Nat Gould

Fanny Jane Gould 1836-1913

Fanny Jane Gould was born in 1836 at Baldock in Hertfordshire, the daughter of The Reverend William Gould and his wife nee Elizabeth Pryor 1814-1900.

She was married at her father’s church on 4 November 1858 to George Raban of Beauchamp Lodge, Hatch Beauchamp in Somerset, a captain in the 56th Regiment of Foot. The Raban family had a tradition of distinguished army service in India.

When the 1861 Census was taken, Captain George Raban aged 39 had retired from the Army and was described as a “fundholder”. He and his wife were living at Beauchamp Lodge, served by a butler, cook-housekeeper, housemaid, and kitchen maid.

Living with them in 1871 and 1881 was the captain’s young niece Lydia Raban, born in Bath. She became a permanent member of the family. George and Fanny Jane Raban seem to have had no children of their own. George Raban was by then a magistrate.

By 1901 Fanny Jane Raban was a widow living at Melville Road, Rosemullion, Falmouth in Cornwall, when the census recorded her there as “living on own means” . Lydia was still with her, but was by then married to Robert F. S. Pitt, a civil engineer, and they had a four-year-old daughter. They had four female servants.

Fanny Jane Raban died on 29 April 1913 at Hatch Beauchamp (1).

Her husband had predeceased her.

(1) Probate of her Will was granted at London on 9 June 1913 to William Frederick Raban esquire and Sir Edward Raban KCB. Effects £14, 529 10s. National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1858-1966 (1913) page 4.