Author: Fentiman, Catherine
Biography:
FENTIMAN, Catherine, formerly NICHOLS (1775-1852: ancestry.co.uk)
She was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, in 1775, the daughter of Roger Nichols and his wife Elizabeth Magee, who later moved to Dorchester, Dorset. She married John Fentiman (1771-1838), a merchant-builder, of Claylands, Kennington, Surrey, at St. Peter’s, Dorchester, on 1 Aug.1797. His father, John Fentiman (1747-1820), had bought extensive lands in the area, including Claylands which he drained and developed. Catherine had two daughters who do not appear to have survived and although John Fentiman provided for her at his death in 1838, he first left generous provision for Mary Ann Hoy (1801-59) and his “reputed son” John William Fentiman (1832-71). In 1849, the son was apprenticed to an attorney, under this name but with his parents given as Richard and Mary Ann Twentyman. After Fentiman’s death Mary Ann Hoy had married Richard Twentyman, a silk merchant of Wood Street, Cheapside, twelve years her junior, at St. Mary Lambeth, on 24 Feb. 1841. She and her son and new family continued to live in John Fentiman’s house at Coburg Place, Newington. The son died there in 1871 leaving just under £5000. In contrast, Catherine Fentiman died intestate, aged 78, on 28 Feb. 1852, leaving under £200. Her volume Scraps (1824) was written as a twenty-seventh anniversary present for her husband--presumably before the liaison with Mary Ann Hoy. After Mary Ann’s death, Richard Twentyman emigrated with their three children to Australia. He had been made bankrupt a year before her death. (ancestry.co.uk 16 Sept. 2020; findmypast.co.uk 16 Sept. 2020; Globe3 1 Jul. 1838, 19 Mar. 1839; London Evening Standard 2 Mar. 1852; Norwich Mercury 5 May 1855) AA
Other Names:
- Mrs. Catherine Fentiman