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Frances Olive Outerbridge

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(Redirected from Frances Olive Outerbridge (Nurse and Suffragette)) British suffragette and nurse

Frances Olive Outerbridge (1846–1934) was a nurse and British suffragette, in 1912, she was rewarded the Women's Social and Political Union Hunger Strike Medal 'for Valour'.

Family

Her parents were Stephen Outerbridge and Ann Williams. Her mother was from Swansea and her father was born in Bermuda, where the family had been based form the early 17th century. Amongst Stephen's eight siblings was Dr Thaddaeus Aubrey Outerbridge, who in an article discussing the family's links to slavery is described as: -

'“born into this prominent family, which was known for its trading, shipbuilding, and privateering. The family built considerable wealth and held notable positions within the Bermuda government, and was very influential in the island’s early development.”

18 people in Bermuda with the surname Outerbridge claimed over £1100 for 83 slaves from the British Slave Compensation Commission following the abolition of slavery in 1833; This includes a Stephen Outerbridge (who might be Frances's father) for 14 slaves.

Anna Maria Outerbridge (who was a niece of Thaddaeus and a counsin of Frances) also campaigned for the women suffrage cause in Bermuda which resulted in two bills, which failed, being debated in 1895 and 1896 in the Bermuda Colonial Parliament of which Thaddaeus Outerbridge was a member and supported the bills.

Life

Frances's early family life was based in Swansea and she is shown in the 1861 census, aged 14, living at Oxford Street Swansea and at school. By 1881 she is shown in the Census living with her brother, Thomas, in St Pancras, London, she is shown as having no occupation.

At the time of the 1891 census Frances lived in the same home as Caroline Downing, another Suffragette activist, both are described as trained nurses. In 1898 Caroline and Frances were jointly presented with a silver plated tray “in appreciation of their self-sacrificing labours among the sick and poor of the parish for ten years. This was probably at the time they moved to Lewisham, where they are recorded in the 1901 census, Caroline is shown as the head of the household with Frances recorded as her relationship being “companion”. Also part of the household is an adopted daughter, Olive Vaughan, aged 3.

In common with many women's suffrage campaigners Caroline and Frances refused to take part in the 1911 census, although Caroline's initials and name is written on the form alongside “Suffragette – information refused”. At time of the 1921 census Caroline and Frances are living at the same address along with the adopted daughter Olive and her husband William and Dorothy, their one-year-old child.

Suffragette Activity

Frances Outerbridge is one of 456 people listed as having been arrested in records found in the WSPU offices during a Police raid. It records Frances as having been arrested as part of the extensive window smashing on 1 March 1912 and she was subsequently sentenced to four months in prison.

However, there are no Police or Court records of an Outerbridge being charged for Suffragette offences. Frances Williams (which was her mother's maiden name) was arrested on 1 March 1912 and sentenced to four months in prison. And it is with this name that Frances is reported in WSPU newspaper Votes for Women. On 1 March an estimated 150 women took part in window smashing in London's West End. She was charged for breaking a window the value of £8 at Pound and Co, trunk makers in Regent Street and was sentenced by the Magistrates to four months in prison, she was reported as saying: -

“it was a political protest against injustice, made in her old age, and not with any malice”.

Even in prison Frances Williams make clear her intention to protest for “full rights of political prisoners” and wrote to the Home Secretary. These records also show that she was one of 26 prisoners who went on hunger strike but were considered in too ill to be force fed. Her release was authorised by the Home Office on 22 June 1912.

Another part of the same record notes the medical reasons for her being released: -

“Over 65 years of age and presented indication of arterial degeneration. Would not be fed without considerable resistance involving some danger. Refused food. Likely to suffer from continued abstinence.”

Corroboration for Williams being Outerbridge is also provided by her reception at a branch meeting of the Sydenham and Forest Hill branch of the WSPU, on her release, alongside Catherine Downing. The specific reasons for Frances using an alias is unclear but as discussed earlier the Outerbridges were a strongly influential family in Bermuda.

Death

Frances continued to reside with Caroline at 286 Devonshire Road Forest Hill until she died on 18 August 1934 at the age of 88. Probate was granted to Caroline on 11 October 1934.

Sale of Hunger Strike Medal

Frances's Hunger Strike Medal was sold at Auction in Stroud, Gloucestershire in January 2022 for £13,400. Also sold during this sale was the silver plated tray presented to Frances and Caroline.

References

  1. "Historic Suffragette collection to be sold in Stroud".
  2. Report of Marriage Silurian 2 June 1838; Birth England and Wales 1846 Q4 Volume 26 page 532 Swansea
  3. "Bermudians and Columbia's Tuition: How Thaddeus Outerbridge and his Family Benefited from International Slavery | Columbia University and Slavery".
  4. Stephen Outerbridge, 'Bermuda 917', Legacies of British Slavery database, http://wwwdepts-live.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/claim/view/2120000916 .
  5. "Suffragette's medal sold for more than $18,000". 13 January 2022.
  6. Find My Past 1881 Census 7, Brecknock Terrace, St Pancras, London & Middlesex, England https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC%2F1881%2F0001015824
  7. Craven Buildings, Wansbeck Row, St Mary Stratford https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC%2F1891%2F0002754981
  8. Auction catalogue by Stroud Auctions January 2022 https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/news/historic-suffragette-collection-to-be-sold-in-stroud
  9. 18, Siddons Road, Lewisham https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC%2F1901%2F0007737798
  10. 286 Devonshire Road Lewisham, London https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC%2F1911%2FRG14%2F02834%2F0043%2F1
  11. 286 Devonshire Road, Lewisham https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC%2F1921%2FRG15%2F02939%2F0189%2F02
  12. Case papers, KERR and 8 others, National Archives DPP 1/19 Page 709 of Findmypast digitisation https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record/browse?id=S2/GBOR/SUFF/DPP1-19/0709
  13. A Calendar Of Prisoners Tried At The Adjourned General Session Of The Peace For The Year 1912 National Archives HO140 https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=TNA%2FCCC%2FHO140%2F298%2F00519
  14. Votes for Women 15 March 1912 p 13; Votes for Women April 5 1912 p13
  15. HO 144 National Archives Home Office: Registered Papers. Suffragettes' demonstration. Imprisonment. Forcible Feeding. https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record/browse?id=S2/GBOR/SUFF/HO144-1193-220196-1-233/0151 See also page 17 and 22 210
  16. List of Suffragist Prisoners released on Medical grounds-showing “Medical reasons”. HO 144 National Archives https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record/browse?id=S2/GBOR/SUFF/HO144-1195-220196-504-670/0232
  17. Votes for Women 19 July 1912 page 14
  18. Grant of Probate Find My Past https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBOR%2FGOVPROBATE%2FC%2F1934-1934%2F00085038
  19. "Suffragette medal sold for £13,400 at auction in Stroud". 20 January 2022.
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