The privileged life and tragic death of an 11-year-old Tipperary girl – The Irish Times

A display at the Museum of Hidden History in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, showcases the personal belongings of Dorothy May Petronell Grubb, an 11-year-old girl who died of typhoid in 1919, offering a poignant glimpse into the life of a privileged family in early 20th-century Ireland.

A Child’s Life Preserved

The exhibit features a photograph of Petronell, described as solemn and lovely, wearing a pendant necklace. Alongside the image are items from her life, including a blue stuffed duck, leather gloves purchased in London, a silver cutlery set, a partially completed linen shirt, schoolwork, and a lock of her hair tied with a pink ribbon.

Petronell grew up in a wealthy Quaker family at Ardmayle, near Cashel, Co Tipperary, with three older brothers. She contracted typhoid while on holiday in Killarney with her parents, Sara Mary and Louis Henry Grubb, and died within a week.

Family History and Remembrance

Following Petronell’s death, her grieving mother collected her possessions and stored them in a box. These items remained with the family for decades before being donated to the Museum of Hidden History in 2019 by Petronell’s niece and namesake, Petronelle Clifton Brown.

The 1911 census recorded 14 members of the Grubb household, including a butler, nurse, governess, cook, laundress, housemaid, and three additional maids, reflecting the family’s wealth and social standing. Henry Louis Grubb was listed as the head of the household with no specified profession.

Clifton Brown, now 84, shared family heirlooms with a reporter, including the christening gown worn by all four Grubb children, a photograph of her grandmother, and Petronell’s travelling clock. She described the family’s history and the significance of preserving these memories.

Petronell was buried in the grounds of Ardmayle church, and her grave is marked by a white marble cross. Local tradition held that daffodil bulbs were planted to spell out her name each spring, though now the plot is covered in small stones.

Clifton Brown expressed her belief in sharing these artifacts as a way to connect with the past and understand the lives of those who came before. The exhibit at the Museum of Hidden History has become a popular attraction, offering visitors a moving and intimate look into a life cut short.