She was young, with a family background of money. He
was handsome, eligible and charming with no money at all. What could possibly
go wrong?
Background to the divorce between Mary Stephen and Stephen Sarkies Stephen
Beyond
the walls: “I Didn’t Seduce Her”
In January 1885 a young Armenian named Stephen Sarkies
Stephen was apprenticed to a firm in Howrah, Calcutta earning Rs30 a month as
pocket money. He worked with them until February 1886. All his living expenses
were paid for by his guardian. At the time he started work, he was lodging with
the Galstaun Brothers, one of whom was Simon Arratoon Galstaun. It was in the
January of 1885 that Stephen met Noori a 15 year old Muslim girl. Noori lived
in Tiretta Bazar Street next door to him and the Galstaun’s. During the course of their developing
friendship, she generously gave Stephen gifts, such as a gold watch and a
chain. A year later, in January 1886 they set up home together in Eden Hospital
Lane, but Stephen insisted: “I did not seduce her.”
Stephen stopped receiving any allowance from his
guardian in April 1886 because he could see that Stephen was not working. As
well as jewels, Noori had given him large gifts of money which he had
accumulated until it reached Rs 10,000. This he advanced to Mr. Thaddeus on the
mortgage of a colliery at Asansol; and subsequently after Noori and Stephen
married a further sum of Rs 14,000 was advanced by him to Mr. Thaddeus on the
mortgage, Stephen obtained all the money from Noori.[1]
Noori gave birth to their daughter, Vartini on the 23
November 1887 in Calcutta, the baby was named in honour of Stephen’s own mother
Vardini, and she was baptized on the 29 July 1888 at the Armenian Church,
Calcutta[2].
 |
| Baptism record for Vardini aka Rose Stephen |
Vartini went on to be known as Rose. In the register
there is a short note that says in Armenian: “Daughter of Noori, a teenage
girl living at Mr. Stephen Sarkies Stephen’s house.” Having been living
together for nearly 3 years, he and Noori, married in 1888. Just one day before
the wedding, on the 17th October 1888 Mohamedan Noori[3]
was baptized into Christianity at the Armenian Church Calcutta, and given the
name Mary George. She was 18 years of age.
 |
| Baptism record of Noori |
In a nod of acknowledgement to her appointed Godfather
George John Amirkhan, she took his Christian name as her surname. He was an
Armenian and good friend of Stephen’s. Noori was now known as Mary George. George John, as he was more commonly known, was
also one of the witnesses at the wedding. The other witness at the wedding[4]
was Martyrose Sarkies Stephen, Stephen’s brother. It is interesting to see the baptism of baby
Vartini (Rose) in the Armenian Church baptism register and just two entries below
that is the baptism of the baby’s mother Noori. I dare say not many children
can boast they were baptized before their own mother.
 |
| Marriage record of Mary and Stephen Sarkies Stephen |
What possessed the young 15 year old girl to live with
a man 10 years older is unclear, there’s nothing in available records to
suggest she was ever a servant of any kind. Far from it, what is clear, is that
as a young girl she was well off, and Stephen took full advantage of that. At
the time of the marriage she expected furniture, carriages and horses and all
the trappings of a respectable married woman. What she got was Rs14,000 which
was part of the money she had previously given to him earlier in their
relationship, it wasn’t exactly the gilts and gold she was hoping for.
The marriage was pretty well destined for failure from
the start. In December 1889 she left her husband taking her two year old
daughter with her, and went to live in Humayon Place. On the 12th December she began
proceedings for a divorce, alleging that he had committed adultery on several
occasions since their marriage, and had treated her with cruelty. Stephen did
not appear in Court to defend the suit nor try to clear his name. It was
decided by the Courts ex parte on 23rd January 1890 with the nisi
being granted that Stephen, after his marriage with Mary, had committed
adultery and treated her with cruelty, as alleged in the petition of Mary.
However, he realised he could attempt to get money and
property from her by submitting a counter-claim citing “collusion” between
them. The counter-claim became a dirty fight. He was penniless, out of work,
and being pressured by his mother to provide a regular income for her because
she also had no money. Mary became an easy financial target.
