Ada m. trotter
|
1849 - 1938
Ada Mary Trotter was born in the Forest of Dean, the daughter of a local colliery owner. After her father's death she emigrated to Canada, later moving to America where she would live for the rest of her life. She regularly crossed the Atlantic to visit Britain and Europe well into her later life. A regular contributor to the Girls Own Paper she also wrote for several other magazines. Her work varied from reportage to homely tales and advice for young women. She published two novels both set in the Forest of Dean, full of fascinating local detail. |
|
eARLY lIFE & FAMILY
|
Ada was born in September 1849 the fourth of what would be nine children. Her mother, Benedicta (nee Lewis, 1819-1890) had been born into a non-conformist family in the Ross-On-Wye area. Ada's father, Theophilus (1817-1870) was born at Wynols (Winnalls)Hill in Coleford. His father John, (1793-1822), had also been born in the Forest of Dean and he was known to have hosted Baptist prayer meetings at his home in Coleford. Theophilus' grandfather, also John, (1756-1831), was born in Northumberland, but his grandmother, Elizabeth Weare, had been baptised at Newnham-on-Severn in 1763.
By the time of Ada's birth, Theophilus was a man of some influence in the Forest having interests in several colliers and iron mines. He was a partner in the company Trotter Thomas & Co. that also had interests in quarries and part-ownership of several small ships sailing out of Lydney (shipping coal). In 1850 he was part of a group of influential businessmen in the Forest that met to consider and promote the planned Great Exhibition (The Monmouthshire Beacon, 15th June 1850, p4a) to be held in London; two years later he was at a meeting discussing potential improvements to railways in the Forest (The Monmouthshire Beacon, 27th November 1852, p7b); and at a meeting in 1854 he was nominated overseer to the Board of Guardians for Lydney (The Monmouthshire Beacon, 22nd April 1854, p6e). In the 1851 census the family are recorded as living in the Lydney area, and at the time of the following one in 1861 specifically at Aylburton, near Lydney. At that time Aylburton was a lively village with a busy high street, several pubs, tradespeople and businesses such as solicitors. The residents were typically employed in neighbouring tin-plate works, iron working, coal mining, farming, and salmon fishing on the near-by River Severn. Aylburton School did not open until 1870, though there was a Sunday school at Aylburton Chapel from 1847 and Ada may well have attended it. Ada and her siblings would also have had many social opportunities through the chapel. Due to the family's relative comfort and social standing they may have also been educated by a private tutor or governess. Ada grew up surrounded by literature, music, and art. Her father was one of the subscribers to Cinderford poet Catherine Drew's A Collection of Poems on the Forest of Dean and its Neighbourhood, published in 1841. In 1852 he donated sixty books to Swindon Library and Literary Institute (Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette, March 11th 1852, p3b) being a friend to one of the committee there. He also supported contemporary arts through his subscription to The London Art Union, with success in its annual lottery of 1853 securing him a bronze statuette entitled 'A Boy at a Stream' (Gloucester Journal, 30th April 1853, p9c). Ada's father was also an active member of the Aylburton Cricket Club, referred to as a 'veteran with the bat' in 1864 (Hereford Times September 24th, p8e), and he was secretary of the Coleford Teetotal Society (The Hereford Times, May 21st 1842, p295e). Growing up as part of a large immediate and extended family, and with parents active in the local community, Ada would have had a busy and lively childhood and adolescence. In May 1867 Ada was bridesmaid at a the wedding of J. T. Thomas's daughter to Mr T. Sully, held at the Baptist Chapel in Coleford (Gloucestershire Chronicle, May 11th 1987, p5b). In 1855 Ada's brother Fredrick died aged just two years old, and on Christmas Day, 1862, the family suffered another tragedy, when Ada's elder sister Annie died. She was 20 years old.
