Mary Constantia Clifford
The noble Mary Constantia Clifford was the daughter of Hugh Charles, seventh Lord Clifford (1790-1858), and Mary Lucy Weld (1799-1831). Ugbrooke Park (Devon) was her place of birth. Her first husband, William Joseph Vavasour, Esq. (Esquire), was the son of Sir Edward Marmaduke Vavasour (1786-1847) and Marcia Bridget Lane-Fox (1792-1826). William Vavasour departed for New Zealand in 1842 as a young man, along with members of the Weld and Clifford families, but returned to England to marry Mary Clifford on January 12, 1846, at Allerton Park (Yorkshire), and to take over the management of Hazlewood Castle from his father. Together, they had seven children, six of whom reached adulthood, including Mary Vavasour. Her husband passed away on January 11, 1860, at the age of just 38.
On February 8, 1865, she entered into her second marriage, this time with Maurice Dennis Kavanagh. The family then traveled to Bruges a few weeks later. In Bruges, two daughters, Constantia (Dotty) and Blanche, were born. The family resided at 19 Sint-Annarei in Bruges, directly opposite Guido Gezelle, who at the time served as assistant priest at Sint-Walburga and lived at 20 Verwersdijk. Mary maintained a close relationship with Gezelle and they frequently exchanged books.
Due to Maurice Kavanagh's legal studies, Mary and the children relocated to England, specifically Eldon House, Queen’s Road, Clapham Park (London). There, she took charge of the household, dedicated herself to helping the poor in the neighborhood, attended daily Mass, and faithfully visited her confessor, Father Lans of the Redemptorists. From 1875 onwards, she lived separately from her second husband, and they officially divorced in 1887. Between 1886 and 1892, she resided at Westbrook House, 3 Warwick Terrace, Leamington Spa. Mary cared for her brother, Bishop William J.H. Clifford, during the final stages of his protracted kidney disease. He had been consecrated as a bishop in the Sistine Chapel by Pius IX on February 15, 1857, and he passed away on August 14, 1893. Mary Clifford herself died on March 18, 1898.
On February 8, 1865, she entered into her second marriage, this time with Maurice Dennis Kavanagh. The family then traveled to Bruges a few weeks later. In Bruges, two daughters, Constantia (Dotty) and Blanche, were born. The family resided at 19 Sint-Annarei in Bruges, directly opposite Guido Gezelle, who at the time served as assistant priest at Sint-Walburga and lived at 20 Verwersdijk. Mary maintained a close relationship with Gezelle and they frequently exchanged books.
Due to Maurice Kavanagh's legal studies, Mary and the children relocated to England, specifically Eldon House, Queen’s Road, Clapham Park (London). There, she took charge of the household, dedicated herself to helping the poor in the neighborhood, attended daily Mass, and faithfully visited her confessor, Father Lans of the Redemptorists. From 1875 onwards, she lived separately from her second husband, and they officially divorced in 1887. Between 1886 and 1892, she resided at Westbrook House, 3 Warwick Terrace, Leamington Spa. Mary cared for her brother, Bishop William J.H. Clifford, during the final stages of his protracted kidney disease. He had been consecrated as a bishop in the Sistine Chapel by Pius IX on February 15, 1857, and he passed away on August 14, 1893. Mary Clifford herself died on March 18, 1898.
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