Using an ill-judged moment in Mary’s early transition
from single to married, Muslim to Christian,
Stephen submitted to the Court that after their wedding Mary became
acquainted with a Mr. Creet, and at her request he was asked to teach her
English. After a time, besides visiting Mary and Stephen’s house for that
purpose, it was alleged Creet used to visit it at all times, and up to a late
hour in the night as a friend. It was further alleged that in December 1888,
during Stephen’s absence from the house, she allowed Mr. Creet to put his arm
around her neck and kiss her, on learning this, Stephen thrashed Creet and
turned him out of the house. He went on to say that Mary and Stephen made up
together the very next day agreeing that Mr. Creet should be forbidden from
visiting the house again. Mr. Creet, it was claimed, was guilty of various other
familiarities with Mary. That on several occasions in January and July 1889
during Stephen’s absence from the house, Mary visited Mr. Creet at his private
residence. In November 1889 she left her house with a view to going with her
mother to Dacca for a fortnight, but in reality, stayed in Calcutta and
instituted a suit for divorce against Stephen, of which he knew nothing until
he was served with the summons. How much of the liaison with Creet was real or
not, no-one will know, but it was a useful piece of leverage for Stephen.
The collusion he claimed was that allegedly an
agreement had been entered into between
them, that if Stephen would promise not to appear and defend the original suit,
Mary would make over to him a house 31-1 Theatre Road belonging to her, subject
to an existing mortgage of Rs14,000, and would leave him the custody of their
child. It was further alleged that Mary threatened that if he did not agree to collude,
she would revert to her former religion of a Mohamedan, and would not part with
little Rose, but would bring her up as a Muslim. Whilst waiting for the suit to
be heard Stephen consulted his attorney, Mr. Gregory, with regard to the
carrying out of the agreement. He went to see Mary’s attorney, Babu G.C.
Chunder, who said she was not willing to make the transfer of the house before
the decree had been obtained. On the 28th January 1890, Mr. Gregory
again saw Mary’s attorney, who then refused to make the transfer, but offered
to give Stephen Rs 10,000 out of Rs, 24,000 advanced by Mary on a mortgage of a
colliery at Asansol. This offer was refused by Stephen.
A decree was granted dissolving the marriage with the
usual clause: “unless sufficient cause could be shown to the contrary within
six months from the date of decree.” On the 1st of May 1890 Stephen
made attempts to have the decree absolute granted, making the assumption Mary would
give in at the last moment and comply with his wishes.
Lining up against Mary, and clearly in full support of
Stephen were affidavits submitted by Mr. George John, the gentleman who had
stood as Godfather at the baptism of Mary to Christianity, he claimed there was
corroborative evidence as to Mary’s promises in the event of Stephen not
defending the suit, and her threats in case he should do so.
Also aligning with Stephen, was Aratoon Simon
Galstaun. His affidavit likewise set out the alleged promises and threats of
Mary, and stated that she told him that if she got a divorce she would “marry someone
who was far better than her present husband.”
Further support for Stephen came from Mr. Galstaun
Gregory, in his affidavit he stated that on the 15th January 1890,
Stephen with Mr. Malcolm and Mr. J. Galstaun called on him and informed him
that his wife had agreed to transfer a house in Theatre Road to him, and
instructed him to act for him in the matter. However, he was later informed by
Mary’s counsel she had not yet made up her mind. On the 21st January
he saw Gonesh Babu, under the instruction of Stephen and in his company. Babu G.C. Chunder said that Mary was willing
to make the transfer, but he could not advise it being done pending these
proceedings, and would consult his counsel on the subject. Mr. Gregory
thereupon told Gonesh Babu that he had nothing whatever to do with these
proceedings. On the 28th January 1890 he had another interview with
Gonesh, when the new offer of Rs 10,000 was made.[i]
Assuming that these facts were as stated in these
affidavits, it was contended that a stronger case of collusion could not
possibly be made out. The Judge ruled further investigations into the alleged
collusion had to be made.
Mary’s counsel, Mr. Henderson stated that under the
order of the 5th of May his client was required to clear up the
question of collusion. She had in accordance
with this order filed a number of affidavits dealing with the matter. Counsel
was proceeding to read that part of Mary’s affidavit which dealt with the
purchase and subsequent history of the Mary’s house in Theatre Road, when Mr.
