Agnes Forbes Simpson Stewart
Agnes Forbes Simpson Stewart was born May 29, 1865 in Greenock, Scotland as seen in her birth record below. Agnes's mother's name was Jane Simpson. Her father, James Stewart 1842-1915). They immigrated in 1868 to New York where her sister Jane Simpson Stewart ( 1873-1916) and brothers John Stewart (1876-), Walter Jamison Stewart (1879-1961), Andrew Stewart (1882-), and George S Stewart (1884-1884) were born. More information on the Stewart Family on future blogposts.
(Not sure where the church yard/cemetery where Agnes grandparents are buried..but in the Mauchline or Dumfries area..there are Simpsons and Stewarts that lived in the area at the time)
August 2: "On to London Arrived at 6:15 London Hotel Miss King and Miss Ingram came to see us off Fine Weather."
August 3;" Took the bus to Westminster Abby - spent a time there also at the House of Parliament"
August 4: " Abby Towers in the afternoon A car ride passing through Greenwich also Woolworth where there was a large Naval Academy"
August 5: "Buckingham Palace - saw changing of the guards there - Bird Cage Walk -- it was the walk that the Song was written "When the Knights were Bold--" Then through London Museum St James Palace then Ambassador's Court Marlborough House formerly occupied by Queen Alexandria, now the Prince of Wales - to Duke of York's Column and though the Admiralty Arch to Trafalgar Square."
August 8: "To Windsor Castle Will the trip ever end...................."
August 14: "Shopping all day - Getting so sick of shops. Don't care if I never see another"
August 15: "To Paris Starting at 11:10 arrived at 6:20 Cruising the Channel was very smooth, but hot on the train at Hotel Montreal"
August 17: "West to the Soldiers Tomb and Arc de Triomphe Walked down the Champs de Elysees"
August 18: "Trip to Versailles Fine Sunday Morning Wonderful trip Fine All day"
August 20: "Tuesday to the Battlefields Starting on the La Fayette road from Paris to Warsaw passing over the old Roman road over 2000 years old Came back through quaint villages dating back as far as 1630 - also through the vineyards in that part of France"
August 21: " Shopped again Will it ever stop Met Miss Weldberg and shopped in the afternoon Ordered a Hat and bought Handkerchiefs"
August 23: " Fine day called to see Mrs. Rutherford in the afternoon Opera at night: "Romeo and Juliet"
August 25: "Cloudy morning Hot Lunch at the Hotel Afternoon to Eiffel Tower and the Lucadoor Palace"
August 27: " Left Paris 10 O'clock very hot Arrived London 6:35"
August 28: "Left London at 2:35 train arrived in Liverpool at 6:35 Billy and Dorothy met us"
September 1: At Hoylake Church in the morning Afternoon drive to Chester Walls part of which is still standing 59 B.C. back through very interesting villages and by Arrowe Park where the Jamboree was held August 1-15"
September 2: "Leaving for Wallsend"
(Wallsend, England is located on the River Tyne)
September 9: "To Glasgow Spent afternoon with Mirs King Spent the evening and night with
Mrs. Ingram "
September 10: "Glasgow in the morning went to Glauchen Glen Lunch with Miss King and her brother Back to Wallsend in the afternoon" (last entry of the journal ..no mention of the return trip)
Only a few relatives names were mentioned in her journal..but no full names, so it is difficult to determine which side of the family they were from. Mentioned were Miss Stewart, grandmother, grandfather, uncle George and his wife, aunt Mine, and uncle Willie.
Agnes died on September 3, 1931 in Brunswick, Maine. She was probably visiting Bailey Island
with family at the time and Brunswick had the nearest hospital. The 1930 census shows her living with her daughter Lucy and son-in-law Alexander Grabhorn at 129 Woodland Ave in East Orange, New Jersey. She was buried September 6, 1931 in Rosedale Cemetery, 497 Burnside St., Orange, Essex, New Jersey.
