The following paragraph in Chapter XIII is believed to refer to Arthur Savory’s first wife, Frances:
My farm had the reputation of being a good cheese farm but a bad butter farm; in spite, however, of this tradition, I determined to establish a pedigree Jersey herd for butter-making. For early in my occupation I had abandoned the cheese manufacture of my predecessor and later the production of unprofitable beef. My wife attended various lectures and demonstrations and was soon able to prove that the bad character of the farm for this purpose was not justified. Within a few years she covered one wall of the dairy with prize cards won at all the leading shows and found a ready market for the produce, chiefly by parcel post to friends. The butter, although it commanded rather a better price than ordinary quality, was considered not only by them but by the villagers more economical, as owing to its solidity and freedom from butter mil, it would keep good indefinitely and “went much further”.
Frances Matilda Cowper was born at Herne Bay, Kent, in 1849, the daughter of Charles and Frances Cowper. It seems as though her parents must have died (or been out of the country as, in the announcement of her marriage in 1873, her father was described as late HEICS, presumed to mean Indian Civil Service) as, in 1851, she was a visitor in the home of Charles and Lydia Besant in Watford. By 1861 she was described as their adopted daughter and lived with them at their home in Watford, together with their three children.
On 12th November 1873, Frances married Arthur Herbert Savory at Alton, Hampshire. He had recently taken on the tenancy of Aldington Manor House and farm, Worcestershire. Their daughter, Cynthia Mildred, was born the following year and baptised at Badsey on 15th November.
Frances Savory died on 5th October 1883 and was buried in Badsey churchyard.