At Mildmay, we are honoured to preserve the memory of the remarkable individuals who have shaped our history.
Recently, we received a poignant addition to our archives - a remembrance card for Miss Marshall, a Deaconess who faithfully served Mildmay for 16 years.
This card, kindly donated to our archives by John Tranter, Archivist for the Methodist Church in the Sheffield District, recalls Miss Marshall’s dedicated service and death in 1884. She passed away at the age of 49, having contracted a fever in the course of her duties at Mildmay Mission Hospital in Bethnal Green.
The Mildmay Deaconesses were women who dedicated their lives to caring for the most vulnerable in society. Their work at the hospital, which began in the mid-19th century, played a significant role in serving the poor and sick in East London, often at great personal risk.
It is unknown what specific fever Miss Marshall succumbed to, though given the conditions at the time, it could have been any number of serious diseases. The East End was one of the most impoverished and overcrowded areas in England, rife with infectious illnesses such as typhus, tuberculosis, and cholera - there had been a severe cholera outbreak in the 1860s. Into this harsh environment came educated, middle-class women like Miss Marshall, who chose to dedicate themselves to the care of the poor and sick, pioneering one of Britain’s first organised nursing services. Miss Marshall's remembrance note is a poignant record of their sacrifice and commitment. Her legacy, and the legacies of all the Mildmay Deaconesses, continue to inspire our mission today.
We are grateful to Mr. Tranter for ensuring that Miss Marshall’s card has found its home in our historical archives, where it will be preserved as part of Mildmay’s enduring story of compassion and service.
To learn more about the history of Mildmay Hospital and the Deaconesses who served here, visit our history page.
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