Gervase Wickham Legg    (30 April 1874 – 11 Oct. 1903)

Gervase was born at 7 Langhorne Gardens, Folkestone in 1874 to the Rev. William Legg and Mary Jane nee Whitehead. He was baptised at SS Mary & Eanswith, Folkestone in May, 1874, shortly after his mother’s death.

In 1881 he was with his maternal grandparents, Richard Whitehead and Jane nee Nelson at Ewell, West Farleigh, Kent. In 1891, he was visiting the Griffin family in Leyland Road, Lee, Lewisham. By 1901, he was a Solicitor on own account. On that Census he is given as a Guest with the Marchant sisters from Maidstone, Kent, living in Clitheroe Road, Lewisham.

At the time of his death at St John’s Vicarage, his residence was 98 Elgin Crescent, Notting Hill, London.

His family:

Reverend William Legg   (  18 Feb. 1831  -  31 Jan 1923)   was born in Alverstoke, Hampshire and studied at Magdalen Hall, Oxford (refounded as Hertford College in 1874). He became the Rector of Hawkinge, Kent. He married Mary Jane Whitehead on 27^th May, 1866 in West Farleigh, Kent. Her father, Richard, was a Farmer and landowner at Ewell Manor, West Farleigh. Her mother was Jane Nelson and her family lived around Rotherhithe, Fulham and Deptford being involved in ships chandlery.

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William and Mary Jane had five children including Gervase –

Richard Wickham (1867-1952) was born in West Farleigh and studied at New College, Oxford.  He was a curate at Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire in 1892 and lecturer and chaplain at Cuddesdon, Oxford in 1895. He was vicar of St John’s Church, Newbury from 1900-12. He became vicar of St Mary the Virgin Church in Reading in 1914 and was Archdeacon of Berkshire 1922-42. He died at the Methuen Nursing Home, Twyford, Berkshire in 1952.

William Wickham (1868-1947) was born in West Farleigh and graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge. He was Called to the Bar, Inner Temple in 1893. His residence in 1902 was 2 New Square, Lincoln’s Inn and in 1930, Charlwood Street, City of Westminster. At the time of his death at the Holloway Sanitorium, Virginia Water in 1947, his address was Lyndhurst Lodge, Wokingham, Berkshire.

George Edward Wickham (1870-1927) was born in West Farleigh, Kent and entered Trinity College, Cambridge in 1887. He was a Gentleman Cadet at Sandhurst Military College in 1891 and served with South Staffordshire and West Kent regiments. He received honours including Knight of Grace of the Order of St John of Jerusalem 1899, M.V.O. 1902, Chevalier Legion of Honour 1919 and M.B.E. in 1920. He married Kathleen Octavia Gildea in Kensington on 22^nd July, 1895. Her parents were Sir James Gildea of Kilmaine, Co. Mayo, Ireland and Rachel Caroline Barclay. Sir James Gildea founded the Soldiers & Sailors Families Association in 1885, which was extended to include Airmen in 1919 (SSAFA). Kathleen was honorary secretary and George held this role, too, for over 30 years. They lived in London, including Abingdon Villas and Pembroke Gardens, his residence at time of death. Their son, George Patrick Wickham was born in 1899.  He became publicity and advertising manager for Bush Radio Ltd. He died in 1985.

Ellen Althea (1872-1947) was born in Hawkinge, Kent where her father was Rector. She was visiting in London with him in 1891 when they were at the Grosvenor Hotel, Buckingham Palace Road. She was at St John’s vicarage, Newbury 1901 to 1911. In 1939, she was at the Vicarage, Wokingham and in her later years at Lyndhurst Lodge, Murdoch Road, Wokingham; although, she died at 16 Bath Road, Reading, Berkshire.           

note: it is possible that the Wickham part of their name came from Gervase’s 2^nd great-grandparents - Isaac Legg marrying Martha Wickham.

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Obituary for Gervase from the Newbury Weekly News

The death of Mr. Gervase Arthur Wickham Legg, brother of the Vicar of St John the Evangelist has caused the most sincere sorrow in the parish. The deceased, a most promising young fellow of 29, was studying in London for the legal profession, and frequently spent the week-end at the Vicarage, which he regarded as his home. Some three weeks ago he complained of not feeling well, and he continued to get worse until typhoid fever developed itself strongly. The crisis was reached on Sunday, the 4^th, the day of the harvest festival, and St. John's bells were not rung for the services or throughout the week The most skilful medical and nursing skill was called in, but there was a relapse on Wednesday, and pleurisy setting in, death occurred early on Sunday morning. The funeral took place on Monday afternoon, and was of the most simple, yet impressive character. A large number of parishioners assembled in St John's Church for the first part of the service. The body, enclosed in an oak coffin, covered with beautiful flowers, was wheeled upon a bier from the Vicarage to the Church, and at the entrance was met by the Revs. F.E. Overton and A.N. Acheson, attended by cross bearer and two choristers. The service was solemnly read by Mr. Acheson, and then the body was conveyed to the Cemetery, followed by the mourners and the greater number of the congregation. The interment was conducted by Mr. Overton. The mourners were the Rev. William Legg (father|), Miss Wickham Legg (sister), Rev. R. Wickham Legg, Mr. W. Wickham Legg, and Captain G.E. Wickham Legg, Dr. Douglas, the household servants and the nurses.

Author: Sandra Copas
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