Pugh (counsel for Stephen Sarkies Stephen) objected that these matters were not
material. Mr. Henderson submitted that what took place as to this house before
the suit was brought was relevant as throwing light on what happened with
regard to it afterwards, but the Court upheld the objection. Further lengthy
discussions took place as to whether or not there had been collusion between
Stephen and Mary. A decision was arrived at by Justice Wilson, who said:
“ there was no evidence of collusion existing except the uncorroborated evidence of Stephen.” Justice Wilson also gave a withering summary of Stephen Sarkies Stephen: “……..the respondent is flatly contradicted by both attornies; and in view of the disgraceful character of himself which he himself has given, it is impossible to believe his evidence. Mrs. Stephen’s evidence is supported by several of his witnesses, but her husband’s is contradicted by the witnesses on both sides, including his own attorney.”
“ there was no evidence of collusion existing except the uncorroborated evidence of Stephen.” Justice Wilson also gave a withering summary of Stephen Sarkies Stephen: “……..the respondent is flatly contradicted by both attornies; and in view of the disgraceful character of himself which he himself has given, it is impossible to believe his evidence. Mrs. Stephen’s evidence is supported by several of his witnesses, but her husband’s is contradicted by the witnesses on both sides, including his own attorney.”
In his poverty-stricken condition, with his mother
asking him for financial support, he simply saw one last money-grabbing
opportunity from his beleaguered wife. He had tried his utmost to get the
Courts to believe she had “colluded”, but he failed.
It was always thought that Stephen Sarkies Stephen
started his own coal mine from a dowry he received[5],
but the evidence in the divorce case unequivocally shows the money and intelligence
behind the operation was Mary. She appears to have had a natural commercial
head on her shoulders. In a male dominated industry, it was Mary who had purchased
three perpetual leases of surface and sub-soil rights that had originally been
granted to coal miner, Joseph Chater in 1887.
Let that sink in for a moment. An 18-year-old female who happened to be Muslim, had purchased a coal mine. A couple of years later, she also had the foresight to purchase land and property in Theatre Road, Calcutta. She was, by all accounts, ahead of her time; a very smart young lady.
Let that sink in for a moment. An 18-year-old female who happened to be Muslim, had purchased a coal mine. A couple of years later, she also had the foresight to purchase land and property in Theatre Road, Calcutta. She was, by all accounts, ahead of her time; a very smart young lady.
The mine was called Mouzah Ghoosick in the district of
Raneegunge. As we have already seen, during the course of their divorce
hearing, Stephen confirmed that he had only a small job in Howrah and that he
didn’t work whilst he lived with Mary and he was living off a small amount of
interest from the Rs14,000 loan she had given him. This he had subsequently
passed to Thaddeus Stephen. More of him a little later.
After she had successfully defended herself in Court, Mary
took custody of the child Rose and equally important, she kept ownership of the
coal mine.
New Beginnings
In 1892, Mary (Noori) married a gentleman by the name
of Creet[6].
I would hazard a guess it was the same gentleman Stephen had alleged she had
got close to. Who could blame her? Escaping from Stephen, who had robbed her of
her childhood and was bleeding her dry financially and living off her without
any kind of job must have caused untold anxiety to her. It was, of course, far
more the “norm” for young teenage girls to become brides at 15 at that time,
but it still must have been psychologically difficult and frightening.
particularly because she was having to endure an intimate relationship with him
at 16. In December 1901 Stephen married
for a second time to Mariam nee Sarkies, witnesses at this marriage were
Stephen’s brother Martyrose Sarkies Stephen and Mariam’s brother John Seth
Sarkies.
Her relationship with Simon Theodore Creet appeared to
be a much happier one. Baby Vartini aka Rose took Simon’s name and
officially became known as Rose Creet. In February 1893 Mary gave birth to a
son, Theodore Simon Creet; a half sibling for Rose. Unfortunately, Mary was not destined to see
her children grow up, she died in Simla in September 1900 aged just 31 years.
