Charles Allen Du Val

Catherine Shimwell 1844-1932

Catherine Du Val

Catherine Shimwell was born in Manchester in 1844, the daughter of Thomas Shimwell 1814-1892 and his wife née Ann Bartram. She was called Kate in the family. Her father Thomas Shimwell was a calico printer in Manchester.

She was married on 29 November 1865 to Gerald Du Val in Manchester Cathedral. He was born in Manchester on 27 October 1840, the son of Charles Allen Du Val and his wife Elizabeth Renney.

When the Census was taken in 1871 they were living with their children at 246 Plymouth Grove, Chorlton-on-Medlock in Manchester. In 1881 and 1891 they were living at 284 Dickenson Road, Rusholme in Manchester. Their children, all born in Manchester, were:

Allen Du Val. Born in December 1866, he became a chemist, and emigrated to South America. He married Carlota Patricia Louisa Hoard, and died on 6 July 1914 in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Lucy Du Val. She was born in March 1869, and married Edwin Temple-Smith. She died in 1934.

Gerald Shimwell Du Val. He was born in 1870. He had been a private soldier in the 1st King's Own Dragoon Guards, but was at his parents' home when he died on 8 February 1898 from a fall while sleepwalking. An inquest was held on 10 and 17 February 1898.

Bessie Du Val. She was born in 1872, and married her cousin George Kipping. She became a well known artist and illustrator. She died in 1959.

Blanche Du Val. She was born in 1875, and married Norman Melland.

Bartram Du Val. He was born in 1877. He married Margaret Shimwell on 24 June 1902 at Gatley in Cheshire, and was the father of the mathematician Patrick Du Val 1903-1987 (1). During the First World War Bartram Du Val served in the Manchester Regiment. He died in 1961 at Battle, Sussex.

Denis Du Val. He was born in 1879. He emigrated to the outback of Australia. He joined the Australian Imperial Force on 4 December 1914, serving as a Corporal in the 10th Light Horse Regiment. He embarked in February 1915 and was killed in action at Gallipoli on 7 August 1915 (2).

Their father Gerald Du Val died in 1895 aged only 55 years. He was recorded in the censuses as an artist or as an artist and photographer. In 1869 he exhibited a portrait at the Royal Manchester Institution (later to become Manchester Art Gallery).

His wife Catherine Du Val née Shimwell outlived him by many years, and died aged 88 years in Manchester in 1932.

(1) A full obituary of Patrick Du Val is in the Bulletin of the London Mathematical Society volume 21 (1989) at pages 93 to 99 by J.A. Tyrrell of King's College, London.
(2) Australian War Memorial : First World War Nominal Roll Page - AWM133, 15-046.