Maughan, Isabella A

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Isabella (Bella) Kirkland was housekeeper to brother George Kirkland in Cruddas Terrace (5 Cruddas Terrace) in 1891. She was 25 years old, single and had been born in Aldershot while her father John, had been serving in the army. In 1871 she was living in Bellingham aged six but in 1881 she had left home and was working as a nursemaid. Her employer was Ramsay H Traquair who lived in Dean Park Close, Edinburgh and was Keeper of Natural History Collections in the Museum Services Sciences and Art Department. In 1892 Bella Ann Kirkland married Robert Wilson T Maughan in Bellingham. Robert had been born in North Shields in 1834 and at the time of their marriage was living with his widowed Mother Joanna in Waterloo Place, Preston, Tynemouth. In 1901 the family were in Balmoral Avenue, Gateshead and Robert was a boot traveller. Bella was looking after Margaret (7), Florence (5) and Robert (2). Bella’s sister Margaret was visiting on census night. Bella’s written record disappears here but it is very likely that the family emigrated to South Africa. Ninety two year old Robert Wilson Taylor Maughan, a widower and retired railway clerk with South African Railways died in Waverley, Pretoria on 25 May 1956. There is no sign of Bella.