Rev Atwill Curtois JP

A picture of the Rev Atwill Curtois

of Longhills House, Branston. Born at Branston Hall 8 November 1809, younger son of the first Rev Peregrine Curtois, and died 16 August 1868 at the Longhills. Matriculated 12 May 1829 at Lincoln College, Oxford. BA (4th class) 1833. Buried at Branston (a photo of his grave and those of some of his children). His maternal grandfather was named Atwell (his mother was born Mary Atwell), and apparently Atwill was a misspelling!

"The Rev. Atwill Curtois, clerk, took the oaths on his presentation (by himself) the rectory of Branston."{Lincolnshire Chronicle, Friday 29 October 1847}
Death of the Rev. Atwill Curtois.— After a protracted and extremely painful illness the Rev. Atwill Curtois, rector of Branston, departed this life at 10 o'clock on Sunday morning, the 16th inst., his residence, the Longhills, Branston. The sufferings of the rev. gentleman had recently been very acute, and for several days past was said that his end was near. For some hours previous to his death all pain appeared to have left him, and, perfectly calm and composed, he breathed his last in the presence of his family and the servants of the household. Mr. Curtois was in the 69th year his age. He succeeded his father, the late Rev. Peregrine Curtois, as rector, in 1847. The family Curtois have enjoyed the living of Branston for nearly 200 years, the Rev. John Curtois having been instituted in 1681. Much sympathy is expressed in the village towards Mrs. Curtois in her bereavement. She is left with 10 children, the eldest being under 15 years of age. Mr. Curtois was Justice of the Peace for the Parts of Kesteven. The cure of the parish is the hands of the Rev. A. G. Devereaux Quick, who has for some months discharged the clerical duties in a very exemplary manner. {Lincolnshire Chronicle, Friday 21 August 1868}
FUNERAL OF THE REV. ATWILL CURTOIS. The remains of the Rev. A. Curtois were consigned to the tomb in the Cemetery, at Branston, on Saturday last. In accordance with the wishes of the deceased, the ceremony was of a very private character, the chief mourners being confined to the immediate relatives of the family and the churchwardens. The service was impressively conducted by the Rev. Mr. Quick, the curate. The coffin was borne to the grave by the workmen and tradesmen employed by the family. The villagers in large numbers assembled in the cemetery, to pay the last sad tribute of respect to the memory of one who had for so many years ministered amongst them. The funeral sermon was preached on Sunday afternoon, by the curate, from the words, " Behold the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him." The preacher gave elaborate explanation of the types and symbols in the parable of the virgins, and their application to the Church collectively and individually. In cheering tones of hope and confident assurance be alluded to the recent departure of the late rector, and concluded with an earnest exhortation to the crowded congregation, who listened to the discourse with breathless attention throughout. {Lincolnshire Chronicle, Saturday 29 August 1868}
"Fourth in descent from Rev John Curtois, Fellow of Magdalen and preb. of Welton Beckhall, whose father was Mayor of Lincoln 1670"

Ordained at Buckden by the Bishop of Lincoln 29 May 1836, and assistant curate to his father thenceforth. Rector of Branston 1847-1868, the fifth of the family to be so.

Here is his reply to accusations that he fathered an illegitimate child.

Married 9 June 1853 at Tiberton, near Hereford, Anne Henrietta, second daughter of Rev Daniel Henry Lee-Warner of Walsingham Abbey, Norfolk and Tiberton, Herefordshire (a report). She was born at Tiberton 6 September 1829 and died at Washingborough Manor 13 February 1898, 30 years a widow. Resided at Bedford 1868-1876 (at 6, The Crescent in 1871 with all the children bar Mary), and Washingborough Manor 1876-1898. MI Washingborough church. Buried at Branston. An Anne Lee-Warner had married Atwill's great-uncle Charles Elsden Bagge in 1782, and I guess they knew each other from that.

Issue seven daughters and four sons (and no grandchildren). Click here for a look at some photos.

  1. A picture by Dering Curtois called Peacock FanMary Henrietta Dering Curtois, born at the Longhills 5 May 1854, and died unmarried at the Chesham Cottage Hospital 6 October 1928 (Reports: 1 2, and an appreciation). Buried at Branston (a photo of her grave). Educated at the Lincoln School of Art and the Julien Studio in Paris. Exhibited at the Forum Club and the Royal Academy as Dering Curtois (an article about her), and was active in the suffrage movement. In London in the 1871 census, with her paternal aunt Mary Curtois at 14 Westbourne Park Road. In 1891 was living in Washingborough, though lodging with the Applewhite family on Bottom Street rather than living at the Manor with the rest of her family. Dering was a name found in her mother's family. Residing at Ridgewell Cottage, Little Missendon at the time of her death. Left £368 7s.

    The picture on the right is one of hers, and is called 'Peacock Fan'.

  2. Margaret Anne Curtois, of 15 Cowley Street, Westminster in 1901, and of 53 Romney Street, Westminster from 1915-1932. Born at the Longhills 7 October 1855, and died unmarried 7 September 1932 after scalding herself with too hot a bath (a report). Buried at Branston (a photo of her grave). Estate valued at £917 15s. Author of several books, and lecturer in literature.

    "To the St John's Girls Club of St John's Institute, 7 Tufton Street, Westminster, my pianoforte, and the clock given to me by my elocution class."