Her burial record states the cause of death as gastritis, not a condition we
recognize as a killer in the 21st century, one wonders if there were
other underlying health issues. Certainly, something had been awry for some
time because Mary made her Will on the 12th February 1900 at her Ghoosick
Colliery Kalipahari near Asansol. Perhaps the family had travelled to Simla to
escape the summer heat and give her a change of air. It ended up being her last
resting place. Rose was only 12, her half-brother Theodore, a mere 7 years of
age. Did Simon Creet have a conversation with Stephen Sarkies Stephen about the
future well-being of Rose I wonder? Was there any debate as to where and who
she would live with? If so, the outcome was clear, Rose continued to live with
her step-father and half-brother.
Just over a year later, in December 1901 Rose’s
natural father Stephen had remarried to Mariam Sarkies with whom he went on to
have at least nine children, all in Calcutta. They were:
Pearl – 1902
Sarkies – 1904
Chrysanthemum – 1906
Sampson – 1908
Seth – 1909
Ruby Rose – 1911
Violet – 1913
Iris – 1915
Unknown – 1918
Sarkies – 1904
Chrysanthemum – 1906
Sampson – 1908
Seth – 1909
Ruby Rose – 1911
Violet – 1913
Iris – 1915
Unknown – 1918
Mary was very clear in her will about the future of
her coal mine. It was to be put into Trust to allow Simon to work it for the
duration of his lifetime. He could: “….receive and
enjoy the rents income and profits thereof for his own use and benefit he
paying all ground rents royalties and other outgoings in respect thereof and
keeping the said property in reasonable repair”. Mary also decided what should happen to her
colliery after the death of Simon. “…..after the
decease of my said husband I declare that the said colliery shall be sold and
the sale proceeds thereof shall go and belong as to a half share thereof to my
son Theodore Simon Creet, and as to a quarter share thereof to my
daughter the said Rosie Stephen now called Rosie Creet and as to the
remaining quarter share thereof to my brother in law Arratoon Creet…..”
Having said that, Mary didn’t want to bind the family
into selling the mine after the death of Simon, a further “get-out” clause made
it easy for the family to decide what to do with it, in their own time.
“….And also that at the death of my said
husband my trustees shall have power at their discretion to postpone the sale
of the said colliery for so long as they shall think fit without being liable
for any loss or depreciation that may be occasioned thereby and that if at the
death of my said husband any of my said children abovenamed or referred to
shall be under the age of twenty one years and the sale of the said colliery
shall be postponed my trustees shall have full power to work the share or
shares of such minor or minors of and in the said colliery and to carry on the
said coal mining business in conjunction with the owner or owners of the other
share or shares to the best advantage and shall apply the profits thereof for
and towards the maintenance support and benefit of the said minor or minors
till he she or they shall respectively attain twenty one years of age without
being liable for any waste or loss occasioned by such working….”
 |
| Extract of Mary's Will |
Simon Creet remained a widower and a single parent to
Rose and Theodore for the next 6 years. He did go on to remarry Amy Ringham aka
Victoria in Folkstone, Kent with whom he had a further six children;
step-siblings to Rose and half-siblings to Theodore.
 |
| Marriage record of Simon Creet and Amy Ringham |
In 1913 Rose married Leon Aviet Creet, probably a
cousin or nephew of her step-father Simon.
All indications are that Rose had little or no contact with her natural
father Stephen.
 |
| Marriage record of Leon Creet and Rose Creet |
The marriage certificate shows her father as Simon and
witnesses were Simon and Victoria. They both put their residence at the time of
marriage to be Kendra Hall in Pampisford Road, Croydon[7].
Influenced by coal, Simon had named the
house after the Kendra Coal mine he was so familiar with. It was, after all, a
product of his successful career in India.
The family lived a comfortable and enviable lifestyle.
The house was certainly large enough to accommodate bride and groom
pre-wedding. The elegant Kendra Hall had 18 rooms. Ten bedrooms each with dressing
rooms, two staircases, a 40ftx20ft lounge fitted in oak, three large reception
rooms, a winter garden, conservatory, a billiard-room, numerous offices, large
stabling as well as a garage and a separate staff cottage. The grounds extended
to eight acres and contained an orchard and a paddock.[8]
The family immersed themselves in local social and political activities.
Victoria was a great supporter of the Women’s National Liberal Association in
Croydon, and often held meetings and summer garden parties to help promote
them.
