Peter Stuart – known as the "Ditton Doctor" – was a Lancashire shipowner, merchant and lay homeopath. An extensive account of his life was written by his son, Mazzini, and it makes for fascinating reading. He did many great works during his life including devoting one afternoon a week for forty years to giving homeopathic medication to the poor; founding the firm Stuart and Douglas in West Africa, and banishing the slave trade from that region. According to his son: He was proud of the fact that he never made a cent out of the slave trade; a form of commerce which he detested.
Peter married Ellen Moss in 1840 and the couple moved their family from Ditton to Elm House in Seaforth in 1861. They had nine children in all; two daughters first and then seven sons consecutively.
Selina Stuart was born in 1841 and named after her mother's sister Selina Moss (Aunt Moss) who was, according to Mazzini, "like a second mother to the Stuart family". Young Selina became ill of health in later life but still took great pleasure in entertaining and providing for three to four thousand wounded soldiers during WWI.
Rachel Ann Stuart, "who of all Peter Stuart's children was the only one given two names," was born in 1843. The reason for her two names was to honour both grandmothers: Rachel was Ellen's mother, Ann was Peter's. She took after her father in taking an interest in homeopathy, also treating and curing many patients. According to her brother she was "endowed with a sweet and sympathetic disposition, and spent her life in endeavouring to assist others to carry their burdens." She married Thomas Walls Stephens and had children Thomas, Peter, Cromwell, Ellen and May.
Hahnemann Stuart was born in 1845 and named in honour of Samuel Hahnemann, the German physician who created the practice of homeopathy, and whom Peter Stuart greatly admired and corresponded with. Hahnemann follwed his father into the company of Stuart and Douglas.
Cromwell Stuart was born in 1847 and died young at the age of 22 while in West Africa. "He took a most ardent interest in his work, and his death was caused through his being over-foolish in going about unprotected from the sun...His death was a great grief to his parents." He was likely named for Oliver Cromwell.
Milton Stuart was born in 1849. He took over the shipping branch of his father's company and was a great supporter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, constantly putting a paid advertisement in the paper to advocate the cause. He was likely named for the poet Milton.
Peter Stuart was born in 1852. He was also a homeopath like his father, for whom he was named, as well as sharing the family trait for charity. According to his brother, he "was a man with a bright and sparkling disposition...a friend of the poor, and many to-day will testify as to the fees which he returned. He would have died a richer man but for this; but all credit to him, and he received the blessings of hundreds all over Lancashire." He married Edith Kate Simpson and had two sons, Francis Ronald and Peter Dudley.
Bellamy Stuart was named in honour of John Bellamy, a controversial Biblical Scholar who produced a new translation of the Bible, and a good friend of Peter Stuart. Bellamy was born in 1854 and also entered the family firm, but died at a young age from heart failure.
Orsini Stuart was born in 1857. He was named in honour of Felice Orsini, an Italian revolutionary with whom Peter was friends with and of whose cause he was a great supporter. Orsini Stuart was also a great advocate of homeopathy and had a son and a daughter, Royden and Mary.
Mazzini Stuart was born in 1861 and named in honour of Giuseppe Mazzini, another friend of Peter's and a fellow Italian patriot of Felice Orsini and advocate of homeopathy. Mazzini Stuart was made a justice of the Peace, in 1910, for the City of Liverpool and was a fellow supporter of homeopathy.
Milton Stuart had the largest brood of children, all also raised in Seaforth. In 1872 he married Margaret Molyneux (who was, quite literally, the girl next door) and together they had eleven children:
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Selina Stuart was born in 1875 and most likely named either after Milton's sister or aunt (or both). She became a nurse and was one of the first to proceed to the Front with the British Expeditionary Force, receiving the Mons ribbon. Her uncle, Mazzini, refers to her as Lena.
Esther Molyneux Stuart was born in 1877 and most likely named after Margaret's aunt Esther by whom she was raised. Young Esther took her M.D. at London University when aged 21 but sadly died young.
Jeanie Stuart Molyneux Stuart was born in 1878. Quite why she was given Stuart as a middle name as well as a surname is a mystery to me, but I suspect she was named after a "Jeanie Stuart" I have not been able to identify.
Ellen Cromwell Stuart was born in 1880 and was probaby named after Milton's mother Ellen and late brother Cromwell. Mazzini refers to her as Nellie.
Peter Stuart was born in 1881, named in honour of Milton's father.
Winstanley Maggie Stuart was born in 1884 and it is tempting to think her name came from another notable person, as was family custom. Her uncle Mazzini refers to her, rather adorably, as Wincy.
William Molyneux Stuart was born in 1886. William was the name of Margaret's uncle and guardian, the first Mayor of Bootle. He owned extensive property which Margaret and Milton inherited; the roads became named after family members (Bellamy Road, Hahnemann Road etc).
Milton Molyneux Stuart was born in 1887 and both he and his brother William served with destinction in WWI.
Dallas Ruby Stuart was born in 1889.
Thomas Simpson Stuart was born 1891 and most likely named after homeopath Thomas Simpson, a friend of Peter Stuart.
Robert Wylie Ayrton Stuart was born in 1893 and was the couple's youngest child.
