PICKTHALL, Grace
Grace Benedict Pickthall, was born at Chillesford, Suffolk on 21 October 1869 and baptised on 30 November 1869, daughter of Revd Charles Grayston Pickthall (June 1822-24 October 1881), curate at Shudy Camps, Cambridgeshire who, in December 1856,was instituted to the rectory of Chillesford, Suffolk and his first wife Ellen Louisa née Christie (1828-December 1870), only daughter of Peter Christie of Hoddeston, who married at Great Amwell, Ware, Hertfordshire on 27 April 1854. Charles's second wife was Mary Hale née O'Brien (4 July 1836-14 October 1904), widow of William Palmer Hale, barrister-at-law and younger daughter of the late Rear-Admiral Donat Henchy O'Brien, R.N. (1785-1857), who married at All Saint's, Norfolk Square, Norwich on 21 April 1874. Grace studied art at St Bonifice School, Isle of Wight and in 1891, a 21 year art student, boarding at Penywern Road, Kensington, London, the home of Elise M. S. Wistney [sic], principal of Day School and ten year later a 31 year old wood carver, boarding at 38 Fairfield Road, Weeke, Winchester, Hampshire, the home of Florence Alvey, a 35 year old Professor of Music. Grace was a commercial watercolourist with some skill, one of her paintings hangs in Wantisden church, a nearby Suffolk village to Chillesford. In 1939, Grace was a retired masseuse, living at 9 Upper High Street, Winchester, Hampshire and she died at 76 Canon Street, Winchester on 4 December 1962, aged 92, she was unmarried. She is reputed to have used the name Maud Navine Pickthall, when living in a small cottage at The Street, Chillesford in November 1924, but she was living in Winchester at this time.