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So we know where her middle name Simpson and her last name Stewart came from, but for the middle name, Forbes, no information has surfaced so far.
Little is known about her youth in Manhattan, New York.
Agnes married Patrick Joseph Flynn on November 24, 1897 in Manhattan, NY. Their daughter,
Lucy Deighan Flynn was born April 14, 1899. They divorced in 1905. More information on the Flynn
family from Ireland in future blogposts.
family from Ireland in future blogposts.
Agnes
worked at several department stores in New York during her career. First she was with
James A. Hearn & Son, then Hugh O’Neill & Co under the tutelage of Lucy Deighan, manager
of underwear and children’s cloak departments. At some time later she was buyer for
Gross & /Strauss Company of Boston. By 1891 Agnes and Miss Deighan were employed
by Ehrich Bros, and then in 1901 she was buyer for R. H. White Co. of Boston .
James A. Hearn & Son, then Hugh O’Neill & Co under the tutelage of Lucy Deighan, manager
of underwear and children’s cloak departments. At some time later she was buyer for
Gross & /Strauss Company of Boston. By 1891 Agnes and Miss Deighan were employed
by Ehrich Bros, and then in 1901 she was buyer for R. H. White Co. of Boston .
Many compliments were directed her way in
various newspapers of the time.
“Miss Stewart’s employers have the utmost confidence
in her ability.
Mrs.
Flynn’s tuition at the hands of Miss Deighan resulted in the inculcation of the
best
ideas of department management and in the thorough development of her natural ability.
Her record at the Gross & Strauss Company’s is one of which she may feel proud;
and her work there has still more clearly proved her right to be classed as an expert.”
ideas of department management and in the thorough development of her natural ability.
Her record at the Gross & Strauss Company’s is one of which she may feel proud;
and her work there has still more clearly proved her right to be classed as an expert.”
“Mrs. Agnes Flynn is in the New York market, preparing
for the continuation
of the progress with which the departments under her charge at Gross & Strauss’s
Boston store have been favored. Mrs. Flynn is recognized as occupying a
foremost place among able managers of infant’s wear and underwear departments,
both in ability to select stocks wisely and to display them when selected to the best
advantage. She has shown herself in every respect thoroughly competent and up-to-date
of the progress with which the departments under her charge at Gross & Strauss’s
Boston store have been favored. Mrs. Flynn is recognized as occupying a
foremost place among able managers of infant’s wear and underwear departments,
both in ability to select stocks wisely and to display them when selected to the best
advantage. She has shown herself in every respect thoroughly competent and up-to-date
in her methods.”
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| R.H. Whites..Boston |
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| Agnes in between two friends, daughter Lucy in the front |
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| Lucy in front with mom Agnes and friends at the beach |
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Agnes Flynn, Lucy, Shirley, Alexander and Pudge Grabhorn..about 1930
|
Agnes enjoyed a long vacation journey to Ireland, Scotland, London and Paris, France in the year 1929.
This may be the year she retired. She celebrated her 64th birthday on May 29th on board the ship. We have the journal she wrote in during her trip where she mentions the many interesting places she visited.
Her journal was written in shorten sentences or lists, often using dashes or spaces instead of periods. She commented on the type of weather for the day and she often noted the time she left and arrived at various places. She listed the places she visited and sometimes commented on the colorful surroundings. Very little was written about the people she was with. I have added comments, explanations in parentheses and photos and websites where I could find them.
According to her journal, on May 25th, she sailed from New York to Boston on the Steamer Cedric from the White Star Line.
.
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| S.S. Cedric |
From there she describes her voyage across the Atlantic and landing in Queenstown on June 2.
The following is a sampling of her journal entries--additional notes in parentheses.
June 2: "Queenstown Harbor at Sunset-and the Beautiful Irish Green Grass and Hills..Lot a Joy-----Met the Lady Agent of the White Star Line at Queenstown." (Queenstown has been renamed Cobh since this time)
June 3:"Arrive at Barrow----Rain" ( I believe this is Barrow-in-Furness, England which was to become her home base during the first leg of her vacation. Probably staying with friends or relatives.)
