Thomas and Elizabeth (Eliza) Catherine Skynner (1795¹⁾ -1863) were married at Cookham, Berkshire by the long-term vicar there, Rev. Richard Whately on 31 December 1818. Perhaps because Thomas had two very young daughters to care for, and his need for money, the marriage took place a little over a year after his first wife died. The year of their marriage is confirmed by a silver case ²⁾ with an inscription on it that it was given to Colonel Prior by his wife Eliza Skynner on their marriage in 1818. The details of the marriage were also provided by TLM-P to the College of Heralds.³⁾ As noted elsewhere, despite Thomas' financial fecklessness, the marriage appears to have been a happy one, with all the children enjoying a loving relationship.

Eliza Prior died on 18 November 1863.⁴⁾ Jemima wrote immediately to TLM-P, saying that his mother had died from heart disease, with her husband by her side. He would, Jemima wrote to TLM-P. 'feel her loss deeply' after being married so long.⁵⁾ That letter, in an envelope with a black border, took over two months to reach TLM-P.⁶⁾ She had been ill for some time, and prepared for death. TLM-P wrote, that 'if ever there was faith and hope on earth it was in her, may we follow her steps.'⁷⁾

Eliza's parents were William Augustus⁸⁾ and Mary Skynner nee Orlebar of Moor Hall, Cookham, Berkshire, England. The Orlebar's lived at Hinwick House, Bedfordshire (now a luxurious hotel.⁹⁾ In his 1882 diary, TLM-P recalls when on a trip between Uxbridge (now in west London) and Amersham, it was near where 'Uncle Augustus Skynner was taking us to [Birds?]'(19 August)

TLM-P visited the Orlebar family at Hinwick House in May-June 1882 at a sad time: the current Orlebar (a little man 'ferretty with red hair') had been doing what 'he could to retrieve what his father had done but heavy interest on mortgages, bad seasons one after another, rents unpaid etc., so with all their striving has failed and now they have to shut up the House and leave.' Though they had two 'steady' sons in professions, Mr Orlebar had only an agency which would bring in £100 p.a. income, a significant came-down for the family. TLM-P thought that it would need an income of £20,000 p.a. to maintain Hinwick House. Among the portraits owned by the Orelars was one of Eliza's Orlebar grandfather, 'nothing like the miniature of my Grandfather, W.A. Skynner who married his daughter Mary O[rlebar]'. He also mentioned that nearby Pollington Church contained the graves of his maternal ancestors.¹⁰⁾ TLM-P was sufficiently impressed with this past grandeur that, two years later, he named his youngest son Julius Orlebar M-P.

This sketch of 'Miss E. Skynner, Moor Hall Berks 1816' is by an unknown artist.¹¹⁾
In the bottom right hand corner, is the faint name, E. Prior.
This painting is unidentified but, given the similarity with the unfinished sketch of a girl (shown ?) is probably by William M-P. Given her age and dress, it is possibly Eliza Prior. It is likely to be the painting mentioned in TLM-P's will - of his mother by W.A.M. Prior.¹²⁾

Evidence of Eliza Prior's strong religious nature comes from the books which she owned. Almost all of them are religious ones, with a strong evangelical flavour.¹³⁾ 1. Collected works of Bishop Joseph Hall, published in 1617. The works include Hall’s uncompromising anti-Catholic tract with a title that leaves no room for misinterpretation!: 'No Peace with Rome. Wherein is proved, that (as termes now stand) there can be no reconciliation of the Reformed Religion, with the Romish (and that the Romanists are in all the fault)'. It also includes his still-popular 'Meditations and Vowes, Divine & Morall [Moral]: Serving For Direction in Christian and ciuill [civil] practise'. Eliza was 26 years old when she was given this book, with the following dedication:

John Green & Maria Ethelreda Bishop to their beloved Sister Eliza Prior greeting – May the Lord bless the Perusal of their volume which is full of comfort, experience, and instruction. April 25, 1821.

This inscription reads like a Bishop’s greeting to a ‘sister’ in Christ, while the names suggest a couple with the surname Bishop: another mystery that needs further research.

