Our Family History
The Genealogy of the Story Family
Lt. Col. Robert Story
1854 - 1924 (70 years)
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Lt. Col. Robert Story - Diary notes 1887
Notes from Robert's diary by MN D-W
Jan - June 1887
"The new year finds us at Winnal - Floré ill in bed with a chill & always very subject to rheumatism and neuralgia the result of the weakness brought on by such an operation as she has suffered. Myself in very good health but sad at heart." Presumably he knew about Floré's incurable cancer by now.
On Jan 1st Robert and Louie went skating, a party of 15 in drag. He again had the moors flooded at night. Floré was able to come down and sit in the library soon after that.
6th. "Skated morn and afternoon on the moors. Smythe and Richardson and Miss Wickam to lunch. Sang and played at the hospital to the patients. Musical evening at the Deanery."
8th. "Got up steam and sawed out the trellis work and rebates for the porch. Skated on the moors in the afternoon and also for a short time after dinner."
10th. "Skated on the moors morn and aft. Harry Freeling heard that his home had been broken into and left by an afternoon train. Cleared out the dining room and had a small dance about 12 couples - pleasant evening."
11th. "Put the furniture straight - gave the parlour maid notice - she being quite useless - found the cellar key was not forthcoming and had a row with Stratton (the waiter) about it; broke open the cellar - when I had done so the key was found in the pantry mislaid by Annie. Harry Freeling came back by the 9.15pm train. Heavy rain all day. Saw Mends about a young Frenchman who wants to find a home in England. Saw Rider's cottage wjich is to let."
He was skating most of the time for the next few days but found time to order some steam coal and some briquettes which he says are new patent fuel. The Freelings w ent home.
20th. "Worked at the porch morn. and afternoon. Took down the albocarbon burners & fitted up Peebles patent lights instead as the carbon was spoiling the paper & ceiling."
27th. "Drove with Floré to Col. Newdegates sale and bought 14 hens and a corner cupboard." The next day he took out the shelves and altered them and put a lock on the corner cupboard. He went for a stroll with Floré over the farm that Sunday.
On Feb 8th RFobert went with Floré to Brown's to get her a ball dress. They went to stay at Renfrew House, Southsea from the 11th - 15th. While there they went boating & to see the electric room, the docks and the Victory.
When they went back home they went to a dance, then Robert went shooting and bought a terrier dog from the Station Master at Chandlers Ford. He had two dogs now called Jack & Carlo. Several of his friends went with him to hear Tyrolese singers at the People's Entertainment, then Robert & Floré went to Itchin Abbas for the night and he sang and played at a concert there.
Floré started collecting Jubilee money on March 4th but was in bed with a bad cold next day. Robert was busy making napkin rings on the lathe and sawing up wood for plant frames, greenhouse staging, ladders for the roof, & a cupboard for the library.
10th. "Collected some Jubilee money for Floré, ill in bed with a bad cold, and took it to the Deanery where I lunched. Harper made the door and I made the moulding on the cupboard. Curtis (cook) left & was very impudent as she was leaving." On the 26th they all went to see the assembly in Chamber Court at the college in commemoration of the quincentenary of the founding of the college. Robert was trying to let (sub-let?) the house & Floré wrote to the Freelings to suggest they share housekeeping. They also enquired about a cottage to let.
April 1st. "Mended the secret drawer of my chest of drawers. Lunched at the Deanery and afterwards took measurements with Williams for a water supply to the Cathedral tower for use in case of fire."
2nd. "Saw Gugeon about the letting of the house, Woodridge about insurance & Frost about my Paceometer & the dining room clock. Got a bed for Louie's room at the Mercantile. Rifleman's aid meeting. Lunch at barracks. Went out in the town with Floré & Alice C."
4th. "Pulled down the partition in the woodshed & mended a fowls house in the yard with it - disconnected some of the pipes etc. from my engine. Am going to turn the woodshed and fowl house into a workshop, & the workshop into a day nursery." He spent two days dismantling and moving his workshop while Floré took the glasses out of the butterfly screen and reset the butterflies.
