I know I am pushing the boundaries here and going outside the Forest - but today administration extends in that direction!

I am wondering if anyone knows why this gent came to Corse - I do not think there was a Doctor before him. I assume he was young for he had children, yet not many years later he appears to have passed away. Was there a family connection to this area, did he marry somebody local, was he politically sympathetic to the poor in this area, or religiously as a Non Conformist?

One son was killed fighting with the RFC, another was in Australia. I assume the family left Corse after the demise of the Doctor. Which raises another thought - would the Executors sell a MD Practice as a business proposition to a new Doctor?

The next Doctor was Mr Johnstone. I picture this gent as a pillar of the Establishment, but have nothing documentary to base this decision upon.

Many thanks to one and all.

There are trees on Ancestry

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CLDs - marriage in Cork Ireland (July-September 1884) to Frederica ABRAHALL **

(There is a burial at Corse 21 Jan 1898 of Catherine Bridget ABRAHALL - aged 77 - residence Cheltenham)

1891 Census, Cheltenham

Catherine B ABRAHALL - 71 Widow born Ireland
Louisa Agnes ABRAHALL - stepdaughter - 47 - born Ireland
Dora Georgina ABRAHALL - daughter - 20 - born Ireland

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CLDS - Probate

Charles St Stephen Richard NASON - 10 January 1906 - late of 113 High Street, Hastings, Sussex - died 30 October 1905
Probate London 30 November 1905 to Frederica NASON the widow - re-scaled at Dublin - Effects in Ireland £5,301 7s 5d.

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The London Gazette - 7 November 1884

Notice is hereby given, that the Partnership heretofore existing between us the undersigned Richard Allanson GASKETT and Charles St Stephen Richard NASON, carrying on the profession or business of Surgeons and Physicians, at Saint Helens, in the County of Lancashire, under the style or firm of Gaskell and Nason, has this day been dissolved by mutual consent. All debts due to and owing by the late firm will be received and paid by the said Richard Allanson Gaskell, who will henceforth carryon on this business on his own account . Date this 1st day of November, 1884

Richd. A GASKELL
C. St S. R. NASON

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1891 Census, Corse Newent

NASON

Charles St Sta R - 36 - born Cork, Rathcormac
Frederica - 40 - born Cork, Mallow
William F.O. son - 5 - born Glos
John W W - son - 1 - born Glos
Caroline HADLEY - servant - 27 - born London **
Amelia E WEBB - 16 - born Harnhill, Staff
William T SMITH - servant - 22 - born Glos

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**

On the FOD reecords, when Caroline HADLEY married Charles RICHINGS at Staunton Nr Newent - in 1896 - Charles NASON was a witness

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Had a quick look at Corse records

Baptism at Corse - 23 July 1899

Joseph COOKSON
parents: Charles David (Medical practitioner) and Elizabeth Jane

however - there is also a baptism at Corse - 7 November 1897

John : Charles David COOKSON the father - was a Carpenter

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Baptism 24 June 1900

Conagh Geraldine JOHNSTONE

father: J E St George

mother: Geraldine

residence: The Grange Corse

occupation: Medical practitioner

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a baptism of a child of the same couple 23 April 1899 - gives the father's occupation as a farm labourer, but on the 13 June 1906, John Eccles St George jOHNSTONE was a bachelor of medicane.

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2 May 1886 - at Corse baptism of William Frederick Charles MASON

Father: Charles Joseph Richard (Medical practioner MD)
Mother: Frederica
residence: Corse

1 September 1889 - baptism of John William Washington MASON
father: Charles St Stephen Richard - (Medical doctor MD of Dublin)
residence: Corse

14 June 1896 - baptism of Kathleen Maud MASON
Father: Charles St Stephen Richard
residence: Corse
occupation: Medical doctor md of Dublin

burial at Corse - 3 November 1905

Charles St Stephen Richard NASON
residence: Hastings
aged 50

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British Newspapers on line carrying a few articles on Dr Nason

including a Supper at Corse - 19 November 1897 when Dr Nason was presented (with and inscription) etc etc

Genesreunited newspaper articles lists the chief mourners at his funeral inc his sister in law Mrs Baxter.

