Ottiwell Hastings Stanhope, known as Stanhope, was the son of William Stanhope Butler and his second wife, Adairine (Ada) Mary Smith (née Tisdall or Tisdell).
No record has yet been found of his parents registrations of birth and their ages on the census records are inconsistent. His parents variously used the surname Stanhope and Butler on census and registration records.
His father William was born in Dublin, Ireland, the son of Robert Butler, a silversmith. but, like Ottiwell's mother, William married first Frances Harly in Dublin in May 1865 and they had a daughter, Lucy Jane, in 1866. Fanny died the same year aged 18 and her daughter in 1871.
Ottiwell's mother was also born in Dublin, the daughter of Thomas Tisdell (also Tisdall) whose occupation was given as 'gentleman' on the certificate of marriage to William Butler. Adairine, home address Randagh Road, Dublin, married first Henry Dunthorne Smith in July 1869 (reg. Poole). The notice of their marriage in the Belfast Newsletter gave her husband's name as 'Henri Dunthorne' of Cavendish Square London. In 1871, the couple were living at College Avenue, London. Henry (Dunthorne) was an 'operatic artiste' and although Ada had no occupation on other records she was described as an actress (stage name Ada Tisdall). The couple separated in the 1870s and Henry died in 1883 (registered Reading Berkshire, 'Henry Dunthorne').
William Stanhope Butler, occupation comedian, and Adairine Mary Smith were married at St John, Hoxton, Hackney, London, in March 1884. Although Ada described her status as widow, William gave his status as bachelor. The couple were living at 106 Pitfield Street, but this may have been an accomodation address as they were living in Birkenhead in 1881, their fifth child was born in Birkenhead later that year, and in 1891 they were living in Toxteth Park, Lancashire.
William and Ada had five children, three of whom were born before their marriage, and two of the children died in infancy. Their children, who were born in either Birkenhead or Liverpool, were: William George Stanhope (Butler) b. 1878 bap. West Derby St Jude October 1878 d. 1878. Marianne Ada/Adairine (Stanhope) b. 1880 bap. Liverpool St Peter April 1880. Ottiwell Hastings Stanhope (Butler) b. 1882 (O/N/D) bap. Birkenhead St Mary 18 February 1883. Marie Violet Stanhope (Butler) b. 1884 bap. Birkenhead St Mary October 1884 (age 2 days) d. 1884. Robert Normanton Stanhope (Butler) b. 1886 bap. Birkenhead St Mary July 1886.
William and Ada, using the surname Stanhope, were recorded in Birkenhead, Cheshire, on the 1881 and 1891 Census. William's occupation was given as 'dramatic author' in 1881 and 'theatrical manager' in 1891, and his wife's as 'actress' in 1881 but in 1891, when the couple had three children and there was also a lodger (an actress) in the household, no occupation was given.
The family had moved to Upper Hill Street, Toxteth Park, by 1901. Ada (Butler), a furniture dealer, was head of household, and her three children were in the homeon the night of the census: Ada no occupation, Ottiwell a shipping clerk and Robert who was at school. William has not yet been traced on the 1901 Census.
However, by 1911 both William (Butler), an actor, and his wife were living at 17 River Avon Street, Smithdown Road, Liverpool. Only Marianne, an actress, and Robert, a clerk, were in the home on the night of the census. Ottiwell has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census, but may already have moved to Nottingham where the Nottingham Hippodrome had opened a few years earlier and of which he became an assistant manager.
Ottiwell's mother, Adairine Mary (Butler), died at Liverpool in December 1914 and was buried in Anfield Cemetery. Her Will (proven Ireland) named her husband and daughter as beneficiaries.
According to a newspaper report of Robert Butler's death in action in 1917, William was living in Paisley, Scotland. However, his death in 1921 was recorded in the Toxteth Park Lancashire registration district. (William Stanhope Butler).
Ottiwell married Martha Ann Bean in 1914 (reg. Nottingham) and they had a daughter, Marianne in March 1917.
Martha Ann was born in Sheffield in 1888 (bap. All Saints, Brightside October 1888), the daughter of George, a tailor, and Eliza Bean. She was living with her parents in Manchester in 1901 but by 1911 had moved to King's Meadow Road, Meadows, Nottingham, where she was living with her married sister, Florence (b. 1882 Lincoln) her husband Thomas Richard Dawn (m. 1900 Lincoln) and a niece, Mary Bean (3 b. Manchester). Martha was employed as a domestic housemaid.
Ottiwell and Martha lived initially at Chaucer Street, Nottingham, but later at 18 Auburn Terrace, Goldsmith Street, Nottingham, which was close to the Hippodrome where Ottiwell was assistant manager.
His widow was awarded a pension of 20 shillings and 5 pence (£1 5d) for herself and their child with effect from 17 June 1918. The WW1 Pension Ledgers record names Martha (incorrectly giving her year of birth as 1886) and her daughter Marianne. Ottiwell's possessions, which comprised letters, photographs, wallet, pipe and safety razor, were returned to Martha in August 1918.
Martha and Marianne were still living at 18 Auburn Terrace in 1921 and were at the same address the following year when Martha received the plaque and scroll. Martha has not yet been traced after this date, but her daughter probably married Donald P Lewis in 1941 (reg. Newbury Berkshire) and died in 1991.
Ottiwell's brother Robert was also killed in the war (see 'Extra information'). Marianne Ada probably survived her brothers as there is a record of a Marianne Ada Stanhope on the London (City of Westminster) electoral roll of 1939. She died at St Bernard's Hospital in Southall in April 1953.