A garden party at
Kendra Hall was held in support of the Croydon Liberal and Radical Association
Simon Creet owned the Ghusik and Muslia Collieries at
Kalipahari. they consisted of three
mines; (1) Baraboni which was managed by Simon’s nephew, Minas Creet; (2) the Ghusik
mine was managed by Simon’s brother Arratoon Theodore Creet, his assistant
managers were another nephew, Peter John Peters and the young Leon Creet, who
used this as his place to gain valuable experience in mining; (3) Muslia, the
third mine was managed by a non-family member[9].
Simon oversaw the whole mining operation as General Manager. He employed over
400 workers below ground, nearly 300 of them were at the Ghusik mine operation
alone. Above ground there were an additional 300+ workers, with 200 of them
working at Ghusik.
Leon followed the Creet family into coal mining, and
it probably wasn’t lost on either him or Rose, that the Ghoosick[10]
mines he worked had originally been in the possession of her Muslim born mother
Noori, the family business started by Mary’s (Noori’s) early foresight had
given her daughter and son-in-law a comfortable living.
Leon became owner of the East Satgram Coal Company
Ltd, and in 1945 produced a healthy 45,500 tons of coal[11].
He was also manager of other mines, such as Bogra Coal Limited, and Bolompore
Coal Co Ltd[12]
with additional involvement in others.
Simon and Victoria emigrated to Canada settling in
Beamsville. As well as moving his whole family, he also took along his aging
uncle, Thaddeus Stephen. This is the same Thaddeus Stephen who had received
money from Stephen Sarkies Stephen in 1886, which had originally been Mary
(Noori’s) money. Thaddeus went on to become a teacher at the Armenian College
& philanthropic Academy in Calcutta for a number of years. Prior to
settling in Canada, Thaddeus had moved to England and lived with Simon’s family.
His wife, Regina nee Shircore, appears to have stayed in Calcutta where she
died in 1926. Thaddeus died in North America in 1923 and is buried in
Beamsville the adopted home town of Simon and Victoria.
 |
| Thaddeus Stephen was buried in Beamsville, Canada |
Mount Osborne Cemetery, OGS#3384
(prev Clinton) Beamsville, ON
image by James Wagner
https://canadianheadstones.com/search-item.html?psid=667563
image by James Wagner
https://canadianheadstones.com/search-item.html?psid=667563
When Leon reached his 60’s, he began travelling
regularly between India and England where Rose lived permanently. Initially
they rented in Kensington Court, London, but from the early 1950’s, they
purchased 140 Westbourne Terrace, near Paddington in London.
It would become a property whose walls could tell some
stories, if they could speak. And, curiously, speak they
did.
Good Friends Come in All Mediums
Rose and Leon rented some of the rooms out. One of the
first people to take a tenancy was a man called Leslie Walter Flint who moved
into the house in 1953[13] following the death of his wife
Edith. Leslie was a well-known spiritualist. For Rose, what may well have
started as a mild interest, even curiosity turned into something far deeper and
more meaningful for her. Leslie stayed in the house up to and including the
time of Rose’s death. In those 20 years, Rose, Leslie and another tenant Bramwell
Rogers (Bram), all became exceptionally close friends. Rose often sat for
Leslie during his spiritual readings, and over the years, they became more like
family to her. I have been very fortunate to be in touch with “The Leslie
Flint Trust”, and have discussed the relationship Rose had with Leslie at
great length. Commenting on her they said: “Rose had her own direct line to the
spirit world through Leslie's work, almost her own resident medium.” Rose became a devoted follower of
spiritualism, and in some of the many sittings she did with Leslie she would
regularly speak with Stephen Ward. You may remember the Profumo affair
from the 1960s, Ward was a friend of Christine Keeler, a Svengali figure in her
life, who had introduced her to John Profumo. The end result of the whole ugly situation
was the tragedy of Stephen taking his own life. The Leslie Flint Trust said: “Rose
spoke to Stephen Ward through Leslie many times.”
Rose was also able to speak with her brother Theo who had died in
September 1933 in Luestringen, Germany[14]. Remarkably there
is a Leslie Flint recording of Rose talking with the late Theo. I reproduce the
transcript of the conversation below, with permission of the Leslie Flint
Educational Trust[ii]. You can listen to the recording on this link. Rose’s
conversation with Theo starts at approximately 4:33.
