Mrs Jeremiah Dummett
(1829-1905)
20 May 1862

Volume 6, page 332, sitting number 8189. 

[The sitter is identified in the Silvy daybooks as ‘Mrs Dammett.’ Elsewhere in the daybooks, there is a portrait of two children identified as ‘William and Mary Dammett.’ This seems to be a mistake on the part of Silvy’s clerk and the family’s surname was in fact Dummett.]

Born in Norwich on 15 June 1829, Amelia Clabburn was the daughter of Thomas Clabburn. When she was baptised at St Augustine's in Norwich on 21 June 1829, her father gave 'Weaver' as his profession. He later established his own business and became a successful manufacturer. The 1851 census describes him as a ‘Manufacturer of Shawls & Dresses employing 500 persons.' Following his death in 1858 a subscription among the weavers in his employ paid for a tablet in his memory in St Augustine's church. The Norwich Mercury (5 January 1859) mentioned that he 'had raised himself from a worker to be a large, a prosperous, and enterprising employer.' 

On 2 June 1853 at St Augustine's in Norwich Amelia married Jeremiah Dummett, son of Joseph Pearse Dummett of Glasgow. At the time of his marriage Jeremiah gave 'Shipowner' as his profession. 

The couple appear on the 1871 census living at 19 Craven Hill, Bayswater, a stone’s throw from Silvy’s former studio. Jeremiah now gave his profession as ‘Wholesale Tea & Coffee dealer.’ Their children William (16) and Mary (15) were both born in Glasgow. A third child, Charles, was born in London. The household included four servants. 

Three years later, on 3 June 1874, William Joseph Dummett, ‘the elder and beloved son of Jeremiah and Amelia Dummett’ died, ‘in his 21st year,’ at 19 Craven Hill (London and China Telegraph, 17 August 1874).

Their other son, Charles Henry Dummett, died at 15 Inverness Terrace, Bayswater, on 16 April 1891, at the age of 29 (Northern Whig, 22 April 1891). 

Jeremiah Dummett died on 17 March 1900 at his residence, 54 Porchester Terrace, Paddington. He left an estate valued at £79,220. 

Amelia Dummett died at the same address on 27 February 1905, leaving an estate valued at £10,709.