Philip Noble Fawcett was born on 7 April 1863 in Dublin, Ireland, the younger child of Henry Fawcett (1835-1882) and Mary Maria Fawcett née Noble (1834-1906). On 1 May 1863 he was baptised in St. Peter's Church, Dublin.
In the 1871 census he is shown as aged 7 years and a scholar, living in Reeland House, Lime Grove Park, Putney, Surrey (now Greater London), with his parents and his elder brother Henry Hargreave Fawcett (1860-1943), together with four female general domestic servants. His father was described as a barrister in actual practice.
On the night of the 1881 census he is described as aged 17 years and a student visiting, together with his brother who was shown as an Oxford undergraduate, 31 Ampthill Square, St Pancras, London, the home of Elizabeth T. Dickinson, aged 68 years and an unmarried annuitant.
He was admitted as a student at Cambridge University, entering Clare College on 17 June 1882. In 1885 he obtained his BA (Bachelor of Arts) and his LL.B (Legum Baccalaureus - a holder of Bachelor of Laws degree). On 17 November 1885 he was Called to the Bar in Middle Temple. In 1889 he gained his MA (Master of Arts) and his LL.M.(Legum Magister - which means Master of Laws). He specialised as an equity draftsman and conveyancer and for 40 years was the Secretary of the Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England and Wales.
He is listed as Philip N. Fawcett, aged 27 years and a barrister-at-law in the 1891 census, living at 6 St. Andrew's Place, Marylebone, London, with his widowed mother and his brother who was described as a medical student, together with a cook, a parlour maid, a housemaid and a page boy.
On 23 August 1900 he married Annie Marian Nussey (1876-1970) in St Margaret's Church, Ilkley, Yorkshire, where in the marriage register he is shown as aged 37 years, a bachelor and a barrister residing at 2 Portman Mansions, London W, whilst his wife was described as aged 23 years, a spinster living at Ardenlea, Ilkley, the daughter of Benjamin Nussey (1841-1924), a gentleman. They were to have eight children: Henry Nussey Noble Fawcett (1902-1980); Elizabeth Noble Fawcett (1904-1952); Philip Patrick Noble Fawcett (1906-1985); Mary Noble Fawcett (1907-1939); Benjamin Edward Noble Fawcett (1909-1969); Marian Charlotte Noble Fawcett (1910-1973); Annie Noble Fawcett (1917-1994) and Octavia Bridget Noble Fawcett (1920-2020).
When the 1901 census was undertaken, his wife was staying with her mother at Oaklands School, Ilkley, Yorkshire, whilst he was shown as aged 37 years and a barrister-at-law, residing at 97 Worple Road, Wimbledon, Surrey (now Greater London), with a cook and a house/parlour maid.
The image on this page is an illustration by Edward A. Campbell seen in R.G. Harris’ “50 Years of Yeomanry Uniforms”: Our source for the image, Suburban Militarism, informs that the Campbell plate was itself based upon a photograph of the commander of Surrey Imperial Yeomanry's 'A' Squadron, Captain P. Noble Fawcett. The 1908 edition of Hart's Annual Army List confirmed that on 2 January 1904 he was appointed as a Major in the Surrey Imperial Yeomanry.
Again, when the 1911 census was undertaken his wife and five of their six children: Henry Nussey Noble Fawcett; Philip Patrick Noble Fawcett; Mary Noble Fawcett; Benjamin Edward Noble Fawcett and Marian Charlotte Noble Fawcett, were recorded as boarding in the nine roomed property called Westwood Farm, Ilkley, Yorkshire, whilst he was shown as aged 47 years and a barrister-at-law, boarding in a 15 roomed property at 14 Weymouth Street, Marylebone, the home of a Mr & Mrs Charles Garoz.
In the 1939 England and Wales Register he is shown as Fawcett, Philip N., the Secretary of the Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England and Wales and a Reserve Yeomanry Regiment Officer, living at 76 Heath Road, Petersfield, Hampshire, with his wife and two of their daughters: Annie Noble Fawcett and Octavia Bridget Noble Fawcett who were both listed as students.
He died, aged 78 years, on 27 February 1942, his death being registered in the 1st quarter of 1942 in the Surrey North-Eastern Registration District. Probate records show that his address had been Kings Garn, 32 Arterberry Road, Wimbledon, Surrey. Probate was granted to his widow on 20 July 1942 and his effects totalled £1,344-16s-0d.
He is shown as 'P. NOBLE FAWCETT. ESQ,. LL.M.' on the memorial stone at Nottingham House, Shorts Gardens, London, WC2.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