Gloucestershirebdm : Marriage at Cheltenham St Mary - 1888

Geraldine ABRAHALL married George Savage Martin BAXTER

This entry shows the family left Corse c.1898 and that they arrived there c.1886.

BNA Gloucester Journal - Saturday 02 February 1935

FUNERAL OF MRS. NASON

Mrs. Frederica Nason, widow of Mr. C. St. S. R. Nason, who was formerly doctor at Corse Grange, has died at 23, Grosvenor Crescent, St. Leonards-on-Sea, during the past week. Mr. and Mrs. Nason were widely known and highly respected in Corse and district, where they lived for about 12 years. They left Corse about 37 years ago and took up residence at Hastings. Mr. Nason, who died some 30 years ago, was buried in Corse churchyard, and his wife was interred in the same grave on Saturday. The Rev. J. Beckley (vicar) conducted the service at Corse Church, and also officiated at the graveside. The principal mourners included Captain and Mrs. Taylor (son and daughter-in-law), Mr. W. F. C. Nason (son), Dr, Brodrib. and Nurse D. Gillespy, and among the general congregation were Mr. Hull and Mr. Hayes, Staunton.

I assume Dr JOHNSTONE was Dr J. St.George JOHNSTONE who must have taken over the practice when the NASONs left, c.1897.

BNA Gloucester Journal - Saturday 25 September 1937

SOCIETY WEDDING AT ASHLEWORTH
CORSE DOCTOR S DUTCH BRIDE

On Saturday afternoon the wedding was solemnised at Ashleworth Parish Church of Dr. Maxwell Maughan (“Peter”) St. George Johnstone, elder son of Dr. J. St. George Johnstone, of Corse Grange, Corse, and Miss Geertruida de Jong, only daughter of Mr. Jan de Jong, of Sliedrecht. Holland. Parishioners of Eldersfield, Staunton. Corse. Ashleworth and Hartpury assembled at the church. The church, which was tastefully decorated by Mrs. Desmond Johnstone, with the assistance of the gardeners from Hasfield Court, was filled. For over 40 years the bridegroom’s father had been a doctor in the district. Among the wedding gifts were presentations from the parishes of Corse, Staunton and Ashleworth.

He probably was a pillar of the establishment – he certainly appeared to be popular-

BNA Gloucester Citizen - Monday 08 August 1910

Corse.
A POPULAR DOCTOR.

The return home of Dr. Johnstone on Friday evening after a dangerous illness in Ireland, where he had gone for a holiday, was signalised by a large number of the inhabitants of Corse and district giving him a hearty welcome. The carriage containing the doctor and his wife and brother was met some way along the road, the horse was taken out and a rope was substituted, which was soon manned by willing hands and, headed by the Staunton Brass Band playing a rousing march, the journey was continued home. At the drive gate a triumphal arch had been erected, and another was passed farther up the drive, both which were decorated with evergreen and bore appropriate mottoes. On arriving at the main entrance the doctor was greeted with hearty cheers, and the band then played “Home, Sweet Home,” after which, in a short speech, he feelingly thanked all those who had given him such a kind reception, which he would never forget. He invited them all, to take some refreshment, and his health drunk with enthusiasm. The arrangements were in the hands of Mr. Lemuel Salisbury, who was assisted by a willing band of helpers.

From this sites Inquest database Dr Nason attended 8 inquests between 1888 and 1897

Dr Johnstone attended 44 inquests between 1897 & 1936, they both received a guinea for their work until 1926 when Dr Johnstone started getting £1 11sh 6d.

Thank you MP, Mike and dink for these pearls of wisdom.

