Florence Roberts Skinner died

Skinner’s health had not been good for some time, but her friends considered her death unexpected.

Fenwick was a popular resort in Connecticut, and the Matson Cottage, likely owned by William L. Matson, seems to have been one of several cottages available for rent there.  None of this is stated explicitly in Skinner’s obituary, but the Skinner family appears to have vacationed in Fenwick regularly.

1. The Skinners had been staying at the Matson Cottage since early July, in hopes that the stay at the shore would improve Florence Roberts Skinner’s health.
2. On August 1, 1904, Florence Roberts Skinner entertained a number of friends from Hartford at Fenwick.
3. On August 3, 1904, Skinner took suddenly ill. Phineas H. Ingalls attended to her.

“She was deservedly popular in society of which she had been a leading spirit for years.  The husband and children will have the sympathy of hosts of friends in their bereavement.”

Phineas H. Ingalls was the Skinner family physician.

Unattributed.  “Mrs. W. C. Skinner dead,” Hartford Courant, August 5, 1904, page 5.