Matilda Batchelor: The Playfair Letters Project

Matilda Batchelor

Name: Matilda Batchelor
Nicknames: None that we know of
Date of Birth: Unknown
Date of Death: Unknown
Place of birth: England
Notes: The mother of Ruth and Netta. Born Matilda Watkins, she was the daughter of a famous jockey. Her mother died in childbirth and then her father died in a racing accident, leaving her an orphan. She lived with relatives and ultimately was asked to go and care for an aunt who was dying. She did, and when the aunt died, the aunt's husband (Matilda's uncle by marriage, who was a wealthy horseman named Jennings) asked her to marry him. She accepted and had three children with him, eventually moving to France to live on one of his properties there. When he died, he left her and the three children extremely well off. After his death, she eventually re-married and became Mrs. Batchelor.

It sounds as though she may be living in Chantilly, France, at this point. (Ross's letter of 6 Jan. 1918 mentions Mary having been there. And his letter of 10 Jan. 1918 mentions her recent visit to Mrs. Batchelor. One presumes this was the same trip as the visit to Chantilly.)
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