Family:Whitney, Frederick Williams (1859-1896)

Frederick Williams Whitney (Edwin, James), son of Edwin and Penelope Ann (Wheaton) Whitney, was born 20 Jan 1859, Cullompton, Devon, England, and died 4 Mar 1896, Shanghai, China.

He married 11 Apr 1890, Registry Office, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England, Josephine Watson, daughter of Noah and Mary Ann (Clark) Watson. She was born 4 Aug 1861, Weedon Bec, Northamptonshire, England, and died 14 Aug 1928, Balsall Heath, Birmingham, England.

Frederick trained as a veterinary surgeon and it is thought that he worked with his brother Thomas (also a vet) in Shepton Mallet, Somerset. Soon after his marriage in 1890, Frederick travelled out to China, leaving his wife and young child to follow later. 1891 census shows Josephine & baby Alice at her father's house in Weedon Bec but Frederick has not been traced so is presumably already in China.

The couple are to have 3 more children in China -- twins Frederick & Penelope in 1892 and then Marion in 1894. Sadly Penelope dies at age 6 months.

Tragedy was to strike again when, during a row with Josephine over his drinking & gambling habits, Frederick took poison and died. The inquest was unable to ascertain whether Frederick actually intended taking his own life or whether his action was bravado brought on by the alcohol he had consumed during his prolonged visit to a bar during the day.

Josephine & the children then returned to England and settled in Birmingham near her sister. She did not remarry.

Children of Frederick Williams and Josephine (Watson) Whitney:

i.	Alice Dorothy Watson Whitney, b. 22 Oct 1890, Weedon Bec, Northamptonshire, England, d. 3 Nov 1976, Stockport, Cheshire, England. Married Harold Wainwright (1892-1987) on 17 Dec 1921 at St Paul's, Balsall Heath, Birmingham. 2 children : Trevor Douglas (1922-2011) and another son born 1925, still living.
ii.	Frederick Trevor Brown Whitney, b. 16 Oct 1892, Shanghai, China, d. after 1950, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Married Mabel Annie Heritage on 9 Dec 1925 at the Cathedral of Bermuda, Hamilton, Bermuda. 2 sons. Later moved to Canada
iii.	Penelope Maud Whitney, b. 16 Oct 1892, Shanghai, China, d. Feb 1893, Shanghai, China.
iv.	Marion Eileen Josephine Whitney, b. 21 Jun 1894, Shanghai, China, d. 1974, Bere Regis, Dorset, England. Married Maurice Leonard Applin in 1925 in Weymouth Dorset. 3 children.

References

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