Lady Rashleigh

A carte-de-visite portrait of Lady Mary Anne Rashleigh (1824-1893), wife of Sir Colman Rashleigh, 2nd Baronet of Prideaux near Luxulyan in Cornwall.

Born Mary Anne Kendall, the daughter or Nicholas Kendal of Pelyn (in 1852 her father was elected Member of Parliament for East Cornwall) she married Colman Rashleigh in 1845, who succeeded his father as Baronet Rashleigh of Prideaux two years later. Lady Rashleigh appears on the 1851 census, at which time her husband gave his rank and profession as 'Baronet – Magistrate'. Her age in 1851 was 27, so she was born in or about 1824. Her birthplace was Lanlivery, Cornwall.

She appears on the 1861 census, age 36, living (or staying) at 13, Lansdown Place, Bath, with her children, Colman Battie Rashleigh, age 15; John Kendall Rashleigh, age 14; Harriet Rashleigh, age 11; and Mary Rashleigh, age 9. On the night of the census, her husband was in lodgings on Lemon Street, Truro, Cornwall. He gave his rank and profession as “Baronet. Lt. Col. Militia.”

Her husband later served as the Member of Parliament for Cornwall East, and the records of the House of Commons give the date of his birth as 14 May 1819. According to the same source, he died on 27 October 1896, age 77.

The couple appear on the 1891 census, either living with or visiting their son, Colman Battie Rashleigh and his family, at Lanlivery, Cornwall.

Lady Rashleigh’s brother was the Rev. Francis Kendall of Lanlivery, Cornwall.

Lady Rashleigh died at the Mayoralty in Bodmin on 6 August 1893, aged 69.

Photographed by Camille Silvy of London on 4 June 1861.

From an album belonging to the Gilbert family of Priory House, Bodmin, Cornwall.