We regret to announce the death, which took place somewhat unexpectedly about noon on Tuesday last, of Mrs. Sargent, wife of Mr. James Sargent, cab proprietor, of Duck-street, Rushden. For some years past, Mrs. Sargent had been in failing health, but the end was not regarded as imminent. On Tuesday morning, however, she showed signs of grave weakness, and she gradually sank, passing away at noon.

The deceased, who was 68 years of age, had been married about 46 years, and it is a curious coincidence that she passed away on the anniversary of her wedding day. Besides her husband, the deceased leaves two sons and two daughters.

The late Mrs. Sargent, who was a sister of Mr. Thomas Brightwell, of Rushden, was a native of Rushden, as is her bereaved husband. She was a member of the Park-road Baptist Church and of the Rushden branch of the B.W.T.A.

At the annual meeting of the Rushden branch of the B.W.T.A. on Tuesday evening, the President (Mrs. J. Jaques), speaking with deep feeling, made a touching reference to the death of Mrs. Sargent.

It is my duty – she said – to ask you to pass a vote of sympathy with our friend and brother, Mr. James Sargent, and his family. Again our ranks have been thinned by death. It has fallen to our lot for some little time past to mourn the loss of several members. In looking back at some of my papers of two years ago, and the words I spoke then, we rejoiced in the fact that our ranks had not been thinned by death; but at this annual meeting we cannot say the same. Again we have to mourn and shed our tears of sorrow with the bereaved. We do this because we feel we are one family, bound together by the ties of love as an association of women, and we feel we must mourn with those who are sorrowing, and tonight our hearts go out towards the bereaved. I know our dear sister has been in failing health for some years past, but I believe the blow has fallen rather suddenly just at the last moment. The members of the family have lost a mother, and that is a terrible blow – a blow which we never get over. A friend said to me tonight, “Rest assured that if there is a heaven – and we are sure there is – our sister Mrs. Sargent has gone there.” We know that our friend has passed over to that place where there shall be no more separation, no more sighing, no more tears.

The expression of condolence was carried by a standing vote, and the hon. secretary was instructed to write a letter of sympathy to Mr. Sargent and the family.

The funeral takes place on Good Friday at 3 o’clock.