Mrs Henry Bromfield
(1834-1910)
20 June 1862
Volume 7, page 168, sitting number 8916.
[The sitter is identified as ‘Miss Colthurst’ in the Silvy daybooks. An inked inscription in a period hand in the lower margin identifies her as ‘Mrs H. Bromfield.’]
Born at Clifton in Gloucestershire on 28 December 1836, Mary Elizabeth Bromfield was the daughter of John Colthurst, Esq., of Clifton.
When the census was taken in 1841, she was 4 ½ years old, living with her parents at 11 The Mall in Clifton. Her father John gave ‘Surgeon’ as his profession. The family were still living in Clifton when the census was taken in 1861.
On 4 October 1866 Mary Elizabeth Colthurst married Henry Bromfield.
‘Yesterday the marriage was celebrated at Chew Magna, of Mr Henry Bromfield, son of the Rev. H. Bromfield, the vicar of Blockley, Gloucestershire, with Miss Mary Elizabeth Colhurst, eldest daughter of J.B. Colthurst Esq., of Chew Court. The ceremony was performed at the parish church of St Andrew’s, Chew Magna’ (Bristol Times and Mirror, 5 October 1866).
'As the church grounds adjoin those of the Court, the bridal party dispensed with carriages. and the bride and her attendants formed a charming procession along the Chew Court lawn to the church. [...] The bride, who was given away by her father, was attired in a white corded silk dress, the skirt of which was tastefully adorned with silk cord, wreath of orange blossoms with stephanotis and other bridal flowers drooping at the back, and deep veil of tulle' (Bath Herald, 6 October 1866).
In 1871 the couple were living at Snitterfield in Warwickshire. Henry described himself as a ‘Farmer of 265 acres employing 7 men, 3 boys and 4 women.’ Also present on the night of the census were their three young children, a governess and two servants.
Mary Elizabeth Bromfield of 2 Heavitree Park, Heavitree, Exeter, died on 23 March 1924, leaving an estate valued at £5252.
[The previous entry in the daybooks is her father, John Colthurst, Esq., and the sitter before that is her sister, Miss Ellen Rebecca Colthurst.]