Mrs George Odling
(1801-1884)

[The sitter was identified on the album page.]

Born at Cripplegate in or about 1801, Mary Ann Watson was the eldest daughter of William Watson of Red Lion Street, Clerkenwell.

On 6 December 1828 at Clerkenwell she married ‘Mr George Odling, surgeon, of High-street, Borough’ (Morning Chronicle, 12 December 1828). Their marriage produced two children, William Odling, born in 1829, later a Professor of Chemistry, and Mary Ann Odling, born in 1831.

George was originally in partnership with his three brothers, Edward, Francis, and Joseph. The four operated as ‘chemists & surgeons,’ with premises on High Street and Union Street in Southwark, and later on Oxford Street in Central London. When the partnership was dissolved in 1829, Edward and Francis formed a new partnership at the premises on Oxford Street, while George and Joseph went into business together at 159, High Street, Southwark (Perry’s Bankrupt Gazette, 21 March 1829.

In 1832 George is mentioned among a list of subscribers as the ‘Surgeon to the Licensed Victuallers’ School’ in Kennington (Morning Advertiser, 11 February 1832).

He was later ‘the divisional surgeon to the M division of police.’ In this capacity, he was called upon to examine the body of Patrick O’Conner, victim of the infamous murderess Maria Manning, who was executed on 13 November 1849 (Exeter Flying Post, 30 August 1849). During the course of his long career, he gave evidence at many other inquests and criminal trials.

When the census was taken in 1861, George and Mary Ann were living at Shorne in Kent. George gave ‘Retired Surgeon’ as his profession. Ten years later they were living on Sydenham Road in Croydon. Neither census lists any servants in the household.

George Odling died in Worthing on 26 April 1872, leaving an estate valued at £20.

Mary Ann Odling died, aged 84, on 31 May 1884 at Sydenham Road in Croydon. Her estate was valued at £1496. She was buried next to her husband at Tetney in Lincolnshire, his birthplace.