12th. "Rehearsal of the Redemption (Gounod) in the Cathedral, I saw Stopler about a new chandelier for my workshop and chose the paper for it."
25th. "Got some new globes for the dining room. Wrote to Stratton about a cottage for a coachman for the Lampens who think of taking the house. Got Froome to come and put the butterfly screen together. Got some blind cord and tassels and put up the day nursery blinds and Floré's bedroom ones. Had a very unlucky accident and broke a whole lot of glasses and plates and water jug - about 16 or 17 things in all - pushing a tray into the kitchen from the dining room." The next day he put a shelf in the kitchen to prevent similar accidents.
At the beginning of May Robert made two shields on which to mount his boars' tusks. He also made a paperweight of cocus, greenheart and boxwood, an ebony napkin ring, a fretwork bracket and a rustic table for the summer house. On the 5th Floré heard from her mother complaining that Louie's illness was caused by "the room that she used while with us - both of us wrote to her."
9th. "Reported myself at the barracks for duty with the Hants depot. Dined at the mess." He went there fairly often, on duty or on social engagements.
Unlucky 13th. "Jack killed a bantam hen and i had to pay 2/6 for it."
24th. "Queen's birthday parade & Feu-de-joie in barracks."
25th. "George (?) came to stay a day before going out to India. Got out some Indian clothing and a pair of riding boots for him." Then lou came to stay bringing Margaret (her little girl?).
June 3rd. "On duty - on court of enquiry. Fumigated the greenhouse & Floré shut me inside until I was half choked. Lou went to London leaving Mardie behind."
13th. "Very hot. We had a small afternoon party in the field behind the house where the people played rounders and shot at bottles with my pea rifle. Bathed in the college bathing place with Hewett who came to supper. Made a small hole in the greenhouse for a sliding door for the hose."
16th. "Took part in the Choral Festival & carried the banner for St. Lawrence. Drove with Floré and Vida to a cricket match at Twyford School. Very hot."
Robert packed up and went to Aldershot for the Queen's Jubilee Camp, but found he had fewer men than usual because of the Jubilee.
June 21st The Queen's Jubilee. "Drank the Queen's heath with 3x3 at mess. Some civilians and others set fire to the furze all round our camp and gave us a Jubilee benefit to put it out."
23rd. "Field day in the Long Valley before the foreighn celebrities. We were posted in a wood to represent the enemy & saw nothing in consequence - we only fired a good many rounds of blank in section volleys and then returned home. Saw one German officer said to be the Crown Prince."
24th. "Took the 12.24pm train with Thorne, lunched at my club (Conservative), saw the Royal Accademy, the Water Colours, & Harry Furnise' - dined at a restaurant in Leicester Square and went to the American Exhibition - pleasant day." (A killer I would have thought!)
28th. "Drill on the Queen's Parade morn. Musketry aft. Tennis at the club. Cab horse fell with us on the way to the club and broke his knees very badly. Very hot day & night. Signed and sent off the Walkers & Whitfield an account of Ted's property for the Inland Revenue."
July - Dec 1887
At the beginning of Robert was still at camp at Aldershot, they were very busy with early parade (7.30am), drill on Queen's Parade, kit inspection etc. On Sat. 2nd he took the 8.30pm train & spent the night at home. It was very hot weather and they had some sort of drill every day. Floré & Vida came over for the day and they went to the races, which were poor accoring to Robert.
6th. "Got up at 3.30am. Parade at 4.20am - field day in the Long Valley to rehearse for Saturday. Very seedy.
7th. "Parade at 7.15am for a very long field day in the Fox Hills in which we marched about 16 miles opposing the entry of Slade's force. We were entirely opposed to cavalry the whole time. Several of the 1st and 2nd Battn dined with us ."
8th, "Parade on Queen's Parade morn and kit inspection after lunch. Saw Queen Victoria arrive by the Farnborough Rd."
9th Sunday. "Parade at 8.25am and marched to the Long Valley where we received the Queen at 11am and then took part in the great march past of about 60,000 men. After the march past we lined the road and again saluted the Queen on the way to the pavillion. Saw Arthur Pritchard and Paul Bush with the British Rifles. Dined with the 2nd Battn."
