McClintock of Seskinore

Tag: 20th Century

  • Genealogical Notes on the Shum Family

    Introduction

    The following notes relate to the genealogy of the Shum and Shum-Storey families, compiled from a range of sources including the College of Arms, parish registers, legal records, and contemporary publications.

    They provide supporting detail for the Shum family line connected to Marianne (Marion) Shum and her daughter, Olive Vivian Trainor.

    College of Arms Pedigree (1803)

    A pedigree was entered at the College of Arms in 1803 by George Shum (2nd), father of the later George Shum-Storey.

    This George Shum was born in 1751, the son of George Shum (1st) of Peckham, with whom the recorded pedigree begins.

    George Shum (1st) is stated to have come from Franckfort (Frankfurt) around 1726. He died on 20 November 1789, aged 71, and was buried at the German Church, Trinity Lane, London.

    His wife, Mary Wheatley, died on 25 April 1786 and was also buried there.

    Note: The recorded age at death in 1789 does not fully align with the church register.

    Gentleman’s Magazine Notices (1830–1868)

    Extracts from The Gentleman’s Magazine include the following references to the Shum family:

    • 1840 (Marriage)
      Henry, eldest son of George Shum Storey of Ham Common, Surrey, and Arcot, Northumberland, married Emma Cooper of Brighton. (Noted as first cousins)
    • 1842 (Death)
      Emily Shum, third daughter of George Shum Storey, died at Clifton aged 34
    • 1844 (Marriage)
      Charles Francis Shum, Lieutenant 37th Regiment, married Harriet Fenwick of Strand House, Northumberland
    • 1845 (Death)
      Captain John Shum, 26th Regiment, died in London
    • 1845 (Death)
      George Shum Storey of Arcot, Northumberland, died aged 70
    • 1854 (Death)
      Captain William Shum, formerly of the 3rd Dragoon Guards
    • 1857 (Death)
      Captain Henry Hamilton Shum, eldest son of Colonel Shum
    • 1860 (Marriage)
      Rev. Franck Shum married Sarah Jane Gundry
    • 1861 (Death)
      Henry Shum Storey died at Arcot Hall aged 59

    Legal Records

    Records from Crossman, Block & Keith (Solicitors) note:

    • Robert Shum admitted to the firm: June 1839
    • Left the firm: 1880
    • Died: 1885

    The Times (1805)

    A notice in The Times (2 March 1805) records:

    “On Thursday evening at his house in Bedford Square, universally lamented, George Shum, Esq., late Member of Parliament for the Borough of Honiton, aged 53 years.”

    Bedford Estate Records

    Records indicate that George and Ann Shum resided at:

    👉 29 Bedford Square, London (c.1805)

    This location corresponds with later references to Upper Gower Street, where subsequent family members lived.

    Parish Registers and Local Records

    Surrey parish records provide further detail:

    • 1795 (Baptism)
      Henrietta, daughter of George and Ann Shum
    • 1793 (Burial)
      Katherine, aged 3
    • 1801 (Burial)
      Julia Mary, aged 4 months

    These entries suggest residence at Bury Hill, Dorking, with Wotton parish serving as the primary place of burial.

    Additional Notes

    • Rev. Frederick Shum is recorded in the death index (1877), though age discrepancies exist
    • Several inconsistencies in dates and ages appear across sources, indicating the need for cautious interpretation

    Significance

    These records illustrate the development of the Shum and Shum-Storey family across:

    • London
    • Surrey
    • Northumberland

    They provide important genealogical context for the maternal ancestry of Olive Vivian Trainor and demonstrate connections to professional, military, and landed society.

    See Also:

  • Letters Relating to the Breakdown of the Marriage of Olive and Tony Joynson–Wreford (1928)

    Introduction

    The following letters, preserved in the National Archives (J 77/2594/652), relate to the breakdown of the marriage between Olive Vivian Trainor and Captain Wilfred Heyman Joynson–Wreford in 1928.

    They provide a rare and direct insight into the circumstances of the separation, revealing both the tone and substance of the relationship at its conclusion.

