Mrs. Grace Jessie Saxton née St.John —

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In addition, although her birth was apparently not registered, a daughter, Grace Jessie, was born in Islington, probably Sep 9, 1862, to Mary Jane Taylor, who was enumerated with Vane in the 1861 census, as lodgers, at 35, Scylla Street, Clerkenwell, Both are aged 22. Eliza Catherine, Vane’s legal wife, was in Tottenhm Court. Pancras, with Vane jnr.aged 3, and Violet, aged 1. Grace first appears, aged 9, as Grace Jessie St John, stepdaughter, in the census of 1871, in the household of Charles Joseph Chalk, who Mary Jane had married in the interim. Charles Chalk later emigrated to America, changing his name to Harrison, and it is to Rex Harrison, his great grandson, now in Australia, that I am indebted for much of this information. In 1885, Grace Jessie married Thomas Saxton, recording the name of her father as Shaftesbury St John, gentleman. They had one son, Douglas St John Saxton. Thomas Saxton was a civil engineer, and he and Grace travelled all over the world. Photographs of Grace in her house at Stamford Hill, and cycling in Australia, give an impression of comfortable prosperity. Grace died in November 1936, aged 73: Thomas Saxton survived until Jan 1951, aged 87. This brings the grand total to 26 children, though at least six died as infants.

Grace Jessie St John first shows as a step-daughter, aged 9, in the Chalk family, in the 1871 census. She stayed in England, and married Thomas Richard Saxton, in May 1885, recording the name of her father as Shaftesbury St John, Gent. Thomas Saxton was a Civil Engineer, who travelled all over the world. Photographs of Jessie in her home in Stamford Hill.,London and cycling in Australia, give an impression of comfortable prosperity. Grace Jessie died in Nov, 1936, aged 73, whilst Thomas Saxton survived until Jan 1951, aged 87.

A baptismal certificate has been found of Grace Jessie St John,Feb 9. 1863, dau of Mary Jane and Vane St John, Feb 9, 1863, West Hackney. Grace died, aged 73, Nov 11.1935, at 43. East Bank, Hackney.