Eva Maria (Müller) McLaren (1852 - 1921)

Born 1852 in Valparaíso, Chile

Wife of Walter Stowe Bright McLaren — married 1883 in St George Hanover Square Registration, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom

Died 16 Aug 1921 at about age 69 in Great Comp, Kent, England, United Kingdom

Biography

Eva (Müller) McLaren was a part of the Suffragette Movement.

Eva was Treasurer of the Women's Liberal Federation from its inception in 1887, a member of the Lambeth (London) Board of Guardians and a prominent Suffragist^[1]. She was appointed on one of the first Suffragist Committees in Manchester and was a member of the British Women's Temperance Association. During the First World War she worked in a field hospital in France until the spring of 1915.

An obituary described her as possessing "a personality of rare charm, an ardent Liberal, a woman suffragist and a supporter of many unpopular causes, she was always a worker and speaker of outstanding ability and a valiant fighter for a cause or a principle"^[2]. She is commemorated on the Millicent Fawcett statue in Parliament square.

Eva was born in 1852 in Valparaiso, Chile. She was the daughter of William Müller and Maria Burdon.

The family emigrated to England sometime before 1861 when they were living at 6 The Lawn, St Mary Magdalen, Hastings, Sussex^[3].

Maria Muller, head, mar, 39, ? Mines S America, born in Chile South America

Wilhelmina Muller, dau, 16, scholar, born in Chile South America

Henrietta Muller, dau, 14, scholar, born in Chile South America

William Muller, son, 11, scholar, born in Chile South America

Eveline M Muller, dau, 8, born in Chile South America

Fanny E Burdon, cousin, unm, 47, governess, born in Henley in Arden, Warwickshire

Also 3 servants

In 1871 Eva was a student at the Ladies School at Mayfield, High Street, Edmonton, Middlesex^[4].

By 1881 the family were living at 86 Portland Place, St Marylebone, Middlesex^[5].

William Muller, head, mar, 73, retired merchant, born in Bremen (B Subject)

Maria Muller, wife, mar, 60, born in Valparaiso

Henrietta F Muller, dau, unm, 35, born in Valparaiso

Eva Muller, dau, unm, 28, born in Valparaiso

Also 8 servants

In 1883 she married Walter Stowe Bright McLaren in the Registration District of St George Hanover Square, Middlesex^[6].

In 1891 Eva McLaren, married, aged 38 and born in Valparaiso, Chile, was staying with friends Robert and Anna Biggott at Crossfield, Congleton Road, Sandbach, Cheshire^[7].

In 1901 Eva and her husband were living at 56 Ashley Gardens, Westminster, London^[8]

Eva McLaren, head, mar, 48, born in Chile (British Subj)

Walter McLaren, husband, mar, 48, born in Edinburgh, Scotland

Mary C McLaren, dau, single, 35, born in London

Also 3 servants

The couple had moved to Great Comp Cottage, Borough Green, Kent by 1911^[9].

Walter Stowe Bright McLaren, head, 57, married, director of Iron and Coal Companies, born in Edinburgh

Eva Maria McLaren, wife, 58, married 27 years with no children born to the marriage, born in Valparaiso, Chile

Mary Campbell McLaren, adopted daughter, 45, single, at home, born in London

Also 2 servants

By 1921 Eva was a widow and was still living in Great Comp^[10].

Eva McLaren, head, 68yr 3mth, widow, born in Valparaiso, Chile, home duties

Mary McLaren, daughter, 55yr 8mth, single, born in Denmark Hill, home duties

Ina Clarke, friend, 35yr 1mth, single, born in Glenageary, Co Dublin, physician

Also 2 servants

Eva died in Great Comp on 16th August 1921^[11]. Probate was granted later that year to Florence Mary Campbell McLaren and Cecil Gradwell and her effects were valued at £48,329 4s^[12].

Research Notes

She may have been Eveline or Eva when born/baptised but the records are not available online to confirm which.

Sources

1. ↑ East Kent Gazette, Sittingbourne, Kent, 12th November 1921 Link to newspaper image on Findmypast.co.uk
2. ↑ Kent Messenger and Gravesend Telegraph, Maidstone, Kent, 27th August 1921 Link to Newspaper article on Findmypast.co.uk
3. ↑ Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), ED 08 Class: Rg 9; Piece: 561; Folio: 104; Page: 59; GSU roll: 542662 Sharing Link to census image on Ancestry
4. ↑ Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), ED 11 Class: RG10; Piece: 1342; Folio: 72; Page: 7; GSU roll: 828284 Sharing Link to census image on Ancestry
5. ↑ Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), ED 14 Class: RG11; Piece: 137; Folio: 11; Page: 13; GSU roll: 1341031 Sharing Link to census image on Ancestry
6. ↑ Register of Marriages, General Register Office of England and Wales, GRO Reference: 1883 J Quarter in St George Hanover Square Volume 1A Page 789 https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/search.pl
7. ↑ Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO) ED 15 Class: RG12; Piece: 2848; Folio: 114; Page: 52; GSU roll: 6097958 Sharing Link to Census image on Ancestry
8. ↑ Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives ED 30 Class: RG13; Piece: 95; Folio: 121; Page: 11 Sharing Link to census image on Ancestry
9. ↑ Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA) Series RG14, ED 03 Schedule Number 109 Sharing Link to census image on Ancestry
10. ↑ 1921 Census of England and Wales, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey, RG15 RD 48 RS 2 ED 3, 4 Piece Number 04124 Schedule Number 263 Link to census image on Findmypast.co.uk
11. ↑ Register of Deaths, General Register Office of England and Wales, GRO Reference: 1921 S Quarter in Malling Volume 02A Page 767 Age at Death: 68 https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/indexes_search.asp
12. ↑ Principal Probate Registry; London, England; Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England Year 1921 Sharing Link to Probate Register image on Ancestry

See also Wikipedia:Eva_McLaren