ALFRED DIGORY FROOD AND THE LEEDS CONNECTION

THE ALFRED DIGORY FROOD STORY

Born 1845 in Northampton, died in Leeds, September 1910, aged 64.

Alfred Digory, was the youngest surviving son of James and Elisabeth FROOD.

In 1851 he was living with his family in Northampton. In 1861 he does not appear on the census but he reappears in 1871 when he his shown living with his very new wife, whom he married in 1871 at his new address in Leeds. He is a Sewing Machine Engineer and Salesman. They live in a new development in north Leeds called Potters Newton, a housing project specifically for trades people and the middle classes. This project is well documented as experimental, and was not recognised as being over successful as more and more working class terraces impinged to the rear of the grand terrace houses and so became 'unfashionable'.

Records show that the homes were 'commodious and respectable, with large gardens, rented out to those earning £300 per year. Described as genteel and respectable terrace houses, they had enough accommodation for one or two servants. They were homes for professional men and tradesmen who had offices or businesses in Leeds. From 1838 onwards omnibuses ran from the suburbs to Leeds centre.

Alfred Digory married to Robina Bruce MacAuley, the 3rd daughter of Captain Robert MacAuley. MacAuley is a scottish clan which historically centred around the lands of the Ardincaple, which are today consumed by the little villages of Rhu and the burgh of Helensburgh in Argyll and Bute.

In 1881 they moved to different accommodation in Leeds as they now have four daughters: Catherine B 1872, Elizabeth b.1874; Isabella b.1876 and Nellie b. 1877.

Alfred was noted in the 1872 Trade Gazette in Leeds - as MANAGER- SINGER SEWING MACHINE CO., ABBOTSFORD PLACE, NEW LEEDS.

In 1891 they have all moved to Orrell and Ford, a district of Sefton, where they are living with the addition of their son, Robert V, who was born in 1882.

Isabella was in Southwark, London in 1910, prior to her marrying that same year in Leeds. Catherine married in September, 1896 in Leeds; Elizabeth married in 1905 at the age of 32 in Leeds

Robert Vosper FROOD died at the age of 17/18 on April 27th, 1899 - and is buried in Lawnswood Cemetery, Leeds. Robina died in Bradford in 1915 aged 73 years of age, and is also buried with her son, husband and youngest daughter Nellie.

Footnote: Robina was the grand daughter of John  MacAuley and Marion Bruce, and the great grand daughter of Anlay MacAuley (1723-85) and Annie McWattie.

Alfred's youngest daughter Nellie, was married in 1900 to HARRY DE GREY FIRTH. The service was conducted by the uncle of the bride the Rev. John Crump at the Eldon Weslyan Chapel, Leeds.  De Grey Firth was resident at 37 Vernon Road, Leeds. Nellie is buried with her father, mother and brother at Lawnswood Cemetery, Leeds Section B430.

ROBERT VOSPER D 1899

ALFRED D.   D1910

ROBINA BRUCE FROOD 1915

NELLIE DE GREY FIRTH 1941



Reginald Terrace where the Froods lived




Another Frood residence in Leeds




The new housing project at Potter Newton, Leeds



THE STORY OF ARABELLA FROOD

Sister of Charles Trefusis FroodShe was born in 1838, was  2 in the 1841census living  in Towcester and 12 in 1851 census living in Northampton and at 22, in the 1861 census she was  working as a teacher in Linsted, Kent.
In 1881 she was described as the sister in law of Rosville Mills, who had married her sister, Emma Marie, and was living in Lyonsdown Road, Oakwood, New Barnet, described as an independent lady.
In 1891 Arabella was shown to be living in Barnet, again with her sister Emma, and once again shown as a woman living on her own means.
In 1901 at the age of 62, she was now living with her sister Eliza Phillips-COWGILL, and she was described as a retired governess.

She died a spinster in 1918 leaving £6,267 (2011 value - £133.000) to her nephew William Hamilton CRUMP. At the time of her death she was resident at 10, Yew Bank Terrace, Ilkley.

Crump was the eldest son of her youngest sister Helen J Frood and JOHN CRUMP, a Wesleyan Minister from Westmorland. Crump officiated at the wedding of his niece Nellie in 1900.
William Hamilton Crump, with his inheritance set of for New York from Liverpool in 1919, with a final destination of Houston. He set sail on the ORDUNA  and was acccompanied by Jean Merrie A -

THE STORY OF ELIZA PHILIPS (PHELPS) FROOD

Contents confirmed through census, parish records, wills and other relevant papers.


According to the 1871 census Eliza was born in Kingston, Surrey in 1831 the second daughter of James Frood and Elizabeth Sargent Frood. In 1841 she lived in Towcester, with her parents and siblings. In 1851 she was living in Northampton, again with her parents and siblings, although her older brother Charles Trefusis had left and travelled to Sheffield to take up his work at Coles as an assistant draper.

In 1861 Eliza, still unmarried, now 30 years old,is working as a housekeeper in the prestigious St.Anns Square in Manchester, where siblings Julie (24) is working as a saleswoman to a draper; and Emma(28) who is a drapers assistant. It is worth noting that in 1861 her youngest sister Ellen, who is 11 years old is at school in St.Stephen's by Saltash in Cornwall and sister Elizabeth has married to Frederick Poulter who are living at Leighton Grove and their mother Elizabeth Sargent is living with them.  Her father James died in 1859. It is also worth noting that during this period 1858-1863 her brother Charles Trefusis Frood and his wife Amelia had the births of four of his children, Charles, Eliza, Florence and James,registered in Chorlton, Manchester.


By 1863 Eliza had met and then married Brian Cowgill, a Chemist and Druggist from Burnley. His father was a noted and important surgeon, with interests in the healing properties of herbs, particularly 'feverfen'. He was married to Martha Abode,and they lived in Burnley, Lancs.
When Eliza and Brian met he was widowed, she was 32 and he was 41 - and he had been married to Ann who had died before she was 36, having given birth to 6 children - Ellen Eliza -1847; Brian Horatio 1849; Charlotte Ann 1851; Mary 1853; Jane 1855 and Hannah 1859.


In 1865 Brian Cowgill died, leaving Eliza with the children and the business, a Chemist and Druggist in Market Place, Whalley and then later in Manchester Road, Burnley.
In 1871 Eliza is shown as Head of household, chemist and druggist aged 39 - and living with her is the eldest son (22) Brian Horatio, who is also in the pharmaceutical industry and working with Eliza. They have an apprentice and a shop manager living with them. At that time they are being visited by her sisters Arabella (26) who is a teacher in Linsted, Kent and Helen who is 21. Also visiting is sister Elizabeth Poulter and her son Arthur who is 6 years of age.
Although Eliza and Brian married in Doncaster her death details are as yet not confirmed. He died in Burnley.


Elisabeth Sargent V Frood , the mother died in Doncaster in 1865 but her burial details are unknown - her husband James died in 1859 in Plymouth. Elizabeth must have gone to live with one her children, perhaps CT Frood until her death in Doncaster.