Mabel Florence Dengate

KEY DATES:

Born: 6 May 1892, Minster, Kent

Married: 31 January 1914, St Peter the Apostle Church, Broadstairs, Kent

Died: 20 May 1950, Enfield, Middlesex

Buried: 25 May 1950, Lavender Hill Cemetery, Enfield, Middlesex

BIOGRAPHY:

Biography of Mabel Florence Rose (nee Dengate) 1892-1950 written by her grandson, Adrian R. Watkins May 2007

Mabel Florence Dengate was born on 6 May 1892 in Minster Kent, the seventh out of the 10 children of William and Roseline Jane (nee Taylor) Dengate. Before marriage Mabel worked as a maid in Cliftonville, Margate, Kent. After an earlier broken engagement, it was here she met her husband Godolphin Mitford Rose (known as George), who was working in the same hotel as a waiter. The hotel (Norfolk Hotel?) is no longer there. George was the youngest child of Walter Osborne Rose, a Corn and Seed Merchant from Alton (and originally Chesham) in Hampshire. After marriage the couple lived in a flat in Ladywell, Catford, south London where their first child Harold Osborn was born on 14 June 1914.

For a short time during the First World War they lived elsehwere in southern England where George Rose, having been called up, was stationed for ambulance duty. However on health grounds George was discharged and returned to regular employment. Around 1916 their second child, George was born. George died aged about 5 years in a diphtheria epidemic.

Photo of Godolphin sent to Mabel Florence and children c.1918 / 1919

Godolphin and Mabel Florence Rose with son, Harold and Godolphin's sister (far left), Dorothy c.1915 / 1916

Godolphin and Mabel Florence Rose with this children Harold (centre), George (left) and Mabel Gladys (right) c.1920

Probably during the later part of the First World War the family moved to Fir Hill Road, Bellingham where their first daughter, Mabel Gladys was born on 27 May 1918, and later Hilda Georgina on 9 December 1923.

George's sister Dorothy (Dee) and husband Walter Forward had lived in the adjacent flat in Ladywell and continued to live very near by in Bellingham, also in Fir Hill Road.

At some point during these years George Rose began his career with the Prudential Insurance Company.

After some years in Bellingham the family moved to Camden Avenue, Peckham where Mabel's' last child, James Alfred was born on 3 August 1930.

Mabel's younger brother Harold Dengate also lived with the family for several years first at Bellingham and then at Peckham, until his marriage in 1932.

Also around 1932 the family moved to Kent House Road in Beckenham.

In about 1937 the family moved to 39, Slades Hill, Enfield as a result of George's promotion. He was a regional manager for the Prudential based in Enfield and managed the work of a team of insurance agents. Incidentally his son James also joined the Prudential as did his son-in-law Ronald Scales (husband of Gladys), as well as the husband of a niece. The Prudential seemed to become a family project!

Broadstairs was a favourite place for holidays, enabling visits to other Dengate relatives.

In the 1930's George and Mabel were among the first in their area to own a car.

The family stayed in Enfield throughout the Second World War and many nights were spent cramped and sleepless in the underground air raid shelter.

Godolphin and Mabel Florence Rose with daughter Gladys c.1940

Mabel and George were very hospitable with frequent visits from relatives and friends. George was a gifted pianist able to play by ear and this was a source of entertainment both at home and in the local pub.

Slades Hill, Enfield was where Mabel was living when she died on 20 May 1950 aged 58 after a battle with cancer. Dying at a relatively young age, meant that Mabel never knew any of her three grandchildren. Mabel was interred in Lavender Hill Cemetery on 25 May 1950 (Grave 2072. C. General). The memorial stone carries the inscription, "Sunshine fails and shadows fall, but love and remembrance outlasts all". George was interred in the same grave, but unfortunately there is no inscription to mark this on the grave. Mabel's husband, George continued to live in Enfield and married shortly after a widowed family friend who died 6 weeks after the marriage. He subsequently married a third time to his housekeeper. After retirement they moved to Bognor Regis where his third wife outlived him.

Mabel's living descendants as of May 2007 are daughter Hilda and son James, three grandsons and six great-grandchildren.

Additional Note:

Of some interest and mystery is the unusual name of Mabel's husband - Godolphin Mitford Rose. This is a separate story. However, it can be noted that he was named after a Godolphin Mitford who was one of the original pioneers of Theosophy in India, where he was an eccentric and controversial figure who can be read about in the early history of Theosophy. He wrote on aspects of the Occult and married a Gujarati Muslim by whom he had two children. He died in his 40's in the late 19th century, one record stating that he went insane. It is assumed that this original Godolphin Mitford was a relative of Mabel's husband on his mother's side as there are signed photos of the original Godolphin Mitford still in the family and of his mother who is described as a cousin.

CENSUS:

1901 Census

Grateful thanks to Adrian R. Watkins for the photos of Mabel and family and for writing this biography.