There is a lot for me to ponder over, this will take a little time and everything does not seem clear cut. To give a couple of random observations, why would a successful(?) practitioner leave Lancashire to start again in an obscure rural practice? There was poverty here so the chances of earning a good living must have been remote. Money from Inquests may have been a little more plentiful but some of these poor folks were also switched on financially and had health cover. Hence I suspect the fees payable to the Doctor are at reduced rates pre-agreed with the Society.

Doctor Nason died but of what I wonder? Either he was less popular than Doctor Johnstone or he was less successful at self publicity in the local newspapers. Again I wonder which?

Doctor Johnstone's influence extended to Newent, for here another Johnstone was the Doctor. I do not know who came first. Has anybody any ideas here?

In my previous reply: Dr Nason's wife: Frederica (nee ABRAHALL) whom he married in Cork July/Sept 1884....

Her sister Geraldine married in Cheltenham 1888 and her mother Catherine Bridget NASON and sisters are on the 1891 census in Cheltenham.

On the Church of Latter Day Saints

Frederick ABRAHALL married Catherine Bridge HAINES - 3 April 1848 Ballclogh Parish, Cork Ireland - followed by a Civil Marriage 3 August 1848.

again on the Church of Latter Day Saints is the Probate Record for Frederick ABRAHALL - 23 November 1883 - just before his daughter Frederica married...

Frederick ABRAHALL £4,074 13s 11d. (is this English or Irish currency?)

The Will (with one Codicil) of Frederick ABRAHALL Esquire formerly Manager of the Provisional Bank at Mallow deceased who died 24 October 1883 at Castleview was proved at Cork by Catherine Bridget ABRAHALL of same place (Queenstown) Widow and the Reverend Thomas HAINES of Hollywood County Down etc etc..

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It would seem the NASON's came over and brought the ABRAHALL's with them -

Measuringworth

http://www.measuringworth.com/ukcompare/

I think the doctor in Newent was William Montague Lucas JOHNSTONE.

GR 1911 Census, Corse Grange, Staunton, Glos.

John Eccles St George Johnstone, Head, Married, 37, Medical Practitioner, b. Bawntry Ho. Co. Cavan
Geraldine Isabel Mary Johnstone, Wife, Married, 37, Londonderry, Ireland
Maxwell Maughan Johnstone, Son, 4, Corse Grange, Gloucestershire
Rupert Deomond Charles Johnstone, Son, 3, Corse Grange, Gloucestershire
Eacie Ann McCay , mother-in-law, widow, 79, Londonderry, Ireland
William Montague Lucas Johnstone, brother, single, 34, Medical Practitioner, Bawntry Ho. Co. Cavan
Evalyne Clara Macassey, Visitor, Single,24, Stanley Ho. Holywood, Co. Down
Laura Groves, Servant, Single, 21, Berrow, Worcs.
Louisa Hill, Servant, Single, 18, Clifton, Bristol

13 years the marriage, 4 children, 4 alive.
[Eacie McCay – 3 children, 1 living, 2 died]
21 rooms in the house.

From Ancestry:-

Name: William M L Johnstone
Birth Date: abt 1876
Date of Registration: Dec 1962
Age at Death: 86
Registration district: Gloucester Rural
Inferred County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 7b
Page: 517

There are many mentions of Dr W.M.L. JOHNSTONE of Newent in the BNA. The reason I take an interest is that I remember visiting his surgery at The Holts, Watery Lane, in Newent as a very young child (although the reason escapes me now). I can still picture the large house and the kindly old man who was the doctor.

His house, The Holts, was demolished soon after his death to make way for a health centre, police station and library. Its location can be seen on this 1921 revision,

http://maps.nls.uk/view/102342743

It’s just to the east of the word NEWENT.

