Colonel Martyn John Edward FENWICK

Male 1851 - 1934  (82 years)


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  • Name Martyn John Edward FENWICK  [1
    Title Colonel 
    Born 20 Apr 1851  The Rectory, Kedleston, Derbyshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Gender Male 
    Died 1934  Tilsworth Vicarage, Tislworth, Leyton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Cause: Suicide by Shotgun Blast through the mouth. 
    • Suicide
    Notes 
    • Colonel Fenwick had a sad end, as witness this article from the Bedfordshire Times for April 1934: "Lieutenant-Colonel Martyn John Edward Fenwick, J. P., Chairman of the Woburn Division magistrates, and his daughter, Miss Judith Fenwick, a well-known worker in the Women's Institute movement, were found shot just before noon on Monday at their residence, the Old Vicarage, Tilsworth, near Hockliffe. The gardener, Mr. J. Kirby, at work in the grounds, heard two shots from the house, and on going to investigate discovered Miss Fenwick lying at the foor of the stairs leading to Colonel Fenwick's study in a cottage adjoining the Vicarage. She had a gunshot wound in the head. In the study itself the Colonel was found with a gunshot wound through the mouth, and one of his sporting guns lay near by. It appeared that Miss Fenwick had been up to see her father and was returning down the stairs when the tragedy took place"

      "Colonel Fenwick was a native of Thurlstone, near Chentenham, and was aged eighty-three. His daughter was fifty. The Colonel was the eldest son of the late Rev. J. E. A. Fenwick, Vicar of Needwood, Staffordshire, and served in the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Dorset Regiment. He commanded the 11th Provisional Battalion in 1902-3 and was deputy Chief of Public Security, Deputy Inspector General, and a Pasha of Egypt. He was a personal friend of Lord Kitchener and Lord Cromer. While serving in Egypt, he was presented with a tie-pin by the late King Edward [VII] when Prince of Wales for protecting him when an attempt was made on his life. Colonel Fenwick have this pin to his eldest son a few days ago".

      "Colonel Fenwick was very popular with his fellow county magistrates and was most conscientious in his magisterial duties. He was appointed to the Commission of the Peace for the County of Bedford at the Midsummer Quarter Sessions 1918 and he was elected Chairman of the Woburn Bench in 1921. He was most regular in his attendance at Quarter Sessions and at the Standing Joint Committee".

      "Colonel Fenwick leaves two sons, Mr. Alan Fenwick and Captain Fenwick. Mrs. Fenwick died in 1919".

      "The inquest was opened at the Vicarage on Tuesday by the District Coroner, Mr. G. J. M. Whyley. The bodies were identified by Colonel Fenwick's son, Mr. Alan Fenwick, of London. Dr. W. H. Square, of Leighton Buzzard, gave medical evidence and said that Colonel Fenwick had been worried about how his daughter would get on after his death. Lately he had been rather run down, chiefly owing to his age".

      "The inquest was adjourned until Monday afternoon. The funerals, after cremation, will take place to-day at Leckhampton near Cheltenham".

      The following week the newspaper reported on the resumed inquest: "The inquest was resumed at Tilsworth Vicarage on Monday afternoon. The District Coroner, Mr. G. J. M. Whyley, who sat with a jury, said that Colonel Fenwick was a distinguished soldier and he continued, after his retirement, to do useful work in the service of his country. Their task was a very easy one, though distasteful to perform".

      "Miss Irene Hull, a cook employed at the Vicarage, said that when she took up Colonel Fenwick's hot water he was lying on his bed. He said to her "Something dreadful is going to happen before very long. When it does happen it will be dreadful". He seemed upset about Miss Fenwick and said he left very sorry for her. Witness added that she could not have had a better master".

      "Miss Constance Emily Mary Warren, parlourmaid, said that about 11 a.m. she saw Colonel Fenwick and Miss Fenwick on the landing apparently having a normal conversation".

      "Mr. Arthur H. Kirby, groom gardener, described how he heard two shots, which seemed to come from the room over the harness-room. He then found Miss Fenwick lying at the bottom of the stairs".

      "Inspector A. H. Weedon, of Woburn, said by Miss Fenwick's body lay a white Ensign with one corner over her shoulder. It looked as if it had falledn from the wall. In the room above he found Colonel Fenwick lying on his back on the floor and by his side was a double-barrelled gun".

      "The jury returned a verdict that Miss Fenwick was murdered and that Colonel Fenwick committed suicide whilst temporarily insane".
    Person ID I12328  Silk Weavers and Stay Makers
    Last Modified 19 Jun 2016 

    Father John Edward Addison FENWICK,   b. 28 Jun 1824, Northfield, Worcestershire, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. May 1903, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 78 years) 
    Relationship Natural 
    Mother Katharine Somerset Wittenbach PHILLIPS,   b. 26 Apr 1823, Berne, Switzerland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 04 Jun 1913  (Age 90 years) 
    Relationship Natural 
    Married 04 Jul 1848  Broadway, Worcestershire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Family ID F3486  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Eleanor Maud BOOTHBY,   b. 01 Apr 1858, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 18 Jul 1919  (Age 61 years) 
    Children 
     1. Alys Judith FENWICK,   b. Abt 1884, St Malo, Brittany, France Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 17 Apr 1934, Tilsworth Vicarage, Tislworth, Leyton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 50 years)  [Birth]
     2. Alan George FENWICK,   b. 1890, Hawkesbury, Gloucestershire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [Birth]
     3. Gilbert Edward FENWICK,   b. Abt 1895, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 26 Mar 1956  (Age ~ 61 years)  [Birth]
    Last Modified 15 Oct 2016 
    Family ID F3483  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Sources 
    1. [S530] Visitation of England and Wales Volume 16, 1909, page 187.

    2. [S534] Western Morning News 18 April 1934.

    3. [S104] LDS Parish Baptisms Index.