In 1870 Ada's father Theophilus died at the age of just 52. |
BOOKSHeaven's Gate; A Story of the Forest of Dean (1886)
Bledisloe, or Aunt Pen's American Nieces: An International Story (1887) Journalism & sHORT STORIESComplexion (1888) in 'The Ladies Home Journal and Practical Housekeeper'. Hans Alder; Or The Giant of the Alp (1889) in 'Harper's Young People' (1890). The Proto-Helvetes, or Lake-Dwellers of Switzerland (1890) in 'The Popular Science News and Boston Journal of Chemistry'. The Captain's Daughter: A Story of the Mutiny in India (1891) in 'The Times - Philidelphia' March 15th 1891. Part one of two. An Hour in the Botanical Gardens of Padua (1891) in 'The Popular Science News', October 1891. After Twenty Years (1891) in 'The Argosy'. The Explosion at Rome (1891) in 'Chamber's Journal'. The Event at Milford (1892) in 'The Argosy', Jan. 1892 A Few Hours in a Blizzard in 'The Argosy', Jan. 1892 The Masquerade Ball (1892) in 'The Argosy', Vol.LIII Jan-June 1892 A Pansy Legend (1892) in 'Girl's Own Paper'. The Idyl of a Sea Moss (1892) in 'Girl's Own Paper'. My Lady Marjorie (1893) in 'Girl's Own Paper'. At the Seigneure: A Canadian Story (1894) in 'The Argosy'. Brownie (1894) in 'Girl's Own Paper'. Marsh Marigolds (1894) in 'Girl's Own Paper'. Patty's Emancipation (1894) in 'Girl's Own Paper'. [unkown title] (1895) in 'The Golden Rule'. A Story of 1857 (1895) in 'Girl's Own Paper'. Fightin' Judy, or The Answer to a Prayer (1896) The Girls' Crusade (1898) in 'St Nicholas, An Illustrated Magazine For Young Folks'. There is Plenty of Room on the Top: A True Story (1899) in 'Girl's Own Paper'. Moon Lilies (1900) in 'Girl's Own Paper'. Hester's Upbringing (1903) in 'The Parent's Review'. Phillis (1905) in 'Girl's Own Paper'. Als Ike Kan (1906) in 'Girl's Own Paper'. The Scoula Di Beneficenza At Taormina, Sicily (1909) in 'The Queen, the Lady's Newspaper |
EMIGRATING TO CANADA
The loss of her father may have prompted her and her mother and sisters' decision to leave the Forest of Dean for a new life in Canada - following in the footsteps of Ada's brothers. Another reason, suggested by Penny Fox (Akron Women's History, online, posted 16th August 2013), for their departure, may have been to help care for the two daughters of their late cousin Jane (who had also died in 1870). Jane had been married to the geologist Edward Claypole (1835-1901), originally from Ross on Wye. After Jane died Claypole resigned his position at Stokescroft College, Bristol, in 1872 and moved to America, where in 1873 he was appointed professor at Antioch College, Ohio (Comstock, T.B., 1901, Memoir of Edward Waller Claypole). His son Arthur died aged 7 in Gloucestershire in 1874, suggesting his children had remained in England (perhaps initially cared for by Edward's sister Elizabeth with whom Edward and the children were living with in Bristol in 1871). In 1879 he was remarried in Montreal, and it was to Ada's older sister Katherine (Gloucestershire Chronicle, July 19th 1879, p4a).
Ada is recorded arriving aboard The Saint Lawrence at Quebec, Canada on 1st August 1874. She was with her mother, older sister Kate (Katherine Benedicta, aged 28) and younger sister Benedicta (aged 16). With regular transatlantic steamship services to Canada having begun in 1861, Ada's crossing on the S.S. St Lawrence would have only taken about a week, (before then, by sail, it had taken about six weeks).
Some of the Trotter family were already well established in Montreal, Ada's brother Wallace having arrived in 1871 (immigration date cited in 1925 passenger arrivals 2nd May, Quebec). In the Canadian census of 1871 Wallace was living in Montreal with his brother Henry ('Harry') and Henry's wife Emma. Ada's brother John was also in Montreal, possibly having emigrated earlier in 1869 (1921 census Canada). Wallace went on to some success in business, listed in the Montreal directory of 1878 as both manufacturer and supplier of rubber goods.
Ada is recorded arriving aboard The Saint Lawrence at Quebec, Canada on 1st August 1874. She was with her mother, older sister Kate (Katherine Benedicta, aged 28) and younger sister Benedicta (aged 16). With regular transatlantic steamship services to Canada having begun in 1861, Ada's crossing on the S.S. St Lawrence would have only taken about a week, (before then, by sail, it had taken about six weeks).
Some of the Trotter family were already well established in Montreal, Ada's brother Wallace having arrived in 1871 (immigration date cited in 1925 passenger arrivals 2nd May, Quebec). In the Canadian census of 1871 Wallace was living in Montreal with his brother Henry ('Harry') and Henry's wife Emma. Ada's brother John was also in Montreal, possibly having emigrated earlier in 1869 (1921 census Canada). Wallace went on to some success in business, listed in the Montreal directory of 1878 as both manufacturer and supplier of rubber goods.
Life in montreal
Ada quickly found a place for herself in the city, in particular establishing connections with influential philanthropic women who also had interests in women's education and by extension securing votes for women. This would be just the beginning of a network of connections Ada established with similar such women in North America and beyond.
Mrs Lovell's Academy
According to a reference in the Dominion Annual Register and Review of 1886 (published 1887) to Ada's first novel, she had, whilst living in Montreal, attended "Mrs Lovell's Academy". Sarah Lovell (nee Kurczyn) (1829-1917) was the wife of printer and publisher John Lovell (1810-1893). In 1877 Sarah founded a school for young ladies of 15-20 years of age (Dictionary of Canadian Biography, Vol.XII, Lovell, John. Online). With her husband's position as a publisher giving the couple a level of status and influence they mixed with some of the leading Canadian thinkers and writers of the day, some of whom spoke at the school. By the time the school was founded Ada would have been in her mid-twenties, so unless there was some flexibility regarding the age of its students, Ada seems to have been associated with the school in some other way.