    Letter A

    Carter’s Hotel, Albemarle Street, London

    Dear Olive,

    Your wire arrived yesterday and I answered it. I presume you have left for Cannes by now. Why you should have addressed it to the hotel and not to me I rather fail to understand, though I have a very good idea.

    I have thought things over very seriously since I last saw you, and I have come to the conclusion that it is hopeless for you and I to try and continue as we are now. I would have talked to you about it in Paris, but it is useless for you and I to try and argue out anything.

    I have asked you before, and I ask you again now, to divorce me.

    After all, you are young—in fact we both are—and I cannot see the point of continuing in a marriage which has turned out so disastrously. I do not want you to think that I am unfair—you know yourself that the position is hopeless.

    The child I promise you will be looked after, and naturally I shall be responsible for you up to a certain point. That can be arranged by the lawyer. I know a man in Paris who will do everything quietly. I imagine you would prefer it that way.

    There is no question of any other woman, although you invariably think so. It is merely incompatibility of temperament, or anything else you like to call it. The last fourteen months have not been pleasant, and I must work to live. I feel I should be far better alone.

    I know that this letter will upset you and probably make you furious, but please read it over several times very carefully.

    I am leaving here and I am still uncertain as to where I shall be, so will you write to me care of Cran. I only suggest this as I shall be moving quite a bit and can always get him on the telephone and tell him my address.

    I am very sorry about everything in many ways, but it is just one of those things that will happen. As a matter of fact, you will be far happier away from me, and I will definitely give you enough to live on. More I cannot do, as you know the state of my finances at the moment.

    Everything can be arranged with the lawyer in black and white. Bobbie I will arrange about. At the moment he is with the vet with eczema. I will send you some money this week.

    I hope you are both well, and I am very sorry that this should have happened. At such a time as I know it is not good for you or the child. But you must admit that it was all discussed long ago, and you refused to do anything until after the birth of the child.

    After all, Olive, when love has ceased to exist it is useless to continue. We have always been great friends, but as husband and wife we are impossible. That much you must admit.

    As soon as I hear from you I will get the lawyer to write to you, and the whole thing can be done in Paris quietly and decently.

    I wish I could have talked to you about all this instead of writing, but that, as you know, was impossible. I feel now that I want to be alone for the rest of my life. I have tried marriage twice and both have failed, so I shall not try again.

    It may all be my fault—if it is, I am sorry.

    Tony

    Letter B

    Carter’s Hotel, Albemarle Street, London
    Saturday

    My dear Olive,

    I got your letter this morning and wired you at once. As you particularly want it, I will do as you wish, but I really do not see the point.

    I want you, anyway, if you will, to stay away for a month and think things over. I do not want you to be unkind, as I know you are not well, but you must admit that married life, as far as we are concerned, is rather hopeless.

    I feel I want to be entirely alone. I really have nothing at all to do with any woman. I tell you this only because I feel it far better that you know the truth.

    I will send you some money on Monday—I have none today. I hate to appear unkind, so do not misinterpret my letter.

    I hope you are both well.

    Tony

    You little realise how many worries I have at the moment.

    Thank heavens I have work to keep my mind occupied.

    Notes

    • National Archives reference: J 77/2594/652
    • Spelling and phrasing have been lightly standardised for readability
    • Content reflects the tone and substance of the original documents

  • Olive in South Africa: Business and Reinvention

    Introduction

    Following a period of instability in England and abroad, Olive Vivian Trainor entered a new phase of her life defined by enterprise and reinvention. Her move to South Africa marked a turning point, in which she established a degree of independence and financial stability through business.

    Return to England and New Beginnings

    Olive returned to England in 1938, as tensions in Europe increased prior to the outbreak of the Second World War.

    During this period, she formed a relationship with Major George Stephenson. Although she did not remarry, she adopted the name Olive Stephenson by deed poll.

    “Madame Olive” in Knightsbridge

    Using funds secured from her divorce settlement, Olive established a business at 37 Knightsbridge in London.

    Trading as “Madame Olive,” the enterprise included:

    • a beauty salon
    • the sale of perfumes and cosmetic products
    • a treatment marketed for hair loss
    • a marriage bureau known as “Wedding Bells”

    Despite her ambition, the business struggled to attract sustained clientele and proved financially difficult to maintain.

