Maria Elizabeth (Marian) Wildgoose was born in Clifton, Bristol. She was the daughter of James and Emma Painter and was baptized on 9 Mar 1856 at St. Michael's Church, Bristol^[1]. She became the second wife of Robert Wildgoose; they married in Kensington, London towards the end of 1891. She was to be found living in London in 1881^[2], next door to her brother Frederick George, later Sir F G Painter, who was a Chartered Accountant. At the time of her marriage, and for many years afterwards, she lived at The Gables on Chesterfield Road^[2] but at some time between 1916 and 1925 she moved to Stoneycroft, the house she had built on Cavendish Road. She died on 19 May 1937 at the Queen Mary Nursing Home, Derby^[3].

Her husband, Robert Wildgoose (1822 - 1900), was described in the 1881 census as the Trustee Manager For Hosiery Manufacturer Employing Nine Hundred Work People^[2]. He was managing Lea Mills at that time and living in at The Poplars, Holloway, with his first wife, Ann, and their servants. He was still living at Holloway in 1887, by which time he had become a Justice of the Peace^[4]. But by 1891 he had retired from the Mill and was living at The Gables with two of his female cousins, Elizabeth and Hannah. He was by then a widower^[2].

He was baptised at Matlock Church on 3 Nov 1822 and was the son of John and Fanny Wildgoose of Greenhill^[5]. He married first Ann, the daughter of Aaron Stoppard of Lea, on 20 Dec 1847 at Ashover Parish Church^[6].

Robert became involved with the management of Smedley's Hydro. "In 1875, the institution was acquired by a limited company, of which Mr. R. Wildgoose was the chairman, a post he continued to fill until his death in 1900" (Bryan, p.224^[7]). Whilst he was chairman the company invested £30,000 on modernization and also enlarged and improved the building on three occasions in 1881, 1884 and 1886.

He was also one of the directors of the Tram company and made a gift of the Tram Shelter and its clock to the town. "The structure was formally opened for use and the clock started by the donor and his wife on the 12th December, 1889, the Chairman of the Urban Council, Mr. E. Slack, and many inhabitants being present to express their hearty acknowledgements. A suitably inscribed brass plaque perpetuates the name of the generous donor, the cost to whom was £25" (Bryan, p.77-8^[7]). He was also listed as one of the Board of Governors of Matlock's Causeway Lane Almshouses (Bryan, p.74^[7]).