According to a reference in the Dominion Annual Register and Review of 1886 (published 1887) to Ada's first novel, she had, whilst living in Montreal, attended "Mrs Lovell's Academy". Sarah Lovell (nee Kurczyn) (1829-1917) was the wife of printer and publisher John Lovell (1810-1893). In 1877 Sarah founded a school for young ladies of 15-20 years of age (Dictionary of Canadian Biography, Vol.XII, Lovell, John. Online). With her husband's position as a publisher giving the couple a level of status and influence they mixed with some of the leading Canadian thinkers and writers of the day, some of whom spoke at the school. By the time the school was founded Ada would have been in her mid-twenties, so unless there was some flexibility regarding the age of its students, Ada seems to have been associated with the school in some other way.
Louisa Goddard Molson
Ada dedicated her first novel, Heaven's Gate (1886) to 'Mrs. J. H. R. Molson'. Louisa Goddard Molson (nee Forthingham) was the daughter of Montreal's largest hardware wholesaler, and her husband John was partner in the Molson Brewery. Louisa was an active supporter - in terms of both time and money - of several charities in the city, including the Montreal Protestant Orphan Asylum, Industrial Rooms, and Montreal Maternity Hospital. She too (similar to Sarah Lovell, above) was involved with female education, as president of Montreal Ladies' Educational Association (Dictionary of Canadian Biography, online) It provided high quality lectures for women and lead eventually to the admittance of women into the city's McGill University. Louisa's parents had helped to found a Unitarian church in the city, a branch of christianity that would later be recorded as Ada's religious belief.
The circles Ada moved amongst during her time in Montreal fit very much with her later writing and activities supporting female education, and her and her sister Katherine's involvement in the North American women's suffrage movement.
Ada dedicated her first novel, Heaven's Gate (1886) to 'Mrs. J. H. R. Molson'. Louisa Goddard Molson (nee Forthingham) was the daughter of Montreal's largest hardware wholesaler, and her husband John was partner in the Molson Brewery. Louisa was an active supporter - in terms of both time and money - of several charities in the city, including the Montreal Protestant Orphan Asylum, Industrial Rooms, and Montreal Maternity Hospital. She too (similar to Sarah Lovell, above) was involved with female education, as president of Montreal Ladies' Educational Association (Dictionary of Canadian Biography, online) It provided high quality lectures for women and lead eventually to the admittance of women into the city's McGill University. Louisa's parents had helped to found a Unitarian church in the city, a branch of christianity that would later be recorded as Ada's religious belief.
The circles Ada moved amongst during her time in Montreal fit very much with her later writing and activities supporting female education, and her and her sister Katherine's involvement in the North American women's suffrage movement.
Moving to the USA
It is not known exactly when Ada moved to the USA. One record (1930 census USA) states her immigration year as 1878, whilst others variously state 1898 (1910 census USA) and 1899 (1900 census USA). She was certainly established in the USA by the mid-1880s. In 1885 she gave a talk to The Summit County Horticultural Society in the town of Akron, Ohio, USA - the home of her sister Katherine and her husband Edward Claypole (The Summit County Beacon, August 5th 1885). In the talks Ada described her winter home of Summerville, South Carolina, USA. This small town (population circa 2,000 in 1890) is still known as 'The Flower Town in the Pines' and its cooler climate made it a popular summer retreat for the 19th century residents of near-by Charleston. Just a year after her talk Ada was in Summerville when it was hit by an earthquake leading to a fire that destroyed many of the town's buildings. Her first hand account of the experience recorded in her diary were later used by scientists studying the earthquake.
Akron seems to have remained her 'base' for several years during this period whilst she travelled within and beyond the USA. She was at the Women's Suffrage Convention there, with her sister (secretary of the local branch) , in 1892 (The Summit County Beacon, October 26th 1892) and at 'the great meeting of The Women's Council' the following year (The Akron Beacon and Journal, November 3rd 1893). In 1897 she was giving a talk in Akron about her recent travels in Italy ('The Akron Beacon and Journal', April 27th 1897).
Moving to California
By 1899, if not earlier, Ada had moved to California the place that, apart from her continued travels, would remain her home for the rest of her life.
Akron seems to have remained her 'base' for several years during this period whilst she travelled within and beyond the USA. She was at the Women's Suffrage Convention there, with her sister (secretary of the local branch) , in 1892 (The Summit County Beacon, October 26th 1892) and at 'the great meeting of The Women's Council' the following year (The Akron Beacon and Journal, November 3rd 1893). In 1897 she was giving a talk in Akron about her recent travels in Italy ('The Akron Beacon and Journal', April 27th 1897).
Moving to California
By 1899, if not earlier, Ada had moved to California the place that, apart from her continued travels, would remain her home for the rest of her life.
We're still working on this page, come back soon to find out more....
Sources
The Girl's Own Paper Index, Stories by Ada M. Trotter [online] Available at: https://www.lutterworth.com/gop/all-authors/ada-m-trotter
The Girl's Own Paper Index, Stories by Ada M. Trotter [online] Available at: https://www.lutterworth.com/gop/all-authors/ada-m-trotter
