Mary Kate KIRTON (1882-1943)

Mary Kate Kirton (1882-943), known as Molly, was a nurse and often acted as nurse for members of the Robinson family of Richmond, which included Mary Anna Robinson, who was the sister of Eugénie Sladden.

Molly Kirton was born on 16th November 1882 at Stoke Newington, Middlesex, the second of three surviving children of Thomas Saunders Kirton, an accountant, and his wife, Kate.  In 1891 they lived at Fairbank, Foots Cray, Kent.  Thomas died in 1892 when Molly was ten years old.  Following Thomas’ death, the Kirtons moved to 39 Lancaster Park, Richmond.

Molly trained as a nurse and seems to have got to know the Robinsons through her great-aunt, Mary Kerton, who was visiting Frances Hester Robinson at 32 Sheen Road, Richmond, in both 1891 and 1901.  Frances was the spinster sister-in-law of Mary Anna Robinson, who lived two doors away at Marshgate House.

In 1911 Molly was acting as nurse for Anna Gillio (Mary Anna’s daughter) and her newborn son, Dalgarno.  In August 1914, when Mary Anna Robinson needed assistance, Molly went to stay for a short time.  She left in October 1914 to work at Richmond Hospital.  Molly went to stay with Mary Anna Robinson for a few days in February 1915 when the Kirton family were in the processes of moving from Lancaster Park to a cheaper house in Mount Ararat Road, which enabled her mother and sister to get her room ready for her.

Molly married Edward Richard Jenks Burlton on 12th March 1931 at St Andrew by the Wardrobe, Blackfriars, London.  She was widowed four years later, when Edward died at The Royal Hospital, Richmond.  At the time of the 1939 register, Molly was living at 153 Woodhouse Road, Friern Barnet, employed as a nurse companion.

Molly died at The Buchanan Hospital, St Leonards-on-Sea, on 2nd June 1943.  Francis Edwin Walton, the grandson of Mary Anna Robinson, was the solicitor who dealt with probate.