There was a church parade on the Sunday, the next day "Parade 5am. for general's inspection in the Queen's Parade - kits and books after breakfast. Parade for inspection of rifles under Hartopp after lunch - called on the 1oth Huzzars & 5th Lancers - tea at Mrs. Lloyd's. N.B. She is enormous again."
Robert then had a night and a day at home where he found Charlie (Charlotte) staying, they picked the cherries. He called on Trevor who had been on the leopard hunt with him in India and asked him to write up an account of it. Camp broke up on the 16th and the next week Robert went to London and enquired at the India Office about the Hyderabad service. He later wrote to Col. Marshall, private secretary to the Nizam of Hyderabad.
20th. "Found the cause of the escape of gas in the dining room - a nail had run into the pipe."
21st. "Opened the dining room wall and began to mend the gas pipe but had to get Stopler's man to finish it. Lunch with Harman, Col. Morrah also lunches, he arrived late having been trying to put out a fire on the roof of the club which he had not succeeded in doing - the roof was burnt off."
On the 23rd they went with a party of friends to the Naval Review and illuminations getting home at 2am.
At the end of the month Robert & Floré sayed at The Oaks, Hanworth (Uncle N's house) so that Floré could visit all the exhibitions Robert had seen in June. They visited Harrow, then took the train for home "A woman in tears and gin in the carriage. Floré had rheumatism rather badly & I was not very well. Found a very kind note from Mother enclosing £50 & saying that we should not be sold up."
On August 3rd Robert & Floré went to hear Corny Grain for the fourth or fifth time.
8th. "Gave Spry notice on account of his coming so late in the morning."
9th. "I drew my own picture with a pantograph on a canvass for Miss Leach to paint."
10th. "Heard from Wazir to say that he had got into a row & been in prison for 10 months. Begain a letter to him."
They looked at a place called Wessex Cottage and 3 other houses. On the 17th Aug. Robert had a letter from his mother enclosing a cheque for £500.
20th, "Saw Scotney about paying off my mortgage on Shankhorn. Got Floré's teech mended. Ordered some coals. Saw Stopler about the stove pipe. Rifleman's aid meeting. Wrote to Col. Pem. about getting employment in the Colonial Army."
22nd. "Miss Leech came in the morn and brought my picture back & I drew another for her." (This must be the one we have, small oval head & shoulders only, & we have the photo too.)
29th. "Liversidge came to work in the garden & Froome's men on the gates. Saw Deane & Smith about Caine's engine and went to see the engine itself. Went up the Cathedral tower to see the tanks being put up by Williams." On the domestic side they picked the plums and acquired 2 pigs.
On Sept. 1st Robert went to London with the choir outing. He went to Horse Guards about Colonial Service and spent the rest of the day at the American Exhibition. The next day he made a mat with a needle bought at the exhibition and some designs with the polygraph. He went shooting a couple of times "Broke my gin stock by letting it fall in Hammond's shop."
7th. "Heard from Tatlow that there was to be a landlords' meeting in Cavan on Friday - took the 5,45pm train & caught the Irish Mail at Euston and crossed to Kingston." He stayed at 7 Belgrave Square, Monkstown & went for a row in the harbour with Bill Tatlow.
9th Friday. "Went with Tatlow up to Dublin by an early train and took the 9am from Broadstone - Fane, Vernon and Llewllyn Sanderson joined us there & Sam Sanderson at Leixlip. Got to Cavan about 12.30 & attended the meeting. Lord Lanesborough presided - good speech from Somerset Maxwell & Mr. O'Connor - the former and Sam Sanderson being elected delegates and Sankey Sec. and Treasurer. Lunched at the Farnham Arms - drove to Bingfield with Tatlow and saw the house - Tatlow went on to Cavan and I walked over to Lisnamandra where I spent the night."
10th Saturday. At The Lodge, Crosdoney (where was this?). "Went to Bingfield in the morn.Met Tatlow at the station and drove to Corduff, saw some of the tenants. Came on here to stay with Malcom Murray. Saw the account of a severe riot in Michelstown yesterday."