Theo:
Hello Rosie.
Rose:
Oh, hello dear.
Theo:
It's Theo.
Rose:
Yes...darling.
Theo:
I can come for a few minutes.
Rose:
Yes.
Theo:
I just wanted you to know that I was here tonight, you know, in the meeting, like.
[Creaking]
Theo:
I want you to come and speak to me on your own.
Rose:
Oh right, I will.
Theo:
I can't very well say things to you now. I mean, because it isn't permitted in this circle...
Rose:
No.
Theo:
...to discuss personal things, but I hope you will come and speak to me, so that I can talk to you alone, you see?
Rose:
Yes...
Theo:
So perhaps you can arrange it?
Rose:
Alright.
Theo:
All my love. And Mummy sends her love to you.
Rose:
Oh, all my love to her and to you darling.
Theo:
Thank you.
Rose:
And I hope I shall be able to speak to you very soon.
Theo:
I was wondering...if you could manage to come on your birthday?
Rose:
Oh, I'll try.
Theo:
God bless. Goodbye.
Rose:
Alright. Goodbye dear.
 |
| 140 Westbourne Terrace. |
140 Westbourne Terrace circ 1956. Image courtesy of
Collage. The London Picture Archive[15]
Rose’s kindness of nature is remembered by one her tenants,
Nick Hartley, now living in South Africa,[16] but who lived briefly at the house as a young man.
"…..I lived there in the first floor flat, when Leslie Flint went to America in 1971 to promote his book Voices in the Dark. I was interested in spiritualism and was a member of his home circle. I was asked to stay in the house as sort of man about the house. I worked in London and spent many evenings after work on my way up too my flat with Rosie, I always knew her as Rosie.
I always remember her sitting there in the lounge in a wing back chair when I came home from work. I always stopped to chat. She was very kind to me. Paid for a maid to clean my upstairs flat every Thursday and clean sheets were left at the bottom of the stairs always with a packet of 30 Embassy cigarettes. She also smoked as I think did Leslie. I could only afford to buy 10’s, so 30’s were very extravagant. I am sure the little rent I paid didn't cover the maid and laundry and cigarettes and gas and electricity I think it was 4 pounds a week all in. That was my first trip to England when I was 18 years old…..
"…..I lived there in the first floor flat, when Leslie Flint went to America in 1971 to promote his book Voices in the Dark. I was interested in spiritualism and was a member of his home circle. I was asked to stay in the house as sort of man about the house. I worked in London and spent many evenings after work on my way up too my flat with Rosie, I always knew her as Rosie.
I always remember her sitting there in the lounge in a wing back chair when I came home from work. I always stopped to chat. She was very kind to me. Paid for a maid to clean my upstairs flat every Thursday and clean sheets were left at the bottom of the stairs always with a packet of 30 Embassy cigarettes. She also smoked as I think did Leslie. I could only afford to buy 10’s, so 30’s were very extravagant. I am sure the little rent I paid didn't cover the maid and laundry and cigarettes and gas and electricity I think it was 4 pounds a week all in. That was my first trip to England when I was 18 years old…..
She called
me and every one “darling"…very posh….”come inside …sit .....tell me what
you have been doing.”
There was a
large grand piano in the lounge and a man called Mischa de la Motte[17]
used to visit and play for her as she was too old. She had a passion for
Chopin…. "
Leon died of coronary thrombosis at their home in 140 Westbourne Terrace, London in July 1960 with Rose by his side. She died there in September 1973. There were no children. Her adopted family of Creet’s had long migrated to Canada; she wasn’t in touch with any of her half-siblings (from her father’s second marriage), her family, as far as she was concerned, were right there, in the house with her. She had no immediate family, Leslie and Bram were the closest. Leslie stayed with her until the end, and a few days later registered her death, He knew enough about her to know her maiden name was Stephen.
 |
| Leon's death certificate |
 |
| Rose's death certificate |
 |
| Rose Creet. Owner of 140 Westbourne Terrace. Landlady of Leslie Flint. Image courtesy of the Leslie Flint Educational Trust |
In his will, Leon naturally left his entire estate to
Rose[18].