    Move to South Africa

    Seeking new opportunities, Olive relocated to South Africa, where she re-established her marriage bureau.

    In contrast to her experience in London, the venture proved successful. She expanded operations across:

    • Natal
    • Durban
    • and into Rhodesia

    This marked the most stable and commercially successful period of her life.

    Family and Changing Circumstances

    Her son later joined her in South Africa, initially working within her business before pursuing a career in retail, theatre, and eventually broadcasting.

    This period saw a gradual shift from instability toward a more settled existence.

    Later Years

    In 1968, her son moved to Scotland to work with Scottish Television. Olive followed, settling in Glasgow, where she remained for the rest of her life.

    She died on 21 August 1980, aged 86.

    Reinvention and Resilience

    Olive’s life in South Africa demonstrates a remarkable capacity for adaptation.

    After a series of personal and financial setbacks, she was able to:

    • establish a successful business
    • maintain independence
    • and support herself and her family in a new environment

    Significance

    This phase of her life highlights:

    • the possibilities for reinvention in the wider British Empire
    • the role of migration in shaping personal histories
    • and the resilience required to rebuild after social and financial disruption

    See also

  • The Break-Up of the Ecclesville Estate

    From Landed Estate to Fragmented Ownership (c.1886–1913)

    Introduction

    The break-up of the Ecclesville estate was not the result of a single event, but a gradual process shaped by inheritance law, family circumstance, and national land reform.

    Between the death of John Stuart Eccles in 1886 and the submission of the estate to the Irish Land Commission in 1913, Ecclesville passed from a unified landed estate into fragmented ownership.

    The Estate at Its Height

    By the mid-nineteenth century, Ecclesville was a substantial and well-defined landed estate in County Tyrone.

    It comprised:

    • Extensive agricultural lands across multiple townlands
    • The demesne centred on Ecclesville House
    • Mills, market interests, and local economic infrastructure

    Under John Stewart (or Stuart) Eccles, the estate represented a typical example of a mature Irish landed property.

    The Impact of the Entail (1873)

    In 1873, John Stewart (or Stuart) Eccles placed the estate under an entail in tail male.

    While intended to preserve the estate intact, this had unintended consequences:

    • No surviving male heir existed at his death in 1886
    • His daughter, Amy Eccles, became life tenant only
    • The estate could not be freely managed or restructured

    This legal rigidity left the estate poorly positioned to respond to the major changes that followed.

    The Irish Land Acts and Structural Change

    From the late nineteenth century, the Irish Land Acts fundamentally altered land ownership across Ireland.

    At Ecclesville:

    • Tenants were enabled to purchase their holdings
    • Land was sold in stages through the Land Commission
    • The landlord–tenant system steadily declined

    These changes did not occur suddenly, but over a period of years, gradually dismantling the estate.

    Progressive Sale of the Estate

    Between c.1886 and 1913:

    • Large portions of the estate were sold to occupying tenants
    • Estate income declined as rental structures disappeared
    • The geographical unity of the estate was lost

    By the early twentieth century:

    The Ecclesville estate, as a single territorial entity, had effectively ceased to exist.

    The Position by 1913

    In 1913, the estate was formally recorded in a Land Commission title (Abstract of Title).

    At this stage:

    • Most of the former estate lands had passed into tenant ownership
    • Only the house and its immediate demesne remained intact

    Crucially:

    The demesne followed a separate path from the wider estate

    • It was retained as a private residential holding
    • It later passed into the ownership of the Browne-Lecky family

    Separation of Estate and Demesne

    By the early twentieth century, Ecclesville had divided into two distinct realities:

    The Former Estate

    • Sold and redistributed under the Land Acts
    • No longer a unified property

    Ecclesville House and Demesne

    • Retained intact
    • Functioning as a private residence
    • Independent of the former estate structure

    This distinction is essential to understanding the later history of Ecclesville.

    Consequences of the Break-Up

    The break-up of the estate resulted in:

    • The end of landlord control over the surrounding lands
    • The disappearance of the estate as an economic unit
    • The transformation of tenants into owner-occupiers
    • The reduction of Ecclesville to a country house with limited lands

    Although the house survived, its original context had fundamentally changed.

