Record

LevelSub-fonds
Finding Number (Click this to view full catalogue structure)CMS/ACC1018
TitleAccession 1018: Papers relating to Rev Thomas Norton (1780-1840) and to Harriett Ann Norton (1817-1891)
Extent4 volumes, 2 items
Date1835-2016
DescriptionBiographical accounts by Gillian Mary Webb (b 1947) of her ancestors: Rev Thomas Norton (1780-1840) CMS missionary to South India; Harriett Ann Norton (1817-1891), nee Spragg (also Spragge), who went out to India as governess to children of CMS missionary Rev Henry Baker and [Amelia Dorothea] Baker and the Broughton line of the family; with related original papers.

The printed works include transcriptions made from the original papers as well as much additional detail and illustrations which help to place the original papers in context.

This collection is of interest for the history of the Norton, Spragg, Baker and Broughton families, the history of missions to South India and 19th-century women's journals.
ArrangementThis collection forms part of the Church Missionary Society Unofficial Papers. It is arranged into a single series: Family Papers
Access ConditionsAccess to all registered researchers
LanguageEnglish
Finding AidsA catalogue of this collection (forming part of the wider CMS/ACC unofficial papers catalogue) is available on the online archive catalogue. Click on the Finding Number to display the summary contents list of the catalogue and to view the full catalogue. A paper copy of this catalogue is also available for consultation at Special Collections.
Access StatusOpen
Administrative HistoryHarriett Ann Spragg, was born in London 19 February 1817, eldest of six children of Samuel Spragg (c 1790-1832), attorney, and Harriet Spragg nee Sydenham (c 1790-1872). In July 1835, she left for India having been appointed governess to the children of Rev Henry Baker and his wife, Amelia Dorothea (nee Kohlhoff). Whilst in India, Harriett taught at the mission school in Cottayam (now Kottayam) as well as looking after the Bakers. In May 1838, she married Benjamin Lyons Walcot Norton (1817-1848), the second son of Rev Thomas Norton (1780-1840), CMS missionary to South India, and his first wife, Ann (1781-1822). Harriett and Benjamin had three children who were born in India: Benjamin Charles Spragge Norton known as 'Charles' (1839 baptised-1908), George Robert Francis Norton (1842-1845) and Harriet Mary Ann Norton (1845-1916). After her husband died in 1848, Harriett returned to England. In November 1851, she married her cousin, Charles Elger (d 1869). Charles spent the last eight and half years of his life in The Middlesex County Asylum and, by 1871, Harriett and her daughter were running a 'School for Young ladies' in West Croydon. Harriett died 27 December 1891. On 4 October 1877, her daughter, Harriet Mary Ann, married Joshua Broughton (1843-1909); the couple's second daughter, Alice Eleanor Blackman (nee Broughton) had a daughter, Dorothy Mary Blackman (1919-1999). Dorothy and her husband Rev Aner Clive Shrimpton (1914-2005) had three daughters: Gillian Mary, Frances Anne (1949-1990) and Hilary Ruth (b 1952).

Gillian Mary Webb (nee Shrimpton), librarian and author, was born 15 January 1947, the eldest daughter of Rev Aner Clive Shrimpton and Dorothy Mary Shrimpton (nee Blackman), and the great great granddaughter of Harriett Ann Spragg through her mother's side. Her written works include 'Life, Hah!'; 'Driven Dedication: The extraordinary, ordinary life of Dorothy Mary Shrimpton'; 'Clive Shrimpton: A goal achieved'. 'The Industrious Blackmans', 'Tough Times for the Broughtons', 'Thomas Norton: Man on a Mission' and 'Seasickness and Prayers: The Journal of Harriett Spragge'. Gillian married John Newton Webb (1944-1998) with whom she has three children: twins, Jenny Margaret and Emma Alice (b 1975), and Tom Richard Newton Webb (b 1982).

Source: the records; 'Register of missionaries (clerical, lay & female) and native clergy from 1804 to 1904', (Church Missionary Society, 1905); personal communication with the donor.
AcquisitionThe collection was presented by Gillian Mary Webb, 11 April 2016; an addition to the collection, comprising a copy of 'Tough Times for the Broughtons', was donated by Gillian Mary Webb in August 2016.
Archival NoteCatalogued by I. Frlan. Cataloguing undertaken April and August 2016. Prepared in accordance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000 and Church Missionary Society cataloguing guidelines. Primary sources still held by the family indicate that two spellings were used for Spragg/Spragge; for the purpose of this catalogue, the spellings used match the spelling given in the source material.
Related MaterialCadbury Research Library holds the official archive of the Church Missionary Society which includes records relating to mission work in South India; Thomas Norton; Henry and Ameila Baker and the Baker's children and grandchildren (GB 0150 CMS).

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