Treasures and Tales Of 200 Years

A part of my family history

So I take you back to 1814 in Jersey England, to a story of my great, great, great Aunt. Her name was Esther Abigail Hippsly. She was married into old family money. Passed down generation after generation. There is only one picture I have seen so I describe her as petite. With a very narrow waist, as was the way in those times. A corset was under every dress of every woman. Bound in wire and lace to define the waist and breasts. Aunt Esther's hair was dark brown and curled in rags every other night, leaving it lush and drooping off a shoulder.

She was married to Max Payne who was also of old family fortune. The two of them owned a mansion back in the day in Jersey England. They lived there for a long while and had two children. A boy name Harry Payne and a daughter Abigail. Abigail past as a young child from the flu. Leaving Harry as an only child. Life of the riches were plentiful of the desired socialite. Only the best of the best. The most divine furniture you could imagine. I know this because three pieces still remain in my mothers home.

They left England but kept the mansion and belongings with in the family. They crossed the Jersey Channel Islands over to Newfoundland Canada. With no electricity they crossed by steamer. Lit up with lanterns. The nights were so still all you could hear was the put put of the ship. Aunt Esther was so excited about the trip and all she would see.

This New Found Land was a huge deal. They reach the harbour in Burin, which is the southern tip of Newfoundland; on the coast and subjected to many harsh storms. Most of the new settlers took their place here due to the fact it was the closest landing location for the ship. A long awaited travel to start their family riches and broaden their name. This is where they put their money into a stock market. They did bring some furnishings to make do until they made enough money to set up their son on his own.

He worked with his father and made a small fortune for himself. He then married and they could not have children of their own. They raised my grandmother on moms side. My grandmothers mother died during birth and her father died at sea the day she was born. Harry was my grandmothers Uncle. My grandmother is Lillian Payne and was raised by my great great uncle Harry Payne and his wife Madeline. Years of struggle had begun for young Harry. His parents moved back to England and he was left to raise his family.
The stock market crashed due to the deep depression. Max and his wife passed away shortly one after the other. Uncle Harry had to go back to England to claim what was left to him.

Saddened that the mansion was passed on to him with all the belongings. Sad because he lost all of his money and could not afford to keep the house and pay taxes. He had to sell the home. He took what he could bring back to Newfoundland and the rest was left behind. These things consisted of silverware made and brought back from Spain, handed down in the family. The handles are all carved in white pearled ivory. Three mahogany tables. One was oval and this is the table they used in their kitchen. The second was a leaf table that was used when guests came for dinner. The third was a three drawer night stand belonging to my great great great Aunt Esther. She had her wash basin on it in her bedroom. Also her wedding ring. Some linens and an oval mirror.

As time moves forward my grandmother Lillian married my grandfather Roland Rideout. They had ten children, two of them being twins. My mother one of them. My mother was frail and needed much more attention than the others. So My great great Aunt took in my mother. Which was only supposed to be for a short time. Too much time went by and my mother was not back with her family. One side says they didn't want her back, the other side says they wouldn't give her back. Needless to say my mother became a ward of the court. My great great Uncle Harry and Madeline became my mothers foster parents. My mother went to University and became a teacher. She speaks four languages and a great story teller. She then cared for Madeline to her death and remained with her Uncle until he deceased as well. All of the treasures brought back from Jersey England in 1814 still remains in my mothers home that will be handed down to me. Esther's wedding band holds five diamonds still in tact and is kept on a gold chain. My mother never sized it due to its worth. Esther's finger size was a three.

The excitement of the whole story overwhelms me. My mother was raised by two people that also raised her own mother. They were elderly but she would not have wanted it any other way. I was never gracious enough to meet these people of course, but I know my mother loved them dearly and speaks highly of them both. She remained in contact with her own mother and siblings but more on a cousin level. That is a whole other story.

Treasures from 200 years ago that have been through travels and triumph and hold many stories to be told. If only a table could talk. I could only imagine the grand conversations of so long ago. Sunday dinners, men with their drinks and pipes, chattering women on a Saturday. We will never truly know the hardships of those times. Hearing this story really makes me thankful for what we have today.
I hope you enjoyed my story. It is all based on facts and kept in a journal from my mother's great great aunt Madeline. Some facts from my mothers journal.