Mother of J.R.R. Tolkien. Mabel Suffield was born in Birmingham, one of six children of John Suffield, a draper who had become a commercial traveller, and his wife Emily (nee Sparrow.) In March 1891, she sailed from Southampton to Cape Town to marry Arthur Tolkien. Their two sons, Ronald (1892) and Hilary (1894) were born in South Africa; but, while his wife and children were on a visit to Birmingham, Arthur died of a haemorrhage, and the family remained in England. In June 1900, Mabel and her sister May were received into the Roman Catholic Church, and her children were brought up in that faith. However, Mabel, like her husband, died young, of a diabetic coma.
Mother of J.R.R. Tolkien. Mabel Suffield was born in Birmingham, one of six children of John Suffield, a draper who had become a commercial traveller, and his wife Emily (nee Sparrow.) In March 1891, she sailed from Southampton to Cape Town to marry Arthur Tolkien. Their two sons, Ronald (1892) and Hilary (1894) were born in South Africa; but, while his wife and children were on a visit to Birmingham, Arthur died of a haemorrhage, and the family remained in England. In June 1900, Mabel and her sister May were received into the Roman Catholic Church, and her children were brought up in that faith. However, Mabel, like her husband, died young, of a diabetic coma.
