The Honorouble Mrs A. Sartoris
(1830-1913)

Volume 1, page 169, sitting number 881.

Born the Honourable Mary Frances Barrington, her father was William Keppel Barrington, 6th Viscount Barrington of Ardglass. She married Alfred Urban Sartoris on 28 October 1856. The couple had four sons.

The family appear on the 1861 census, living at 64 Rutland Gate, London. The house was staffed by eight servants. Alfred Sartoris gave ‘Fundholder’ for his profession. His wife described herself as a ‘Peer’s Daughter.’At the time of the census she was 30 years old, so was born in or about 1831. According to the International Genealogical Index, she was born on 1 June 1830 at Ardglass in County Down, although she gave ‘London’ as her place of birth on the census.

The Honourable Mrs Alfred Sartoris died on 11 October 1913. A lenghty obituary appeared in the Cheltenham Chronicle (18 October 1913): ‘We regret to announce the death of the Hon. Mrs Alfred Sartoris on Saturday, at her residence, 17 Queen's-gate-place, London. The deceased lady, who was a daughter of the 6th Viscount Barrington, was married in 1856 to Capt. Alfred Urban Sartoris of the 7th Hussars, who, on retirement from that regiment, built that beautiful house, Abbotswood, Stowe-on-the-Wold, where they resided together for many years, and won the highest esteem and respect of the whole countryside. Mrs Sartoris, who was predeceased by her husband in 1909, was 83 years of age at her death. 

‘Of the many acts of benevolence done by the late Mr Sartoris there is no need to enlarge. Suffice it to say that in them all he had the fullest concurrence of his devoted wife, whose warm heart was ever open to the needs of her poorer neighbours. The family party at Abbotswood was an exceptionally happy one, but great was the grief felt when the youngest son - only 25 years old - succumbed to a fever contracted in Italy.

‘In 1901 Mr Sartoris disposed of Abbotswood and went to reside in London. It was with the greatest reluctance that he tore himself from the home to which he had been so much attached. [...] He died on January 5th, 1909, at the ripe age of 82, and was laid to rest by the side of his son and in sight of the home he loved so well. 

‘The mortal remains of the Hon. Mrs Sartoris were laid to rest in Nether Swell Churchyard on Thursday.’ The obituary concludes with detailed lists of the hymns, tbe principal mourners, the bearers and the wreaths.