View source for James & Emma Grace

research by Joan West

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'''James Grace''' born 1790 was the son of [[Thomas & Sarah Grace]]  

'''Emma Brodie''' born  ?  was the daughter of the Reverend Alexander & Emma Brodie.   (See below, her obituary published in the Bucks Free Press).

'''James & Emma married in 1846''' at St. Marylebone, London

'''JAMES GRACE'''

He was born in 1790 at the Manor House in Princes Risborough, John Grubb living at Horsenden being the Lord of the Manor at that time.

'''1841 CENSUS. Wardrobes Farm, Loosley Row.   James farmer of 910 acres of land leased from Merton College, Oxford, employing 24 men and 9 boys.'''   James Grace 51, widower, Mary Grace 40, sister single, Oliver James 7, Mortimer Kelson 6, Emma Brodie 35, single, of independent means.

For James 1st marriage click [[James & Hannah Grace]]    

'''1851 CENSUS. Wardrobes Farm, Loosley Row.'''  James Grace 66, married.  Farmer of 910 acres, 24 men, 9 boys.  Next door, Mary 50 & Catherine 48, sisters, single.

'''1851 CENSUS. Eastbourne.  Emma visitor.'''   Emma’s mother is head of house, widow, with Emma Grace married, 3 sisters, and a brother, all single, 6 house servants and a coachman.

'''DEATH and PROBATE of JAMES GRACE'''

A will with two codicils, James Grace late of Wardrobes Farm, gent, died 26<sup>th</sup> December 1857, at Eastbourne.   Executor, [[Reverend Oliver James Grace]], cleric, son. Under £450.

'''1861 CENSUS.  Eastbourne.'''  Emma Grace, 55, widow, gentlewoman

'''1862 SCHOOLS ERECTED'''  Emma Grace had had erected two schools.   One in Loosley Row and one in Speen

'''1862.  CONVEYANCE and TRUST DEED for the EMMA GRACE FOUNDATION''' to support the 2 above schools

'''October 3<sup>rd</sup> 1862.  Ash Farm, Walters Ash, between'''

1.      James Tilbury, yeoman, William Day his mortgagee (for £700) and: -

2.      Reverend William Johnson Burgess, Charles Brown of Lacey Green gent and Edward Anderson farmer of Darvills Hill, Vicar and churchwardens of St. John’s Church Lacey Green and Emma Grace, widow, of Loosley House William Brodie Esq of Eastbourne, Sussex, Frederic Brodie Esq of Uckfield, Sussex,   Thomas Wheeler of High Wycombe, banker & brewer, George Frederick Chambers Esq of Kensington.  

'''SALE AGREEMENT'''

James Tilbury agreed to sell to the parties of the 2<sup>nd</sup> part for £830 upon trust, for the support of certain schools.  The said sum to be pay £700 to William Day, mortgagee, and £130 the purchase money.

'''1862 SCHOOLS ERECTED'''

'''THE TRUST'''

Upon trust that the Incumbent and Chapel Wardens of the aforesaid Chapel of St. John the Evangelist at Lacey Green and their successors and the said Emma Grace, William Brodie, Frederick Brodie, Thomas Wheeler and George Frederick Chambers, trustees and their successors, shall at all times hereafter, in the first place, from time to time, pay and apply the rents, issues and profits of the said messuage, lands and premises, towards the repair and improvement of the said premises and also insuring the buildings.  And shall pay and apply the surplus of such rents, issues and profits in the following manner : -

'''TO LOOSLEY ROW SCHOOL'''

One equal half thereof, Upon Trust, to transfer the same, half yearly, into the hands of the Trustees of the school erected by the said Emma Grace at Loosley Row.   To be applied towards the support, carrying on and maintaining of such school in the way and manner directed by the Trust Deed thereof

'''TO SPEEN SCHOOL'''

The remaining equal half of such surplus rents and profits Upon Trust, in like manner to transfer the same, half yearly, into the hands of the Trustees of the school also erected or in the course of erection by the said Emma Grace at Speen  

'''1871 CENSUS.   Eastbourne'''

Anna Hall, 67, Emma Grace, widow, sister 63, 3 servants, footman, house maid & cook

'''1881 CENSUS   Naphill  (3 doors from The Wheel public House)'''

Emma Grace, 76, widow, gentlewoman

'''DEATH and PROBATE''' 

Emma Grace died 3<sup>rd</sup> November 1890 at Eastbourne.

Her death was reported in he Bucks Free Press as follows : -

'''Death of Mrs. Grace.''' We regret to have to record the death of Mrs. Grace, one of the most honoured and respected residents of this neighbourhood. Mrs. Grace, who was the daughter of the late Rev. Dr. Brodie, vicar of Eastboure, came into Bucks upon her marriage with the late James Grace, Esq., of Loosley Row, and had passed the greater part of a long life in our county. Mrs Grace had recently been residing at Eastbourne, to which seaside resort she usually paid a visit in the winter months, and she passed quietly away at her residence in that town during the early hours of Monday. For many years past the name of Mrs. Grace had been closely associated with the religious life of the locality, her munificeuce in supporting agencies for the spread of the Gospel being of most unusual character. Throughout her whole life self-sacrifice was her guiding principle.

A nearest and devoted Christian, she sought in every possible way to further the religion in which she found her happiness. Her ample means were devoted almost wholly to good works, the barest pittance being reserved for her own necessities. It would be impossible to give a list of all the agencies which she set on foot or supported, but among the most prominent instances of her liberal gifts may be mentioned the following. She built and endowed a church and gave a vicarage at Bledlow Ridge; and erected and maintained in the same way a Mission Hall and minister’s residence at Naphill. She was a large benefactor to a church at Eastbourne, and to mission halls at Aylesbury and elsewhere.

Day schools at Loosley Row (for the maintenance of which she allotted an estate), at Speen, and at Bledlow Ridge also owed their establishment to her generosity, one condition on which she invariably insisted being that Scriptural instruction should be given in the schools she founded. ‘To the cause of missionary and kindred societies she was also a large contributor; among them may be mentioned in particular the China Inland Mission, to which, when she first became interested in its operations, she presented a donation of £300. It is needless to say that the deceased lady will be greatly missed, and that her devoted and practical piety will long be remembered with affection and gratitude by a wide circle of friends.