After the death of Tom Watson, in 1904, his widow Emma Claudine (nee Spreckels), married, in 1906, John Wakefield Ferris, of whom more later. Their daughter Jean Ferris was born on the 29th June 1910, two years after the death of her wealthy grandfather, Claus Spreckels. In his will, dated May 11th 1907, Claus appointed Jean's uncles, Claus junior and Rudolph, as executors to his estate. The will went through probate in San Francisco on July 9th 1909. Claus left his estate to his wife for life and thereafter to his daughter, Emma Claudine Ferris. His sons were deemed to have already received their share but remained as trustees to administer the estate.
On 18th January 1912, John and Emma Ferris took Jean, aged 1 year 6 months, to New York, presumably to visit the Spreckels Family. They travelled on the 'Olympic', sister ship to the 'Titanic' and amongst the passengers was the ship's owner, Joseph Ismay, who survived the sinking of the 'Titanic' in April of the same year.
On January 19th 1919 John, now 69, Emma, 49 and Jean, 8 crossed the Atlantic again on the 'Baltic' to visit Emma's family. The Ferris family lived at Kingswood Manor, Reigate, Surrey. John Wakefield Ferris died on 25th November 1920, aged 71, at 29 Wimpole Street, which eventually became part of the London Eye Hospital.
Emma Ferris married Arthur Hutton in the spring of 1922 so when John Wakefield Ferris' probate was granted on 23rd September 1922 she was already Mrs Hutton. Sadly she was to die only two years later, herself, leaving the nine year old Jean with her stepfather, Arthur Hutton, as her Guardian.
Jean's stepfather sounds like a very sympathetic person and, under the aegis of the Chancery Division of the High Court of Justice, he administered her fortune. Arthur Hutton died in 1943 at Nutfield Lodge, Hampden Park, Eastbourne, aged 86. He left £18,950 14s 3d. Ironically he survived his stepdaughter, Jean, by two years.
Lyn, Emma Spreckels led a fascinating life. She traveled with King Kalakaua across the country at age 11 and was celebrated in the royal court of Hawaii as a teenager. She may also have been the first surfer on the east coast of the US, I'm still trying to confidently id her as the Sandwich Island girl written about in 1888 surfing at Asbury Park NJ
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