11th. "Morn service at Kilmore, lunch at Danesfort. Walked through Bingfield and saw May Bannan & Mrs. Fitzpatrick & had a long chat with them."
12th. "Borrowed Malcom's gun and dog and went over one of my old snipe beats - got 2 snipe only as the dog spoiled my sport. Called on the Archdeacon Pat Maguiness - Malcom called while I was there & we accepted an invitation to dine with him."
13th. "Malcom Murray and I ferreted in Bingfield. Lunch at Lisnamandra - went round Bingfield after. Heathcote sent me some photos of the 7th Battn, Heard from Col. Chapman 8th B.C.
14th, "Wrote to Floré, Heathcote, 'Japers', & for a game licence. Spent the day rummaging at Bingfield. Some of the Moore's servants arrived at Bingfield although the house is anything but ready for them. Mr & Mrs. Moore arrive tomorrow."
15th. Took the midday train for Cavan & travelled with Sam Sanderson & James Godley who asked me to stay at Drummichin. Drove with Tatlow to Shankorne & saw all the tenants - Bell & Elliot are both blind.
16th. "Took the 8.30am train for Cavan and drove with Tatlow to Omard where I saw Gibney and some other tenants, among them Sheriden who with Foster of Corduff and one other shares a legacy of £450. Drove on then to Ballyjamesduff where we took another car and went on to Murmod which we went over with Nugent the Bailiff, great distress among the tenants - one man made a great row about some arrangement said to have been made by my father in 1849. Tatlow dined and slept at the Lodge."
17th Saturday Castle Hamilton, Killashandra. "Wrote to Floré, Went to Bingfield after lunch and waited about till Moore came home - spoke about ¼ hour with him - he seems a very pleasant man. Telegraphed to Floré to send my gun. Willie and Claude Hamilton called for me at the Lodge and drove me over here - I am the first visitor since the death of the two Miss Hamiltons and Mrs. Hamilton."
18th. "Morning service at Killashandra church after a stroll round the lake. After lunch strolled to Gartanool and saw Killykeen and Cloughouter Castle."
19th. "Drove with Willie, Claude & Jamie to see some of their farms at Dunmany and other places - shot a few rabbits in Gartanool after lunch with Claude - pleasant row up up and down the river to out shoot. Wrote to 'Japers'."
20th. "Got up at 5.30am and drove with Claude to Ballyconnell & shot towards home - poor sport - 6 partridges and 6 snipe. Very hot in the middle of the day.
21st. "Shot with Claude over part of yesterday's beat - Claude was keen after the partridges & stuck to then while I followed the snipe & got a wetting for two couple and a teal. I also got 3 partridges - Claude got a snipe, a partidge and a rabbit. Very stiff after yesterday."
22nd. "Saw the Killashandra saw & flax mill - a man lost part of his hand later in the day - saw also the creamery and ghe Castle Hamilton gardens. Claude drove me over to Druminchin in time for dinner - Alfred and John Godley are athome."
23rd Friday Druminchin, Carrigallen. "Went shooting with Johnny Godley and got a fair bag of snipe. A telegram came in the evening from Featherstone - to know what day I was coming - I found afterwards that I had forgotten to say the day."
24th New Pass, Rathowen, Co. Westmeath. "Drove to Castle Hamilton & lunched there, along the line to Street and thengot a lift in a cart to Rathowen whence I walked on to New Pass - the Featherstones were at Mullingar so I drove to meet them at Street & came home with them. Sent 4 snipe and some magpie wings from Carrigallen to Floré.
While at New Pass he went shooting nearly every day. He met Cawfield of the Madras N.I., O'Brien late 60th Rifles, and heard from Col. Nevill from Hyderabad.
Into October, still at New Pass, he visited a Mr Wilson at Derramona and was shown the electrical apparatus, observatory and workshop. He left New Pass on the 11th and went to stay at Dunnavarra Lucan "the home of Archie & the two girls, & Uncle & Aunt" (who?).
12th. "Went to Dublin by steam train, saw a march past in Phoenix Park or Artillery, 4th D.G.s & 16th Lancers, Guards, Highlanders etc. Met Col. Duncan our old garrison instructor in 1875. Lunch at Hynes in Dame St, called on Fane Vernon and found him in and French and both of their wives at home. Back by 5.30pm train."