Nothing new perhaps here, but the Staunton surgery website mentions "Pop" Johnstone, presumably meaning "father" aka John Eccles Johnstone who'd have been in his 60s by the 1930s.
"There has been a medical practice in Staunton since the 1870s. Many of our patients Still remember old "Pop" Johnstone doing his rounds on a pony and trap in the 1930s and the old surgery at Corse Grange. In the 1950s the practice moved across the road to Ballydugan and was run from Dr Bill Wilson's garage!"

http://www.stauntonsurgery.co.uk/practice.html

John Eccles S Johnstone died in Lichfield Staffs abt March 1958, aged 84, so born abt 1874 as per earlier post. Ancestry appears to have his Will.

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Dr William Johnstone is mentioned in this Record at Glos Archives, I wonder if this is when he retired from the Practice so left it in the hands of others ?
"Partnership agreement between Dr William Johnstone, Dr Kenneth Tomlinson and Dr Robinson (all of Newent), 1950."

FindingRef D4277/11
Title Miscellaneous papers mainly relating to Newent community activities
Date 1820-1984
http://ww3.gloucestershire.gov.uk/DServe/dserve.exe?dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archiv...

During the Great War he was Gazetted by the Factory Department of the Home Office
"The Chief Inspector of Factories has appointed Dr. W. M. L. Johnstone to be Certifying Surgeon under the Factory and Workshop Acts for the Newent District of the county of Gloucestershire."

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29086/page/2092/data.pdf

From the report of his funeral it seems he died quite suddenly from pneumonia:-

Gloucester Journal - Saturday 11 November 1905

THE LATE DR. NASON. FUNERAL AT CORSE.

The sad news of the death of Dr. Nason, of Hastings, (formerly of Corse Grange), came as a great shook to the neighbourhood of Corse, where the deceased gentleman had a practice for many years, and was held in very great respect both by rich and poor. An Irishman by birth, Dr. Nason was of a very open-hearted, generous disposition, ever ready to subscribe to anything for the welfare of the neighbourhood in which he lived. The deceased was about attending to his practice on October 25th, and be died of pneumonia on the 30th. He leaves a widow, two sons, and one daughter. The funeral took place at Corse on Friday amidst every manifestation of respect. The chief mourners were Masters Charles Nason and Jack Nason (sons). Mrs. Baxter (sister-in-law), and Miss Daniels…………………………………………………………

This suggests Doctor Nason had a greater affinity for Corse than he did for his new location. Perhaps he was made an offer he could not refuse and left the practice in Corse, but my humble opinion is rural Doctors were in communities for the long term. I wonder if there are any clues regarding his reason to move to the coast?

Hi H, I see Dr Nason had left Corse for Hastings by abt 1898, ref his wife's funeral report. He was only aged abt 50 when he died, from pneumonia. Considering this was on the mild, dry, southcoast, I wonder if he had an underlying health condition ?

That said, I was surprised to find one of my family lines, who I'd only associated with the Forest, also had long family links with West Sussex, with Chalcrafts born in Longhope c1860 resident in Sussex by 1911, albeit leaving some of their kin still in Longhope; hence my Forester Uncle's parents were married in Sussex. I'm unsure why this was, maybe the areas were linked in other ways too, perhaps work/trade, and this may have somehow rubbed-off on the good Doctor ?. Certainly Longhope was seen an attractive area for well-to-do people to retire to, particularly ex-services, and I'm sure Newent would have been equally attractive, so creating links elsewhere ?.

However, in this case it seems likely that Dr Nason saw Hastings as a wise move for both career and health reasons, plus a view towards his own retirement ?. Hastings was one of the earliest of all the South Coast resorts to become popular as a destination for those seeking the heath benefits of bathing etc, so by late Victorian times it was perhaps at it's prosperous peak with plenty of well-heeled older residents & recovering invalids hence a high demand for respectable, mature, experienced Doctors; especially if Dr Nason himself might be looking to benefit from the clean air and mild climate.

