hidden-metaphor

Manx Genealogy Archive 2

Re: Starkey/Heaney conundrum
In Response To: Starkey/Heaney conundrum ()

Hi Maggie
Laura Starkey is mentioned as a beneficiary in the will of Mabel Harriet Clegg.
Mabel Harriet Clegg (1885-1962) and her sister Edith May Clegg (1883-1953) were spinsters who spent most of their lives living in the rather grand house , "Westville", which was built by their father, William Clegg, builder(1846-1892), in Douglas.
They were probably known as "the misses Clegg", hence your information that Laura Starkey worked for "Mrs Edith Clegg".
This is the extract from Mabel's will relating to Laura, written in 1958:

m) To Laura Starkey in acknowledgement of her care and attention to me the
sum of two hundred and fifty pounds provided that she is in the employ of my
sister-in-law Elizabeth Catherine Clegg or a member of my family at the time
of my death and not then under notice given or received.

All the other beneficiaries were family members or friends, with the exception of Mabel and Edith's chauffeur, who received £300.
It was the sort of household that would have needed several members of staff to run it, so Laura was probably a special maid/ nurse/ carer.
Jean