2. The Saints’ Everlasting Rest; or, a Treatise of The Blessed State of the Saints in their Enjoyment of God in Heaven, published 1814 and given to her by the Rev. G. Valpy.

3. Physico-Theology: or, a demonstration of the Being and Attributes of God … by W. Derham, Eliza wrote in it that it was ‘Bought at the sale of Mr Nelson’s Books late secretary to Mr[?] Rob: Walpole & Fell: of Kings coll: Camb: [ie. Fellow of Kings College, Cambridge University]'.

4. A Connected View of some of the Scriptural Evidence of the Redeemer's Speedy Personal Return …by James Begg, 3rd Edn., 1831, with the inscription ‘E. Prior 1831’.

5. Theron and Aspasio, another evangelical book that remains popular today. It had a major impact on Eliza, as seen by her writing inside it:

Eliza Prior. This book she has found a treasure indeed, as it easily convinced her, that Christ was all. May her dear children read it with attention, and may they be led by the influence of the Holy Spirit to take Christ as their portion, and to say that they “count all things but less for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus their Lord.
6. The Titles of Christ viewed Prophetically: Being Lectures delivered during Lent, 1857 … by Twelve Clergymen of the Church of England, London: John Farquhar Shaw, 1857. In it is written 'Mrs Prior; Southsea August 31st 1857.'

7. The Gospel-Mystery of Sanctification … Suited especially to the cases of those who labour under the GUILT and POWER of IN-DWELLING SIN. To which are added, A Sermon on JUSTIFICATION… by Walter Marshall, London, Joseph Johnson, 1765. The name written in it is simply 'Eliza –'.

8. Issac Watts, Logick: or, the right Use of Reason in the Inquiry after Truth, with a variety of rules to guard against error in the affairs of religion and human life, as well as in the sciences, Charles Elliot: Edinburgh, 1781.

There is also a book of sketches of Bruges presented to 'Mrs Prior from Mrs Longdon, Bruges, April 26th 1843'.¹⁴⁾ Another book, an ornately bound Bible produced by the evangelical Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, was given by Eliza Prior to her husband as a birthday present, not neglecting to add a bit of proselytising when she wrote in it:

Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Murray Prior From his affectionate Wife - August 1st 1856¹⁵⁾ “Being heirs together of the grace of life”, may we be joint Partakers of that Kingdom which Christ is preparing for His faithful Followers. “being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ - Rom V - 1. Mark the perfect Man, and behold the upright - for the end of that man is Peace. Ps xxxvii.v.37.

Eliza Prior remained a committed Christian, as shown by her gifts to her son TLM-P. One was The Churchman’s Monthly Penny Magazine and Guide to Christian Truth, vol IV, June 1849-December, 1850. She wrote in it: ‘T.L.M. Prior from his affectionate Parents. August 1851. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and bless you and may His Love reign in your heart for evermore.' A second book gift to her son was made in the year of her death. It was Bishop Colenso and the Pentatench or, The Bible in the Gospels. A vindication of the Historical Character of the Old Testament¹⁶⁾ The book is still being sold to those eager for its affirmation of the literal truth of the Bible. This copy is inscribed 'T.L. Murray and Matilda Prior from their affectionate Mother. February 17th 1863.' She followed with a Biblical quote stating that 'All Scripture is given by inspiration of God … That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works'.

Eliza absorbed the church's general injunction of the time that women should be self-sacrificial. Certainly, when faced with a spendthrift husband whose career was curtailed by peace, and four children to support, she had little choice. When recalling his emigration to Australia, TLM-P acknowledged his mother's sacrifice to help him, writing that: 'Mother … [gave me all the money] she could possibly spare from their modest allowance and made me take the few sovereigns which would diminish home comforts for the quarter [til next payday]'.¹⁷⁾

This is a mourning ring, worn to indicate (along with the strict wearing of black) the recent death of a loved one.¹⁸⁾ The writing around the centre funeral urn states that it is in memory of ‘Mary Skynner OB [who died aged] 63 [on] 14 November 1797’. Given her age, this Mary could not be Eliza’s mother, but perhaps her grandmother? Research into the death of Mary Skynner will hopefully resolve this mystery although it was before State registration of deaths.