"HASTINGS is a large borough, market town, bathing-place, and railway station on the seacoast... The old town of Hastings is situated in a valley between two high hills, and the new part runs along the sea-shore, at the base of a range of steep hills, which protect it in a considerable degree from the north and north-east winds: during the winter as well as in the summer, it is a place of great resort for invalids, and is much frequented by visitors for sea bathing and the beauty of its scenery."
Kelly's Post Office Directory of Essex, Herts, Middlesex, Kent, Surrey and Sussex, 1867.
http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SSX/Hastings/

"Hastings.. became a popular spot for 'taking the waters' (therapeutic bathing in the sea) in the 1760s, and then, with the coming of the railway, a seaside resort.....the population grew significantly as a result of the construction of railway links and the fashionable growth of seaside holidays during the Victorian era. In 1801, its population was a mere 3,175; by 1831, it had reached over ten thousand; by 1891, it was almost sixty thousand, and the 2001 census reported over 85,000 inhabitants."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hastings

The Sussex report of his death gives a few details of his training and also shows he did not go directly to Hastings but was at Kingstown, Ireland, for at least a short while. The presentation on his leaving Corse in November 1897 also indicates he was going to Ireland.

BNA Hastings and St Leonards Observer - Saturday 04 November 1905

DEATH OF DR. NASON.
LOSS TO THE OLD TOWN.

We regret to announce the death of Dr Charles St. Stephen Richard Nason, of High street, Hastings, which occurred on Monday afternoon from bronchitis and pneumonia. Dr. Nason, who was 50 years of age, had been ill only few days. He was a native of County Cork, and possessed the characteristic Irish geniality of temperament. His sudden loss is much regretted. He had practised about six years in Hastings; first at Collier-road, West Hill, and afterwards at High-street. He became M.B. in 1882, M.A. (Dublin) and M.D. in 1883, and was a Master of Surgery. After taking his degrees he went to St. Helen's, and subsequently practised at Corse, Gloucestershire, for long time. Later he went to Kingstown, near Dublin, and afterwards came from Ireland to Hastings. Dr. Nason leaves a widow, two sons, and one daughter. One the sons, Mr. J. W. Nason, is a most promising amateur cricketer, who headed the Hastings Rovers’ batting averages last, season. The funeral was arranged to take place yesterday (Friday) at Corse, Gloucestershire.

Hastings and St Leonards Observer - Saturday 09 December 1905

THE LATE DR. NASON.—The will of the late Dr. Chas. St. Stephen Roland [sic] Nason, M.D., High-street, Hastings, been proved. The total value of the estate was sworn at £8,947.

Following on from Geraldine BAXTER's (sister-in-law) - husband George Savage Martin BAXTER - son of Francis Hastings Baxter ** of Ivy Lodge, Cheltenham.

Googling: it would appear there are war records for George (Registrar General of Shipping & Seaman) who was aged 42 in 1915 (born 1858) - his occupation was a SURGEON. born Brighton. May be he found another position for his brother-in-law nearer the coast.

Also

Find a Grave

Francis Hastings Baxter (at the baptism of his daughter Anne, he was noted as an Assistant Surgeon in the 54th regiment)

' It would appear that the Baxter family were living in Dublin in the years 1853 and 1883 ( NASON was here in 1883 as a Master of Surgery)

His death was registered in Cheltenham, in the quarter ended March 1888'

? seems a link here somewhere

Church of Latter Day Saints

George Savage Martin Baxter christened at Horfield, Glos. 9 June 1864, parents : Francis, and (Margaret Anne who on census returns was born in England)

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**

Church of Latter Day Saints

Probate - 19 June 1888

BAXTER Francis Hastings : Effects in Ireland: £5,356 14s 6d.

late of Ivy Lodge Cheltenham, County Gloucester md
Died 19 March 1888
Adminstration granted at Gloucester 24 April 1888
Resealed at Principal Registry DUBLIN

(more info on the net re: Francis Hastings BAXTER inc photograph)