 |
| Snapshot of Leon Creet's Will |
As a widow, she continued to supplement her income by
renting out rooms in her house. There no real financial need to do so, it was
more for companionship in the house than anything else. When she died, Rose
specifically requested that she be cremated at Golders Green crematorium three
days after her death. She left the entire valuable property at 140 Westbourne
Terrace, to her long-term lodger and good friend, Leslie Walter Flint with
Bramwell (Bram) Rogers receiving a £5,000 legacy. Leslie had been lodging with
her and Leon for at least 20 years, occupying the ground floor and basement
whilst Rose lived on the top floor. There was only one family bequest in her
will, her late husband’s nephew Mario Creet in Canada to whom she left £5,000[19].
There were a couple of small bequests to friends; one to Louise Sumner who was
to receive Rose’s piano and sheet music, and one to Mary Coffey who inherited
all Rose’s wearing apparel, furs, jewels, trinkets and ornaments. This bequest
would have included the jewelry Rose had been left by her own mother Mary. The residue of her estate, including the
freehold of her house, was bequeathed to Leslie. It was the ultimate act of
kindness to a dear and caring friend and seemed fitting he should continue to
live in the house that had long ago become home to him. She requested the death
duty due from the property be taken from her estate, thus relieving Leslie of
the financial burden to find it. This amounted to in excess of £40,000. For
years, Leslie Flint had lived on the ground floor of the sprawling mansion,
which included the rather sumptuous basement cinema from where he ran The
Rudolph Valentino Memorial Guild. His private readings and seances were
extremely popular, and apparently, he had lengthy conversations with Valentino.
He would also regularly show films in the private cinema. [Rose receives an
unnamed mention in the book Silent Players as ‘the elderly lady owner of
the property’][20]. For further information about Leslie Flint I recommend visiting the Leslie Flint Educational Trust website. They have diligently digitized Flint’s archive of books, photographs, readings, recordings and much more.
 |
| Snapshot of Rose's Will |
Flint continued to live there with Bram, for a number
of years until his health became fragile.
 |
| 140 Westbourne Terrace circ 2007. Now known as Brunel House, previously Trinity House. It is a Grade 2 listed building. Image: Wikipedia: Stephen McKay |
Around 1987, Leslie sold up and moved to Brighton with
Bram. Both men benefitting financially from Rose’s generosity, and they enjoyed
life by the sea in a large house only a stone’s throw from the bracing water
front. Bramwell passed away at their 6 bedroomed property, 5 Princes Crescent,
Brighton in 1993, leaving an estate valued in excess of £97,000 whilst Leslie
Flint passed away in 1994, also at the Brighton property. His estate was
eventually valued at in excess of £470,000. By leaving him the freehold of 140
Westbourne Terrace, Rose had ensured Leslie and Bramwell were financially
secure for the remainder of their days.
When you listen to Leslie’s recordings, there is no
trace of Rose’s past coming through in her beautifully clipped English accent,
and I am sure it will be a surprise to many of her distant Armenian cousins
that her voice is now immortalized in the digital archive soundtracks of a most
extraordinary spiritual medium, Leslie Water Flint.[21]
And yes, the walls of 140 Westbourne Terrace did speak.
Through the medium of Leslie, and they told many stories.
To undertake divorce proceedings in the 19th
century one required money and confidence. To do it in India as a young woman
who hadn’t long converted to Christianity, one required an enormous amount of
self-belief and an extraordinary amount of steely determination. Mary dug her
heels in, withstood a community rounding on her, fought for the future of
herself and her daughter Rose, and won. The coal mine was a prize she was never
going to give up. She could not have known that Rose would benefit so well from
that legal fight. Mary’s strength and resolve shaped Rose’s future. Neither of
them could predict their paths but their actions had a far-reaching effect and
an enlightening conclusion.