    Restored Washingborough village cross in honour of her mother in 1903. She was apparently interested in psychical research, and an interesting convergence of this interest with the Washingborough village cross can be found here. She also wrote about the ethics of village life.

  3. Lisle Henry Curtois, mechanical engineer, born at the Longhills 14 November 1856 and died at the Quarry Hill nursing home, St. Leonards on Sea, 11 January 1929, leaving £2657 5s 9d. Buried at the Church in the Woods, Hollington (a report). Seems to have dabbled with sewing machines (here).

    Married at St. Philip's, Kensington, 20 June 1907, Cecilia Mary Elizabeth Buck, daughter of Samuel Smith Buck of Ashford, Middlesex (a report); they honeymooned at Lamorna in Cornwall. She was baptised 5 Oct 1848 at St Matthew's, Ashford, Middlesex, and died 19 June 1924. Buried with her husband.

  4. Florence Isabella Curtois, born at the Longhills 9 December 1857, and died at the Bromhead Nursing Institute, Nettleham Road, Lincoln, 3 January 1932, leaving £6876 3s 1d. Buried at Washingborough 6 January 1932. Living at The Studio, Washingborough, at the time of her death. Godmother to her cousin's daughter Alexandra Maud Curtois, and president of Washingborough W.I. from its formation to 1932. Sole executrix of her brother Daniel's will. Her obituary.

  5. Daniel Henry Lee-Warner Curtois, born at the Longhills 30 January 1859, and died in Paris 31 May 1908 (a report). Living with his brother Huntley at Croxton Vicarage in 1908. Educated at Bedford Grammar School. Buried at Branston (a photo of his grave). Estate valued at £5193 6s 4d.

    Here is a postcard sent to him in Paris from his brother Algernon, on 31 Jan 1908.

    'Every good wish for your birthday. I hope it finds you and all the Paris party flourishing. The letter you promised has never yet come! Cyril N. is engaged to Miss Grace N. of the Poplars.'{From the Maurice Hodson collection. It appears to refer to Cyril Nelson and Grace Turnour Nelson, married at St. Martin's , Lincoln, on 10 June 1908.}
    Front of a postcard of BranstonRear of a postcard From Algernon to Daniel Henry

  6. Ella Rose Curtois, of 143 Rue de Rennes, Paris, in 1932, and of La Valee aux Loups, Chateney Malabry (Seine) in 1943. Born at the Longhills 23 March 1860, and died unmarried 23 March 1944 having lived most of her life in Paris. Carved the lower part of the chancel screen in Branston church in about 1900, and bequeathed most of her estate (of £14984 1s 10d) to the City of Lincoln, which used it to build the Curtois wing of the Usher Art Gallery (her will). This was opened by her cousin's son Peregrine Arthur Curtois, and includes one of her sculptures and one of her sister Dering's paintings.

  7. Rev Huntley Curtois, born at the Longhills 20 March 1861, and died at the Grove House Nursing Home, Newmarket Road, Norwich, 26 June 1934, leaving £9588 10s 1d (a report). Educated at Bedford and Lincoln Grammar Schools, and at Christ's College, Cambridge. BA (2nd class, theological tripos) 1884, MA 1888. Ordained Deacon by the Bishop of Southwell at St. Luke's, Derby, 1885; Priest at Ashbourne 1886. Curate of Carlton in the Willows, Notts, 1885-1887; of Plumtree 1887-1891, Minister of Fen Drayton 1891-1897; Vicar of Croxton, Norfolk, 1897-1927. Resided at Croxton Vicarage 1897-1927, and at Cotman Lodge, 12 Cotman Road, Norwich, 1927-1934. Buried at Croxton. Godfather to his cousin's son, John Ralph Willoughby Curtois.

    Married 19 April 1910 At Christ Church, Eaton, Ipswich, to Jane Elizabeth Williams (a report). She was born at Croxton, Norfolk ca. 1868, and died 20 January 1928.

  8. Louise Augusta Curtois, born at the Longhills 30 August 1862, and died unmarried of pneumonia 30 March 1894. Buried at Branston (a photo of her grave).

  9. Amy Matilda Curtois, born at the Longhills 12 November 1863, and died 27 September 1866. Buried at Branston (a photo of her grave).

  10. Rev Algernon Curtois, born at the Longhills 5 October 1865, and died whilst on holiday at Maidstone, 13 September 1933 (Reports: 1 2, and an obituary). Buried at Branston (a photo of his grave). Estate valued at £8629 10s 9d. A foundation scholar of Marlborough (boarding there in 1881), and scholar of Worcester College, Oxford (Matriculated 14 October 1884, BA (2nd class) 1888, MA 1891). Ordained Deacon 1889, Priest 1890. Curate of St Martins, Lincoln, 1893-1896; of St. Swithin's, Lincoln, 1896-1901. Preached the doctrine that the Church of England were as much Catholic as the Roman branch. Lived much of his life at 3 Monks-Leys Terrace, Lincoln, and was godfather to his cousin's son, Peregrine Arthur Curtois.

    "..was ordained in Lincoln Minster, but owing to an accident at college took no livings. He lived in Lincoln for 30 years, helping the church."

  11. Mathilde Edith Curtois, born at the Longhills 15 June 1867, and died unmarried at the Klinik, Arlesheim, Switzerland, 2 November 1952, leaving £6140 1s 1d. Residing at 94 Grove Lane, Camberwell, London SE5 in 1932, and in Washingborough in 1952. Sole executrix to her sister Margaret in 1932.