Ada Eliza Gordon (1853 – 1921)

Ada Eliza Percy was born on 19 August 1853 in Philadelphia the daughter of George Peover and Hariet Mary, nee Pullen, Percy. In the 1861 census she was recorded living with her parents and sisters Eva Henrietta, aged 5, Florence, aged 3, and Edith Annie, aged 1, at St Mary’s Hill in Newbury, her father George was a currier.

Ten years later in the 1871 census Ada was recorded living at 1 Carleton Road in Islington, her occupation was music governess.

In January 1872 and 1873 Mr R H Williams announced his annual concert of sacred and secular music performed at Newbury Town Hall and one of his assistants was Miss Ada Percy, R.A,M. In 1872 the programme started with a duet on piano and harmonium played by Mrs Williams and Ada. 

It appears Ada then moved around. In 1877 she placed notices in the local papers that she was a teacher of the pianoforte and accepting pupils at Pelham Crescent in Hastings. She was described as a late student of the Royal Academy of Music and Assistant Professor at the London Conservatoire of Music. On 6 June 1877 Ada’s younger sister Gertrude Elizabeth died at Pelham Crescent aged just 15.

Two years later in October and November 1879 Ada was teaching in Upper Norwood with notices placed in the local paper.

 In article regarding Ada appeared in the Reading Mercury of 31 July 1880 as below.

Miss Percy, R.A.M. – This accomplished artiste, whose parents reside at St Mary’s Hill, and who will be well remembered in this town, where she has on many occasions performed upon the pianoforte before large audiences, has recently gone to reside at Adelaide, in South Australia. Speaking of her performance at a grand concert given at the Glenelg Institute there, one of the Papers says- “The concert was distinguished by the first appearance in South Australia of a celebrated pianiste, Miss Ada Percy, R.A.M., a pupil of Sir Julius Benedict. She opened the programme with a fantasia from Weber’s ‘Der Freischutz,’arranged by Jules Benedict, and her precision of score and lightness and rapidity of touch soon evidenced that the high reputation she bears is well merited.”

Ada married Charles J Gordon on 30 December 1881 in Australia. A son Harry Percy Gordon was born in Victoria, Australia in 1882. No details of Charles have been found after the birth of his son Harry. 

In the 1891 census Ada was recorded as a widow living at 63 Cheap Street in Newbury along with her son Harry, the head of the house was her aunt Eliza Keane. Ada was a teacher of music. Her parents and siblings were living at 64 Cheap Street.

In the 1901 census Ada was living at 64 Cheap Street with her widowed mother and sisters Edith and. Isabel, Edith had no occupation recorded but Ada her mother and sister Isabel were all shop keepers selling fancy articles. Just two years later Edith’s mother Harriet Mary died in September 1903 and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemeteryon 9 September.

In the 1911 census Ada was living at 2 Hampstead Terrace with her sisters Edith and Isabel. Edith was the head of the house and all three sisters were recorded as being of private means.

Ada died in January 1921 aged 67 while still living at 2 Hampstead Terrace and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 28 January

Ada’s parents George Peover and Harriet Mary Percy were buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 13 May 1899 and 9 September 1903 respectively. In addition, five of her sisters were also buried at Newtown Road Cemetery, Florence on 24 July 1865, Eva Henrietta on 15 April 1874, Ethel Frances Mary on 1 October 1890, Edith Annie on 3 March 1926 and Isabel on 27 June 1942.

Author: soper
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