Sources
Ancestry.com
Archive.org
Armenian Church Kolkata, Birth/Marriage/Death Registers
British Library
British Newspaper Archive
California Digital Newspaper Collection
Canadian Headstones.com
Deceasedonline.com
Digital Library of India
Families in British India Society
Find A Will, Government Website
Findmypast.co.uk
Forces War Records
GRO
Hathi Trust Digital Library
Historic England. National Heritage List for England
Hong Kong newspapers online
Leslie Flint Educational Trust
Liz Chater’s Private Archive
London Gazette
London Picture Archive
National Archives Kew
Newspaperarchive.com
Newspapers.com
Papers Past. New Zealand newspapers online
Scotlandspeople.com
Singapore newspapers online
Trove. Australian Newspapers online
Qatar Digital Library
Wellcome Trust Library
Archive.org
Armenian Church Kolkata, Birth/Marriage/Death Registers
British Library
British Newspaper Archive
California Digital Newspaper Collection
Canadian Headstones.com
Deceasedonline.com
Digital Library of India
Families in British India Society
Find A Will, Government Website
Findmypast.co.uk
Forces War Records
GRO
Hathi Trust Digital Library
Historic England. National Heritage List for England
Hong Kong newspapers online
Leslie Flint Educational Trust
Liz Chater’s Private Archive
London Gazette
London Picture Archive
National Archives Kew
Newspaperarchive.com
Newspapers.com
Papers Past. New Zealand newspapers online
Scotlandspeople.com
Singapore newspapers online
Trove. Australian Newspapers online
Qatar Digital Library
Wellcome Trust Library
[1] 13 May 1890 English Overland Mail
[2] Armenian Church Baptism Register
1674
[3] Armenian Church Baptism Register No.
1676
[4]
Armenian Church Marriage
Register No. 508
[5] Armenian Settlements in India by
Anne Basil p.83
[6] They married on the 5th
February 1892 at the Methodist Episcopal Church, Calcutta
[7] Another Armenian merchant lived just
two houses away from the Creets. Minus Stephens, originally from Ispahan, but a
successful merchant and business partner of Stephen, Paul & Co., in the London,
Singapore, Straits Settlements lived in a similarly large house called
“Lynscott”, Pampisford Road.
[8] Sales particulars in the Surrey
Advertiser June 1915
[9] The Chief Inspector of Mines Report
1908
[10] The mine has various spellings:
Ghusick, Gusick, Ghusik
[11] Indian Coal Statistics 1944/45
[12] Thacker’s Indian Directory 1920
[14] BL: Will-Administration
L/AG/34/29/179/232+233
[16] Recollection retold to me via email
with Nick Hartley https://www.hartleymanor.co.za/
who was introduced to me by the Leslie Flint Education Trust
[17] I am grateful to the Leslie Flint
Educational Trust for confirming Mischa’s name and supplying background
information on him
[18] The Will of Leon Creet
[19] The Will of Rose Creet
[20] Silent Players: A Biographical and Autobiographical
Study of 100 Silent Film. Anthony Slide. (2002)
[i] I am grateful to Karen Mkrtchyan for
his endless patience at my requests to help transcribe some entries written in
Armenian, which, quite frankly, look like they’ve been written by a spider with
a broken leg. Not only is the writing invariably difficult to read, the quality
of the copies I provide him are so incredibly poor that I often think it is all
a hopeless cause. Yet, somehow, he manages to piece the words and sentences
together and between us, we are able to make some sense of something that looks
completely nonsensical.
[ii] My gratitude also extends warmly to
the Leslie Flint Educational Trust for allowing me to use some of their archive
material and for sharing the stories from their records on Leslie Flint and
Rose Creet. Their help with background information, context and understanding
of Leslie and his work has been invaluable to me during my research of this
story https://www.leslieflint.com/
Incidentally, Simon Creet’s niece Liska, daughter of
Arathoon Theodore Creet and his wife Maud, married into Scottish aristocracy.
Liska and Patrick were married in Asansol, close to the family coal mine at
Ghusick. Her husband, Sir Patrick Ian Keith-Murray inherited the family seat in
Aberturret in Crieff. In the 1960s/70s their only child, Sir William Patrick
Keith-Murray, struggled to make the estate pay for itself and found himself
forced to sell large tranches of land to balance the books and pay taxes. The
Keith-Murray’s can trace their lineage back to the royal Stuarts, carrying the
connection proudly through the years. Liska’s sister Olive went to live with
her in Scotland after the death of their parents. Olive died in Crieff in 1984
whilst Liska died there in 1993.