The next day he met Tatlow and his partner Tissington at their office in Dublin and later lunched at Tissington's home out Terenure way. He left for England next day, crossing North Wall - Holyhead & had a very roungh passage. He went straight on through London to Winchester & found Floré very seriously ill in bed with severe pain at night.
21st. "Saw Dean & Smith and came to terms with them about my steam engine - £20 for their engine & they are to allow me £10 for mine. Took Vida out for a magic lantern performance at the Ogles in the even." Robert was again getting bad back pains (none mentioned all the while in Ireland) so he and Floré were quite a pair.
26th. "Dean & Smith's people came and took away my old boiler and engine & brought the new boiler and fitted up a brick platform for it to stand on. Richards telegraphed and I wrote to Thistlton about the battery for Floré; she had some severe pain at night, so I saw Ruichards and hired an induction coil which, however, we found no use." The battery came next day but after putting it together and finding it to work well a flaw was discovered in one of the battery cells.
30th. "Saw the gas engine at work during evening service at St. Lawrence - the electric battery did no good."
All that week the men were fitting up the new boiler while Robert started on the shed and chimney for it. Poor Floré was taken much worse & they sent for Dr, Richards who was able to reassure them a little, but the next week she was so bad that both mothers came to stay and they called in another Dr., Gower, who came in on the n17th. "Gower exmined Floré and then had a consultation with Richards - he says she is only suffering from Rheumatic Neuralgia - his hurry to get away and his whole manner were most unsatisfactory to all of us."
Robert had a new grate put in Floré's room (she was moved into the nursery while the work was done) and turned a small vase for his mother before she returned home. He then started on a music stool for her and mended the nursery bed - "my old barrack room one. Nurse Stonham came to take charge of Floré."
28th. "Floré rather better. Got up early and pulled down the partition forming the pigeon house in my workshop. Dean & Smith brought my governor & I fitted a larger pulley & then got out the pattern for the levers - put the pressure gauge on and undid the the steam pipe to make room for the throttle valve."
30th. "Nurse Stonham left & Nurse Grigg came to take her place. Mrs. Bush did not like the former & so for the sake of peace I agreed to change. Floré rather better.
On December 1st Robert & the men got the engine and boiler all together and found it working fairly well.
3rd. Sat. "Our cook, who only came on Tuesday went off while we were at prayers saying that she could not stand the place - was ill etc."
7th. "Took train at 10.15am for Portsmouth and spent the day with the Coulthursts. Home in time for a late dinner. Fearful row with Mrs. Bush afterwards. Floré much worse. Had scarcely any sleep."
Dec 9th. Friday. "Floré still about the same - another awful row with Mrs. Bush - Floré sent for me and asked me when she was going and and requested for me not to send for her again unless she (Floré) was absolutely dying. I asked her to put that on paper."
10th. "Breakfast with the Freelings & lunched at the barracks after the Rifleman's aid meeting in order to avoid Mrs. Bush - she went away by the 5pm train having missed the earlier one."
Robert's solace in these troubled days was his engine. He got up steam and cut up sleepers, the frame for a fire-screen & more parts of the music stool, some garden frames, the boring for the tooth ornament of the ridge and a small easel for Vida.
20th. "Took Jack for a run over the Downs and called for Brooking who was out - his dog Judy bit my behind while I was ringing the bell!"
Robert did Xmas shopping for family gifts and bought clocks for Barney and Mrs. Bannon. Xmas day was as quiet as usual enlivened by Holy Communion in Floré's room at 2.30pm. On Boxing Day Robert was back in his workshop turning an airgun target, 3 table legs and a boss and legs for another table. He also finished a tufted wool mat. The hen house was broken open one afternoon and 3 hens stolen (someone's late Xmas dinner?). The weather turned frosty.
27th. "Saw Goodall & Crates foreman & Etheridge about flooding the moors - began to dam the dykes and let in the water after lunch and stopped it at midnight. Hard frost. Mrs. Bush came to see Floré having put up the night before at Mrs. Joyce - Floré much better."
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