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The Weald of Kent, Surrey and Sussex
Louisa Martindale [Spicer], daughter of James Spicer and Louisa Spicer [Edwards]
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Louisa Martindale
by Clara Ewald in 1904
Image courtesy of
horstedkeynes.com

Martindale [née Spicer], Louisa (1839-1914) was born on 25th June 1839 at 9 York Place, City Road, London, the eldest child of James and Louisa Spicer, who were committed Congregationalists. James Spicer was the 4th son of John Edward Spicer who founded Spicer Papers Ltd in 1796. James and Louisa Spicer had 10 children including James Spicer (1846- ) and Sir Albert Spicer (1947-1934) who, together, inherited the paper company in 1888 and transformed it into the largest and most productive world paper company. Sir Albert Spicer became a Baronet in 1906 and served as a Liberal Party M.P. from 1892 to 1918.

After leaving school Louisa involved herself in charity work and helped form a Mutual Improvement Society and a Congregationalist Sunday School. She also began to take an interest in the newly emerging women's movement. On 2nd May 1871 Louisa Spicer married a 37-year-old widower and father of four, William Martindale, a merchant. Their marriage ended early when he died in 1874 and Louisa was left a widow with two small daughters, Louisa born on 30th Oct 1872 and Hilda born 12th Dec 1875 after her father had died. Mary, the third daughter, had died in infancy, also, in 1874. The Martindales moved from Leytonstone to Penzance, to Germany, to Switzerland, to Lewes, and finally to Brighton where Louisa became instrumental in establishing the Women's Liberal Association in 1891, the Women's Co-operative Movement, and a Women's dispensary (later called the New Sussex Hospital for Women). She also worked with her brother Albert Spicer, the British and Foreign Bible Society, the Women's Suffrage Society, the German church, and she became a leader in promoting women's rights corresponding with Elizabeth Elmy nee Wolstenholme. Louisa's home in Brighton had become an important centre of the women's movement in Sussex and she became President of the Brighton Women's Liberal Association.

In 1903 Louisa moved to Cheeleys in Horsted Keynes and built a Congregational church and Institute there, later to be known as the Martindale Centre. She was a strong supporter of the suffragette movement but believed that the aims should be achieved by non-militant means. She worked with the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies.

On 15th March 1914, Louisa succumbed to pneumonia and died at her home at Cheeleys. She is buried at St. Giles Church in Horsted Keynes.

Her two daughters carried forward her work in furthering women's rights - Louisa Martindale (1872-1966) as a gynaecologist and Hilda Martindale (1874-1952) in the Civil Service

See also


Date
Type
Information
Source
 
25th June 1839
Born
At 9 York Place, City Road in the Parish of Islington, London; registered at Islington District, London; ref: 1839 Q2 Vol 3 Page 155
Register of births
 
2nd May 1871
Married
William Martindale; registered at West Ham District, Essex; ref: 1871 Q2 Vol 4a Page 94
Register of marriages
 
30th October 1872
Birth of a daughter
Dr. Louisa at Gainsborough Lodge, Leytonstone, in London; registered at West Ham District, Essex; ref: 1872 Q4 Vol 4a Page 91
Register of births
 
Jan to Mar 1874
Birth of a daughter
Mary at Gainsborough Lodge, Leytonstone, in London; registered at West Ham District, Essex; ref: 1874 Q1 Vol 4a Page 27
Register of births
 
12th March 1875
Birth of a daughter
Hilda at Gainsborough Lodge, Leytonstone, in London; registered at West Ham District, Essex; ref: 1875 Q1 Vol 4a Page 115
Register of births
 
1903 to 1914
Home
At Cheeleys in the Parish of Horsted Keynes, Sussex
 
1907
Congregational Hall & Institute
Congregational Hall & Institute, Horsted Keynes photographed by A.H. Homewood, Burgess Hill
Private collection
 
15th March 1914
Died
At Cheeleys in the Parish of Horsted Keynes, Sussex; Cause of death: pneumonia
Public records
 
After 15th March 1914
Buried
At St. Giles Parish Church in the Parish of Horsted Keynes, Sussex
Public records
 
1926
Congregational Church
Congregational Church, Horsted Keynes
Private collection
 
c 1930
Congregational Hall
Congregational Hall, Horsted Keynes photographed by H.H.Camburn for Mrs Sparks
Private collection

Ancestor's report
Descendent's report
Martindale individual records
Spicer individual records
The ancestral pedigree of Louisa Martindale [Spicer]
  
 John Edward Spicerm: 8th Apr 1798 Alton, HampshireSusannah Ralfs 
 b: c 1775  b: c 1775 
  
       
 Elizabeth Ann Henry S. J. John William Revel James Mary Susannah Martha Wilson
 b: 9th May 1799 Hampshire
ch: 9th May 1799 Normandy St. Independent Chapel, Alton
 b: 16th Jan 1801 Hampshire
ch: 5th Jul 1801 Normandy St. Independent Chapel, Alton
 b: 7th Feb 1803 Hampshire
ch: 15th May 1803 Normandy St. Independent Chapel, Alton
 b: 26th Dec 1805 Hampshire
ch: 5th Mar 1806 Normandy St. Independent Chapel, Alton
 b: 4th May 1807 Hampshire
ch: 25th Feb 1808 Normandy St. Independent Chapel, Alton
d: 1888
 b: 16th Jul 1809 Hampshire
ch: 3rd Aug 1809 Normandy St. Independent Chapel, Alton
 b: 4th May 1818 Hampshire
ch: 6th Aug 1818 Normandy St. Independent Chapel, Alton
         
Grandfather
record
   
   
   
 James Spicerm: Jul to Sep 1838Louisa Edwards 
 b: 4th May 1807 Hampshire
ch: 25th Feb 1808 Normandy St. Independent Chapel, Alton
d: 1888
  b: 5th Oct 1813
d: 19th Jan 1892
 
  
          
Louisa  Maria  James Sir Albert Evan Harriet Charlotte George
b: 25th Jun 1839 9 York Place, City Road, Islington, London
d: 15th Mar 1914 Cheeleys, Horsted Keynes, Sussex
bur: After 15th Mar 1914 St. Giles Parish Church, Horsted Keynes, Sussex
  b: 1841 Islington, London  b: 1846 Clapham, London b: 16th Mar 1847 Clapham, London
d: 20th Dec 1934 24 Palace Road, Bayswater, London
 b: 1850 Clapham, London b: 1851 Clapham, London b: 1853 Clapham, London b: 1855 Clapham, London
   Elizabeth Ellen      
   b: 1840 Islington, London b: 1845 Clapham, London      
                 
Parental
record
   
   
   
2nd marriageWilliam Martindalem: 2nd May 1871Louisa Spicer 
 b: 1834 London
d: Jul to Sep 1874
  b: 25th Jun 1839 9 York Place, City Road, Islington, London
d: 15th Mar 1914 Cheeleys, Horsted Keynes, Sussex
bur: After 15th Mar 1914 St. Giles Parish Church, Horsted Keynes, Sussex
 
  
   
 Dr. Louisa Mary Hilda
 b: 30th Oct 1872 Gainsborough Lodge, Leytonstone, London
d: 5th Feb 1966 14 Avenue Lodge, Avenue Road, St. John's Wood , London
 b: Jan to Mar 1874 Gainsborough Lodge, Leytonstone, London
d: Jul to Sep 1874
 b: 12th Mar 1875 Gainsborough Lodge, Leytonstone, London
d: 18th Apr 1952 London
    
Family
record

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