Alice Austin died at Stoneleigh Abbey in 1838 at the age of 34. She was born on 19 March 1804 in Henley-on-Thames, the daughter of James Austin and Sarah nee Joyce, and was baptised there on 25 March.
Alice wrote a memorandum of her wishes when she was seriously ill in 1837, and a lengthy legal document reveals that she had been in the service of Chandos Leigh for three years, first at Bryanston Square in London, and then at Stoneleigh Abbey. She was to have been married to Charles Messer, who was in the service of Sir John Beresford of Portland Place, London, and wished that three pairs of silk stockings, a watch, silver tea and table spoons and the contents of her Savings Bank account should go to Charles after her death. Several fellow servants swore to the truth of this in the presence of the Stoneleigh minister, Archibald Morrison. Thus we can discover something of the life and concerns of people of relatively humble status.
Alice was buried at Stoneleigh on 13 June 1838.
