Lucy Mary Debenham

Lucy Mary Debenham

Born at Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, on 4 Dec 1842, Lucy was just four years of age when her parents and siblings left Bury St. Edmunds and travelled by stagecoach to London to begin a new life and a new career for her father, Samuel.

Her childhood years entailed many moves as the family moved from 66 Lamb's Conduit Street to No. 16 Harpur Street. The latter address proved to be a direct contrast to the family lifestyle....this was a huge, rambling home of 21 rooms... the size of which prompted her mother Salome, to operate a boarding house which kept her busy with a staff of servants. The three younger children missed their mother's attention and subsequently the boarding house idea lasted only one year.

In 1854 Lucy and Arthur attended Miss Carver's school in Lynn, Norfolk. ( sisters Sarah, Lois, Jemima and Ruth operated the school.)

In 1861 Lucy, along with her mother and brothers moved to No. 1 Kensington Gardens Square, London.

In an effort to establish his own photographic career Samuel was required to live away from the family for many years and in 1862 Lucy and her mother joined Samuel in Hitchin where he had set up a studio, but the following year Arthur joined his parents and sister in Hitchin, and with Salome as the driving force, Lucy, Arthur, with their mother, set up a business in nearby Bedford -- this only lasted a few months before Salome sold it.
In 1864, Salome, Samuel and Lucy had moved to Luton and commenced the set up of another studio. (Notes provided by Faye Debenham, wife of Albert William Debenham - grand nephew of Lucy).

Lucy married Edwin Wensley Russell the noted British 19th Century artist at Church of the Oratory, Brompton (by Licence) in a Catholic ceremony on 15th November 1865. Edwin had been a long time friend of her brothers Edwin, Arthur, and William - with Art and Photography obviously a common factor. Witnesses were Sam'.J. Debenham (Father), Edwin (Brother), and Marianne Warren (Cousin). Marianne Warren (Christened: 6 Aug 1843 at Gt. Whelnetham,Suffolk)), was believed to be the daughter of Salome Warren's brother Robert and his wife Sarah.

Lucy experienced a fair amount of tragedy in losing two sons - William as a young boy, and Henry (Harry) as a Volunteer Medical orderly with Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry at the disastrous Battle of Spionkop during the Anglo-Boer War. (Harry was shot through the temple as he was handing Colonel Thorneycroft a note informing the Colonel that he was now the Senior Officer). Two other sons experienced Marriage breakups, and Edwin "Ted", particularly causing problems, many of them left for Lucy to sort out. All the sons apart from Harry, and of course William, chose the Theatre as their carreer.

1901 Census shows Edwin (age 70 - Artist, Painter, Sculptor) living at 4 Florry Cottages, Hereson Road,Ramsgate, Kent, with wife Lucy (age 58), son Stephen (age 27 - Actor), son Arthur Bernard (Bardy) (Age 18 - Drapers Assistant), Grandson Philip J. (age 5), and granddaughter Bertha (age 5). Kelly's Directory confirms address for 1907/8. Betty and Phyllis Russell both recalled visiting their grandparents in Ramsgate.

Lucy died on 13 Jan 1918 at St.Scholastica's Retreat, Kenninghall Road, Clapton, Hackney, London. (GRO Ref 1b 518). Age at death 75 years. Her occupation was listed on her Death certificate as a Solicitors Clerk. St.Scholastica's Retreat