Edith Mary Wooster was born on 15 January 1862 in Bath, Somerset, the fourth of the six children of William Wooster (1831-1891) and Eliza Wooster née Lewis (1831-1913). On 8 May 1862 she was baptised at St Swithin's Church, Walcot, Somerset, where the baptismal register shows the family living at Gay's House, Gay's Hill, Walcot, and that her father was an accountant.
Her five siblings were: Edgar William Wooster (1853-1930), Walter Henry Wooster (1855-1915), Herbert Sidney Wooster (1860-1923), Clara Eliza Wooster (1864-1906) and Leonard Lewis Wooster (1869-1952).
In the 1871 census she is described as a scholar living at The Post Office, 2 York Buildings, George Street, Bath, with her parents, four of her siblings: Edgar, Herbert, Clara and Leonard, her maternal grandmother, Mary Lewis, together with a nurse and a female general servant. Her father's occupation was listed as Chief Clerk, Post Office. She was still living at this address when the 1881 census was taken, together with her parents and three of her siblings: Edgar, Clara and Leonard, together with a female servant. Her father continued to be shown at the Chief Clerk, Bath Post Office.
She was living at 14 Pencester Road, Dover, Kent, at the time of the 1891 census with her parents and sister, Clara, together with a female general domestic servant. Her father was described as the Dover Postmaster.
On 23 April 1893 she married Thomas Parnell Parnell (1856-1914) at St Mary's Church, Marylebone, where the marriage register shows her as a spinster residing at St Mary's, Bryanston Square, whilst her husband was described as a widower and a barrister at law from Wrington, Somerset.
When the 1901 census was compiled she was shown as living at Wickselm House, Hamfallow, Gloucestershire (now a learning centre), with her husband, their son, John Atherton Parnell Parnell (1895-1916), her stepdaughter, Cicely Mary Parnell (1877-1970), together with a governess and a cook. Her husband's occupation was shown a J.P. and barrister at law.
When her husband completed his 1911 census form it showed that they were living in an eight roomed property called Mont Calm, The Cliff Drive, Canford Cliffs, Bournemouth, Dorset, together with a cook, a parlour-maid and a chauffeur.
Her husband died on 1 February 1914 and she was granted probate on 14 March 1914. Her husband's effects totalled £35,498-13s-0d. Their son was a Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion, The Gloucester Regiment and having entered France on 24 October 1915 was killed in action on 8 September 1916 and was buried in Flatiron Copse Cemetery, Mametz, France. She was granted probate on 26 August 1918 and his effects initially totalled £8,879-19s-6d but were subsequently resworn as £9,768-2s-10d.
In the 1939 England and Wales Register she is shown as residing at The Albemarle Club, 37 Dover Street, London, W1.
Probate records confirm that her address had been Chaffeymoor House, Bourton, Dorset and that she died, aged 90 years, on 16 May 1952. She was buried in the Bourton Parish Churchyard on 20 May 1952 and probate was granted to her stepdaughter, Mrs Cicely Mary Seth-Smith on 10 September 1952, her effects totalling £1,170-13s-7d.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
