Annie Lawrence nee Sheldon

Born: c.1853, Banwell, Somersetshire, England (Source: 1861 Census, Neale Sheldon, Sheldon Family History, and 1913 South African Women's Who's Who, Ancestry24.co.za)

Died: 1 June 1921, London, England (Source: Gravestone of Annie Lawrence nee Sheldon, Genealogical Society of South Africa)

Annie Sheldon, born in Somersetshire, was the daughter of Thomas Sheldon snr., Esquire, of Alfred Sheldon & Co., Engineers, Wells. (Source: 1913 South African Women's Who's Who, Ancestry24.co.za) Annie's mother was Louisa Sheldon. According to a record on FamilySearch.org, Annie was born c.1853 in Rondebosch; the place of birth given to FamilySearch.org is most likely incorrect.

Annie was a member of the Alexandra Club, Cape Town. Member of Committees, Women’s Hospital Board of Aid, Seamen’s Institude, S.P.C.A., Somerset Hospital Board, Newlands Croquet Club. Favourite Recreation, Tennis, Croquet, Bowls. (Source: 1913 South African Women's Who's Who, Ancestry24.co.za)In 1861, Annie was living with her parents and siblings in 8 West Street, Banwell, Somerset, England. (Source: 1861 Census, FreeCen.org.uk)Annie was educated at Sunnyside College, Frome, Somersetshire. (Source: 1913 South African Women's Who's Who, Ancestry24.co.za)In c.1880, Annie moved to South Africa. (Source: According to her 1913 biography, Annie had "resided in South Africa for 32 years"; 1913 South African Women's Who's Who, Ancestry24.co.za)Annie was married to J. Brown Lawrence, Esquire, Chairman, Brown Lawrence & Co., Ltd., Merchants, Cape Town, Cape Province. (Source: 1913 South African Women's Who's Who, Ancestry24.co.za)Annie and J. Brown Lawrence lived in Bon Accord, Rondebosch. (Source: 1913 South African Women's Who's Who, Ancestry24.co.za)

Annie died on 1 June 1921 in London, England after a short illness; she is buried in Woltemade Cemetery, Maitland. (Source: Gravestone of Annie Lawrence nee Sheldon, Genealogical Society of South Africa)

J. Brown Lawrence, who was from Bon Accord, Rondebosch, died on 26 March 1922, "aged 83 years"; he was also buried in Woltemade Cemetery, Maitland, alongside his wife. (Source: Gravestone of J. Brown Lawrence, Genealogical Society of South Africa)

In 1922, Thomas Sheldon jnr., Annie's brother, started court proceedings against "the Estate of the late Brown Lawrence, the Cape Hospital Board and Cape Provincial Administration". Thomas was suing over a single line in Lawrence's Will: "All the other movable property shall be sold by auction and the proceeds shall be equally divided between the following persons namely: Alicedale Stewart, Sarah Wiley, James Lawrence, Thomas Sheldon, Ellen Parker." Earlier in Lawrence's Will he had set aside some money to set up a fund at the Cape Hospital; Thomas believed that these two actions - the fund and the auctioning of the movable property - contradicted each other, and that he should be entitled to a share of the fund money.

The final judgement in the case was in favour of Thomas Sheldon; he and Ellen, sister of Thomas and Annie, were to receive £200 per annum for the rest of their lives, while Thomas' daughter, Alicedale, received £600 per annum for the rest of her life. (Source: KAB CSC 2/1/1/980 Ref: 1085, Cape Town Archives)