    Relationship to the Entail and Disentailing

    The break-up of the estate occurred independently of the legal structure of the entail.

    • The physical estate was dismantled between c.1886 and 1913
    • The legal structure of the entail remained in force until 1944

    These were separate processes:

    • The Land Acts reshaped ownership in practice
    • The disentailing later resolved the legal framework

    Historical Significance

    The break-up of the Ecclesville estate reflects a wider transformation in Irish history:

    • The decline of the landed gentry
    • The redistribution of land to tenants
    • The dismantling of traditional estate structures

    In the case of Ecclesville, this process was shaped both by national reform and by the constraints imposed by inheritance law.

    Conclusion

    By the early twentieth century, Ecclesville had ceased to exist as a traditional landed estate.

    What remained was:

    • A reduced demesne centred on the house
    • A network of former estate lands now held by tenants

    The break-up of Ecclesville was therefore not an abrupt collapse, but a gradual transition from estate to fragmented ownership — a process completed long before the final legal disentailing of 1944.

    See Also

  • Tony Joynson-Wreford’s Will and the Sale of Seskinore (1939–1952)

    Tony Joynson-Wreford’s will, signed on 18 March 1939, laid out careful provisions for the guardianship and financial security of his young daughter, Xenia, at a time of growing uncertainty, as Europe stood on the brink of the Second World War.

    Originally, he had appointed Captain Anthony C. S. Delmege—Leila’s cousin—and Lady Marjorie Edith Hare as Xenia’s guardians. However, by codicil dated 16 March 1940, just one week before his death, he revoked that arrangement and instead named his close friend Lieutenant-Commander John H. T. Boteler and Boteler’s wife, Sheila (née Hooper), as guardians.

    It seems likely that Tony’s decision was influenced by the uncertain wartime future. Having already suffered losses during the First World War, including the death of his brother Bertran, he may have feared that Captain Delmege, as an active serviceman, would not be able to provide stable long-term care.

    These decisions, made in the final days of his life, would shape not only Xenia’s upbringing, but the future of the Seskinore estate itself.

    Provision for Xenia

    The will established a trust to support Xenia’s upbringing and education until she reached the age of 21.

    To make this possible, Tony gave the trustees authority to sell Seskinore House if necessary.

    This provision would prove decisive in the fate of the estate.

    Sale of Seskinore House

    1940 Seskinore sale map

    In 1941, Seskinore House, together with 115 acres, 1 rood and 19½ perches, was sold to the Ministry of Agriculture.

    Importantly, the sale excluded the Garden of Remembrance where Leila was buried. Rights of access for members of the McClintock family were also preserved, ensuring that this deeply personal part of the estate remained protected even as the wider property passed out of family hands.

    Although the Ministry acquired the estate, they ultimately found no practical use for the great house. Over time, the building fell into disuse and disrepair.

    The End of the House

    In 1952, Seskinore House was demolished.

    A report in the Belfast Telegraph captured the stark reality of its final years with the headline:

    “The end of a house that nobody wanted. 30-room Ulster mansion to go.”

    With its demolition, the historic seat of the McClintock family—built up over generations—was brought to an end. Only the courtyard and outbuildings survived, standing as quiet remnants of what had once been a major country estate.

    Site of Seskinore House

    Significance

    Tony Joynson-Wreford’s will shaped the final fate of Seskinore.

    It determined the guardianship of Xenia, created the trust under which the estate was managed, and enabled the sale that brought an end to Seskinore House as a family residence.

    At the same time, by preserving the Garden of Remembrance and access rights to it, the will ensured that the most personal part of the estate would remain connected to the family even after the house itself was gone.

    Primary Source

    A full transcription of Tony Joynson-Wreford’s will and codicil is available here:

    See also:

    Continue the Story

    • The Break-Up of the Seskinore Estate
    • Xenia’s Early Life: Guardianship, Separation and Silence
    • Xenia’s Life Beyond Seskinore
    • Tony Joynson-Wreford: Final Years and Devotion to Leila
    • The Garden of Remembrance at Seskinore