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| possible relatives of Agnes from Barrows-in-Furness one of the photos we have from her album |
June 9: "Motored all through the Lake District. Beautiful Scenery- 7 Lakes- Flaming Chestnut trees, Red Hawthorn, Brazen Maples..Picnic at the Lake Side 800 feet above sea level."
Albert & Clara, Edith & George, Maude & Bob, Emily & Jack, Lille & Billie." ( I believe these are friends or relatives she met up for the picnic)
(She spent the next few days touring the area and having "tea" with the above mentioned people and others. She often described the weather for each day.)
June 19: "All came down to the station to see us off for Belfast. Had a quiet crossing - a very nicely equipped boat."
June 20: "Had breakfast on board Shopped at the Royal Avenue Hotel - both very tired took car ride to Bellvue a very pretty section of Belfast Had dinner at hotel and tea at a tea shop going to bed early ---Belfast is a very thriving city and looks prosperous -- went in to the Town Hall a very fine building"
June 24: "Took the bus to Dublin. Started from the Hotel at 11 o'clock and arriving in Dublin at 3:30"
June 25: "To Tullamore. Then to Clara. Returning to Dublin at 8:45. (This note implies she spent the day in the area where the Flynn side of the family lived.)
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| Main Street - Clara |
June 26: "Trinity College Library - Saw Book of the 4 Gospels. Written in the 8th Century discovered in the 10th in Ireland. Wonderfully preserved. Illustrated pages at the beginning of each Gospel. A very large building"
(The illustrations and ornamentation of the Book of Kells surpass that of other Insular Gospel books in extravagance and complexity. The decoration combines traditional Christian iconography with the ornate swirling motifs typical of Insular art. Figures of humans, animals and mythical beasts, together with Celtic knots and interlacing patterns in vibrant colours, enliven the manuscript's pages. Many of these minor decorative elements are imbued with Christian symbolism and so further emphasise the themes of the major illustrations.)
| https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Kells |
Jun 27: "Returned from Belfast - had a splendid trip over. arrived at Barrow about 9:30. Spent a very quiet day. Was very tired."
June 29: "Spent the afternoon at Wallney - Beautiful day. Had picnic lunch --Mrs. Davis, Edith"
(Walney Island is just off the coast near Barrow-in-Furness)
July 8: "To NewCastle Saw NewCastle Cathedral 800 years old Went to Black Gate Museum."
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| New Castle Cathedral |
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| Black Gate Museum at NewCastle |
July 9: "To Tynemouth Mrs. Davis 24 Denwick Terrace Had tea and had a nice walk to the Tynemouth Beach - from Beach and swimming pool."
July 19: "Trip to the Ayr Country Passing through Paisley- also Preshwick -larger Golf Links on the Ayr - had lunch there Road on to Burn's Cottage then to Burns Monument. Passed the Wallace Tower and Tam o'Shanter Inn. Alloway Auld Kirk and Cemetery Concert - at Alloway Tea Gardens on the Banks of the Doon - between Brig O Doon - took bus around the coast - on the Atlantic through to Ayr and back to Glasgow passing over the Moors & Kilmarnock - a beautiful day - started at 11:30 and returning at 7:30 pm."
http://www.burnsmuseum.org.uk
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| Burn's Cottage |
July 20: "Glasgow Art Museum Kelvin Gove Park - concert in the afternoon The Opierie
Tea in Glasgow Art Museum with Miss Stewart Clear fine Weather Home at 8 pm
Met a Dr. Butzier who was preaching here in the Presbyterian Church from Ridgewood NJ"
July 25: "Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Castle, Lunch at Germenrs(?), Marie's in the evening."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edinburgh_Castle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holyrood_Palace
August 1: "To Mauchine and Ballolochmyre Saw the Bridge at Ballochmyrle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballochmyle_Viaduct
The house where Grandfather and Grandmother lived - also visited the church yard where they were buried. Met Uncle Robert's wife about 80- very much surprised as we did not know of any wife.
