PARKER, Bessie

1872 - 1961

Bessie Parker was born at Broadlands, Oulton Broad, Lowestoft, Suffolk in 1872, fourth of the five surviving daughters of Benjamin Parker (1839-15 April 1913), a draper, and his wife Mary Elizabeth
Smith (1842-12 March 1917), daughter of James Smith, who married at Lowestoft on 23 January 1865. In 1881, Bessie was a 9-year-old, living at Boston Lodge, Boston Road, Lowestoft with her parents, 42-year-old Benjamin and 39-year-old Mary, with two siblings Harriet 15 and Maggie 7. Bessie was educated with a governess and in 1886 admitted to Lowestoft School of Arts and Crafts. In 1891 they were still living at Boston Lodge with the addition of a son-in-law John Godrey, who had married young Harriet. Bessie married at Lowestoft on 10 February 1897, Charles Albert Batho (2 October 1872-29 January 1938) and in 1901, the 28-year-old wife of 28-year-old Charles, a commercial traveller in the tea trade, living at 9 Milton Park, Hornsey, Edmonton, London, with their newly born daughter Madeline, with two visitors and they retained two indoor servants. By 1911 they had moved to 12 Priory Gardens, Highgate, Hornsey with the addition of two sons, Dudley (1903-1917) and Maurice Benjamin (1910-1990) but by 1921 they had moved to 2 Summit House Avenue, Frinton-on-Sea, Essex where her husband was a Ships Stores and Export Provision Merchant. As Bessie Parker she exhibited at the Walker Art Gallery from the School of Arts and Crafts, Lowestoft 1924-1925. Her husband was an export merchant and they lived in France and Germany, and he held the office of Alderman of Aldgate, City of London and was Lieutenant of the City of London and a director of the London & North Eastern Railway. He held the office of Sheriff of the City of London 1925-1926 being invested as a Knight in 1926. On 19 October 1928 created 1st Baronet Batho, of Frinton, co. Essex and invested with other English and Foreign Orders and became a Freeman of the City of Londonderry in 1937. They had a large circle of important friends and Charles died at the Great Eastern Hotel, London in 1938, at age 65. Lady Bessie Batho died at the home of her daughter Madeline (Gathergood 1901-1968) at 23 St Peters Road, Harborne, Birmingham, Warwickshire on 19 December 1961, aged 89.

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Works by This Artist