and between friends there are no obligations; each is naturally on the alert to help the other in every possible way. And you know that if I have been able to devote myself to my work during the last few years it has been very largely owing to you, as I am fully aware, and so our aid has been mutual - as it should be........."

From 'Barbarous Babes', subtitled 'Being the Memoirs of Molly':

This was Edith Ayrton's first book, based on childhood reminiscences - for the other titles, see Publications.doc. In it, she gave all her relatives fictitious names, but enough is in clear to confirm that it is based on fact. For example, in 'The Whipping of Teddy' Mother (who in real life was Edith's mother Matilda Charlotte), says that she has to go on a long journey to the Other-end-of-Nowhere, for the whole winter, and all the children think she is joking. But she isn't, for she has tears in her eyes, and explains that when she was so ill last month the doctor said she must get out of England, and she had just seen a Very Great Doctor who said the same. The children wanted to go with her, but she explained that if was difficult for Father even to find the money for Mother to go alone. Then she cried a little. The next day she explained that she was going to a place called Algiers, "where there were black people, real live ones walking about the streets in funny clothes, and she'd draw pictures of them for us..... Only Teddy seemed happy at all this. On the day she left, "We had to get up very early, because she and Father were going by the 7.45 train, and so the lamp was lit at breakfast......... Mother couldn't eat anything.......... As for Ted, Fraulein hadn't dressed him at all, but had just brought him down to say goodbye in his little scarlet dressing-gown which is made out of my old winter jacket........... At last there was a ring at the bell, and it was the fly. "Now do try to drink up your coffee, my dear," Father said; but Mother said, "I can't, I can't." "Well, we must start at once," Father said. It was all very well for him, for he was going to London with Mother and down to the ship to see her off.........etc etc. Edith Ayrton was an only child, but at the time of the story she had probably been living with all her cousins at the Hermitage, in Gloucestershire, see above. No doubt some detective work would make it possible to relate all the characters in the book to real people! Edith Chaplin Ayrton attended Bedford College from the lent term 1890 to 1892. When she first arrived she attended classes for drawing in her first two terms. The following academic year she took classes in Maths, Physics, Botany, English Language, English History and Latin. In the year 1891-92 she took Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Botany, English Language, English Literature, Latin, Greek and English History. She received her London Matriculation (first division/class) in 1892 (this was the standard award given to graduates of Bedford College in those days). 1911 Census: Edith Zangwill with Margaret Ayrton Zangwill, 11 months, and two servants.
Facts
  • 1 OCT 1874 - Birth - ; Yedo, Japan
  • 5 MAY 1945 - Death -
  • DEC 1884 - Fact -
  • MAY 1885 - Fact -
  • 1898 - Fact -
  • SEP 1901 - Fact -
  • FROM 1890 TO 1892 - Education - Royal Holloway College
Ancestors
   
Edward Nugent Ayrton
13 MAR 1815 - 28 NOV 1873
 
 
William Edward Ayrton , F.R.S.
14 SEP 1847 - 6 NOV 1908
  
  
  
 
Edith Chaplin Ayrton
1 OCT 1874 - 5 MAY 1945
  
 
  
John Clarke Chaplin
25 AUG 1806 - 2 JUN 1856
 
 
Matilda Charlotte Chaplin , M.D.
20 JUN 1846 - 19 JUL 1883
  
  
  
Matilda Adriana Ayrton
1 JUN 1813 - 26 JAN 1899
 
Family Group Sheet - Child
PARENT (M) William Edward Ayrton , F.R.S.
Birth14 SEP 1847London (see obituary)
Death6 NOV 1908 41, Norfolk Square, Hyde Park, London, England
Marriage21 DEC 1871to Matilda Charlotte Chaplin , M.D. at Saint Matthew, Bayswater, Kensington.
Marriage6 MAY 1885to Phoebe Sarah (Hertha) Marks at Mr and Mrs Hancock's house in Queen's Gate
FatherEdward Nugent Ayrton
MotherEmma Sophie Althof
PARENT (F) Matilda Charlotte Chaplin , M.D.
Birth20 JUN 1846Honfleur, Normandy, France (Baptized Sprowston Norfolk in 1847 according to Andi Smith)
Death19 JUL 1883 her residence, 68 Sloane Street, London
Marriage21 DEC 1871to William Edward Ayrton , F.R.S. at Saint Matthew, Bayswater, Kensington.
FatherJohn Clarke Chaplin
MotherMatilda Adriana Ayrton
CHILDREN
FEdith Chaplin Ayrton
Birth1 OCT 1874Yedo, Japan
Death5 MAY 1945
Marriage26 NOV 1903to Israel Zangwill
Family Group Sheet - Spouse
PARENT (M) Israel Zangwill
Birth21 JAN 1864Off Stoney Lane, Houndsditch
Death1 AUG 1926 Midhurst, Sussex, of pneumonia
Marriage26 NOV 1903to Edith Chaplin Ayrton
FatherMoses Zangwill
MotherEllen Hannah Marks
PARENT (F) Edith Chaplin Ayrton
Birth1 OCT 1874Yedo, Japan
Death5 MAY 1945
Marriage26 NOV 1903to Israel Zangwill
FatherWilliam Edward Ayrton , F.R.S.
MotherMatilda Charlotte Chaplin , M.D.
CHILDREN
FMargaret (Peggy) Zangwill
Birth12 APR 1910
Death
MOliver Louis Zangwill
Birth29 OCT 1913
Death12 OCT 1987
Marriageto Shirley Tribe
Marriageto Joy Moult
MAyrton Israel Zangwill
Birth15 AUG 1906
Death
Marriageto Sara Olivares
Evidence
[S12758] Ann Gregory (Mendell)'s copy of 'A short account of the Families of Chaplin and Skinner........' with annotations by Ayrton Chaplin & others
[S37942] Raymond Airton emails etc from 19 July 2006 (and some earlier)
[S22616] 'Who's Who'
[S28950] Hertha Ayrton 1854-1923: A Memoir by Evelyn Sharp. Edward Arnold & Co, 1926
[S9164] Effie Ray-Jones by word of mouth or in writing
Descendancy Chart
Edith Chaplin Ayrton b: 1 OCT 1874 d: 5 MAY 1945
Israel Zangwill b: 21 JAN 1864 d: 1 AUG 1926
Margaret (Peggy) Zangwill b: 12 APR 1910
Oliver Louis Zangwill b: 29 OCT 1913 d: 12 OCT 1987
Joy Moult b: 1924 d: 2016
David Ayrton Zangwill b: FEB 1952 d: 1953
Ayrton Israel Zangwill b: 15 AUG 1906