Visited Burn's House there - Met a Mrs. Learmont - Met Mrs. Walker old friend of grandmothers. Mrs. Nevins, the present occupant of the old home - a Mrs. Hood, keeper of Burn's cottage"
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| Burn's house in Dumfries |
August 2: "On to London Arrived at 6:15 London Hotel Miss King and Miss Ingram came to see us off Fine Weather."
August 3;" Took the bus to Westminster Abby - spent a time there also at the House of Parliament"
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| Westminster Abby |
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| House of Parliment |
August 4: " Abby Towers in the afternoon A car ride passing through Greenwich also Woolworth where there was a large Naval Academy"
August 5: "Buckingham Palace - saw changing of the guards there - Bird Cage Walk -- it was the walk that the Song was written "When the Knights were Bold--" Then through London Museum St James Palace then Ambassador's Court Marlborough House formerly occupied by Queen Alexandria, now the Prince of Wales - to Duke of York's Column and though the Admiralty Arch to Trafalgar Square."
August 8: "To Windsor Castle Will the trip ever end...................."
August 14: "Shopping all day - Getting so sick of shops. Don't care if I never see another"
August 15: "To Paris Starting at 11:10 arrived at 6:20 Cruising the Channel was very smooth, but hot on the train at Hotel Montreal"
August 17: "West to the Soldiers Tomb and Arc de Triomphe Walked down the Champs de Elysees"
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| Arc de Triomphe |
August 18: "Trip to Versailles Fine Sunday Morning Wonderful trip Fine All day"
August 20: "Tuesday to the Battlefields Starting on the La Fayette road from Paris to Warsaw passing over the old Roman road over 2000 years old Came back through quaint villages dating back as far as 1630 - also through the vineyards in that part of France"
August 21: " Shopped again Will it ever stop Met Miss Weldberg and shopped in the afternoon Ordered a Hat and bought Handkerchiefs"
August 23: " Fine day called to see Mrs. Rutherford in the afternoon Opera at night: "Romeo and Juliet"
August 25: "Cloudy morning Hot Lunch at the Hotel Afternoon to Eiffel Tower and the Lucadoor Palace"
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| Eiffel Tower |
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| Lucadoor Palace |
August 28: "Left London at 2:35 train arrived in Liverpool at 6:35 Billy and Dorothy met us"
September 1: At Hoylake Church in the morning Afternoon drive to Chester Walls part of which is still standing 59 B.C. back through very interesting villages and by Arrowe Park where the Jamboree was held August 1-15"
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| Chester City Walls
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester_city_walls
|
September 2: "Leaving for Wallsend"
(Wallsend, England is located on the River Tyne)
September 9: "To Glasgow Spent afternoon with Mirs King Spent the evening and night with
Mrs. Ingram "
September 10: "Glasgow in the morning went to Glauchen Glen Lunch with Miss King and her brother Back to Wallsend in the afternoon" (last entry of the journal ..no mention of the return trip)
Only a few relatives names were mentioned in her journal..but no full names, so it is difficult to determine which side of the family they were from. Mentioned were Miss Stewart, grandmother, grandfather, uncle George and his wife, aunt Mine, and uncle Willie.
Agnes died on September 3, 1931 in Brunswick, Maine. She was probably visiting Bailey Island
with family at the time and Brunswick had the nearest hospital. The 1930 census shows her living with her daughter Lucy and son-in-law Alexander Grabhorn at 129 Woodland Ave in East Orange, New Jersey. She was buried September 6, 1931 in Rosedale Cemetery, 497 Burnside St., Orange, Essex, New Jersey.
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Anyone having corrections, more information, facts, stories, or photos or comments to add to this
blog, please send them to me at lana.rankin@yahoo.com and I will be sure to add them to the next blogpost with any updated items you want to add.
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