42.3.b Frances Elizabeth Rapp buried Dover Cemetery

St James Cemetery Dover

Within the cemetery lies the grave of Frances Elizabeth Mary Durnford, only surviving daughter of Colonel Anthony William Durnford of the Royal Engineers, who was blamed incorrectly for the loss of the Zulu War on 22^nd January 1879, where he was one of hundreds to die.

Frances was born in 1857 in Malta, while her father was stationed there, and the family returned to England shortly after.  She had an elder brother, who died at Malta, and a younger sister, born 1859, who died aged 8 months, in Medway Kent.  Her parents separated in 1860, and her father remained in the Royal Engineers, but close to Frances.

By 1871, she and her mother Frances Durnford (officer’s wife) were living in Portsmouth, not far from her paternal grandparents, General Edward Durnford.  They were living with her mother’s brother, Major George Tranchell of the Ceylon Rifles.

Between 1871 and 1879, her father saw service in South Africa and Ireland, and was very badly injured in 1873, losing the use of his left arm. 

In 1881, after her father’s death, she and her mother were living at Walpole House at Twickenham, with her aunt and two servants.  Walpole House was not the beautiful building seen today, but had been owned by Frances, Countess of Waldegrave, who died in July 1879. 

The census record indicates Frances and her mother, and aunt were the only occupants, along with servants.  Her aunt was Mary Eliza Louisa Tranchell who was the wife of Rev Samuel Owen Glenie, who was the Archdeacon of Ceylon.  

Frances Waldegrave married The Right Honourable The Lord Carlingford, Chichester Parkinson Fortescue in 1863.    After her death he inherited all her estates.

Carlingford later served under Gladstone as Lord Privy Seal between 1881 and 1885 and as Lord President of the Council between 1883 and 1885. In 1882, he was appointed a Knight of the Order of St Patrick. He parted from Gladstone on the question of Irish Home Rule, but in earlier years he was his active supporter on Irish questions.

He sold Strawberry Hill in 1883, as reported in the Western Daily Press of 15^th May.  It was reported on 17^th July 1883, that Baron Stern was the purchaser and he would be residing in the historic house, built by Horace Walpole. It was later restored.

Frances Durnford married Nicholas McIvor Charles Adolthus James John Rapp in 1883.  By then she was living at 7 The Barons, Twickenham, a mile from the now sold Strawberry Hill. They were married at St Stephen Church.

In 1888 to 1890 they were living at 12 Vineyard Road, Richmond. They then moved to Bexhill on the Sea.

Nicholas by now had become the owner and publisher of the Bexhill Courier, one of the oldest papers in the town.

Captain Nicholas McIvor Charles Rapp[i], Commander No 3 Company 2nd Cinque Ports Volunteer Artillery

On Sunday 29th January 1933 he died at his home at 3 Leyburne Road.  "Captain  Nicholas Rapp, late Cinque Ports, G.G.A (Volunteers)  RIP       from Dover Express

At the time of his death he was 80. 

Frances Elizabeth Mary Rapp died 1919.  Her ties to her father are reflected on her headstone.

 

“Beloved wife of Nichola Rapp and only daughter of Col Anthony Durnford.

Her headstone reflects the strong ties she had to her Durnford heritage.  The Durnford Coat of Arms contains the Ramshead.  

While living in Bexhill on the Sea, it is very likely that she was in the company of the Bishop of Chichester, as the town was in his Parish.

Nicholas is also buried in her grave, as the lower engraving on the monument indicates.

Nicholas was the son of a flax merchant, who travelled on the continent. He was born in Scotland, and was one of three children to Charles Godfrey Edward Rapp and his wife Helen Lisette Hill

His sisters were Matilda Lisette Caroline Rapp and Fanny Marij Ann Henrietta Usona Rapp.

Matilda married Edward Hammerton (1827 – 1901) and they lived at 33 Leybourne Road Dover.  Matilda was born in 1847 in Russia, and died in 1923, in Dover. 

Her sister Fanny was born in 1854 in Dundee and married Jan Hendrik (John Henry) Croockewit (1849 – 1935), in 1878

They lived in 1918 at The Mount Sheperdswell.  He was born in Holland, and Anglicised his name.

 Their graves are also to be found in the Dover Cemetery, close to that of Francis Rapp.

What links might there be, to understand why Frances Durnford was living in Walpole House?

  

  18^th Century engraving of the villa.

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[i] Bexhill-on-Sea Observer 05 May 1900