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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Hampshire & Isle of Wight => Topic started by: JohnCH on Saturday 18 July 09 13:11 BST (UK)
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Walter (1891 - 1971) was my grandfather and I should like to know of anyone who can remember him in the Romsey area for research I am doing about his life. He was a great character and I feel sure he will be remembered by some.
He married Florence Wheeler, who died in 1948. They had two children Joanne and Ron and lived at The Causeway alongside the River Test at Romsey. Walter became Head Water Bailiff on the Mountbatten Estate at Broadlands. His time there spanned fifty years (he retired with a B.E.M. in 1963). In the photograph Walter Geary is fishing with BBC broadcaster Franklyn Englemann (foreground) on the River Test near Middle Bridge where he had a fishing hut. Walter became quite a legend! Please leave a message if you can kindly help my research.
With thanks. JohnCH.
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Could your Walter Geary have been the grandson of George Frederick Geary of Romsey. If so my wife is descended from this line back through Charles, Jack and James in Michelmarsh.
Oral history always was that the Geary's had worked Broadlands.
George's daughter Kate Emma Geary would marry Edwin Wyndham Thomas At Alverstoke. Their son Edwin Wyndham Davis Thomas mrd Clara Mary Boobyer at Tenby the daughter of William Boobyer and Mary Ann Oriel.
Interested in mutual assistance.
Rgds
Orielbenfro
ORIEL a welsh window on a surname
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Thank you so much for your reply. Maybe this will help. Walter, my grandfather was the son of John, a master thatcher and Sarah Geary (nee Vane). Sarah was born at Michelmersh. John Geary, who was initially from Kings Somborne and later lived in Brook died in 1911 and Sarah his wife in 1944. Walter had a brother, William George (b. 1887). I think George was the name he was known by. But what happened to him I have been unable to find out. He married Emily Topping and had two daughters. Does any of this tally with your information? When Walter was alive I was still quite young and not so interested to enquire about these things then, and never heard much about his side of the family.
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Hi, I have just noticed your article on Walter Geary, really interesting. Walter's mother, Sarah (nee Vane) was my 2nd cousin twice removed, hence Walter would have been my 3rd cousin once removed!
I note that you have Sarah's death being in 1948. I have tried to find the registration of her death but as yet have had no luck whatseoever. Did she remarry after the death of John? Could you possibly tell me where she died?
Sadly I can't really add to the information you have regarding Walter, he sounds like a real character though. My own father (Leslie G T Vane) would have defiinitely known of him though, dad was water bailiff and gamekeeper for the Humbert estate at Kimbridge near Romsey.
I guess you have the info. on Walter's brother William George (b.1887), his marriage and children etc.
Hoping to hear from you,
Kind regards,
Sue
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Hi Sue. Thank you so much for your interesting reply. I have posted more questions about Sarah Vane on the Hampshire section and have also posted the newspaper report of her burial. No, she never remarried and I think she died at Romsey. Walter lost his 93 year-old mother and his wife Florence [57] in 1948.
Do you perchance have any photographs of the family from around that time? Sarah was buried at Kings Somborne graveyard in an unmarked place. Regarding William George and his family, I have been completely unable to find out anything at all and I never met, or heard anything about them. I should love to hear anything you have please? Grateful thanks for your contact. I shall willingly answer any further questions. Best regards. John.
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Hi John,
Many thanks for getting back to me so quickly, it is greatly appreciated. The newspaper article on Sarah is brilliant, nice to add to my tree. She certainly lived to a great age, she must have been quite a strong lady, I imagine life wouldn't have been easy for her and John.
I am guessing that you are the John that also has his tree on Ancestry...would I be right? I have my tree on there also.
As a matter of interest, I am connected to the Geary family twice, John's brother Thomas married my 2nd cousin 3 times removed, Ellen Louisa Wren.
I am going to have a dig around and see what info. I can find on William George, I guess you already know that he married Emily E Topp in 1912 and as far as I can tell he had 2 daughters, Winifred born 1914 and Phyllis in 1922 in the Stockbridge RD. I assume the 8 year difference in the ages between the girls was due to WW1.
I will let you know if I find anything else that might be of interest to you.
Kind regards,
Sue
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Hi again John,
Just been looking for the registration of Sarah, however the one I have found is in 1944........Mar 1944 Romsey 2c 117, age 90. I have trawled through from 1944 to 1950 and that is the only one.
regards,
Sue
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Hi again Sue.
Thank you so much for that new information about William George's family. I knew none of that and have always wondered. I now recall Walter going to Stockbridge from time to time - he normally never travelled anywhere - and so he must have been visiting. The name Winifred and Phyllis are also familiar from the occasional mention, but I never knew who they were. No, I have never heard of Emily either, so that is very helpful, thank you.
I don't suppose you know anything about the occupation of WG. or when he died? Would Phyllis or Winifred still be living? I suppose it is possible. I believe the Gearys originally came from Ireland - does that tally with your research?
Yes I have small a tree on Ancestry and probably a more relevent one on Genes United. Perhaps you'd like to see them.
I believe that your 1944 date must be the correct one, as there are unlikely to be two Sarah Gearys and I cannot recall where I got my 1948 date from. It may have become muddled up with Walter's wife's death - as these things do.
I am really MOST grateful for all your help and have learned such a lot from your information so far. Kind regards, John.
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Hi John,
Regarding Winfred and Phyllis, the ony information so far is that Winifred married Albert E Stapley in 1938 under the Winchester RD and Phyllis married William Dodds in 1946, also in the Winchester RD. As yet I have found no children for either marriage however I shall look later.
I believe William George's wife, Emily Elizabeth Topp, was born in Andover in 1888.
Hope this is helpful.
Sue
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Sue, you are a wonder! That's great information thank you so much. I have just checked and you are completely right about Sarah Vane's death - it was my error. I visited Michelmersh two years ago to visit the place where she was born. What is your Pragnell link? Are you interested in photos of Walter? If so I can post some more on here, or send them to your private email if you wish to let me have it. Yours most gratefully, John.
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Hi John,
Yes I would be really interested to see photos of Walter, that would be wonderful. My email address is... sue@razor0.demon.co.uk. Oh yes, the digit after razor is a zero..I have to mention that as it can be mistaken for a letter o.
I live in Southampton now, but was born at Mottisfont, about a mile from Michelmersh. I go out that way quite often, mainly just to enjoy the peaceful countryside. I was brought up at Kimbridge, the next village to Michelmersh, well its really just a hamlet. As I have grown older I miss the peace and quiet of the countryside more and more, but with house prices the way they are nowadays a move back to that area is out of the question! Unless we win the lottery of course!
Better turn this computer off for the night now, my head is spinning with all family tree info! Luckily I don't have to get up for work....well sort of lucky, I am unable to work because of a chronic back problem. My family tree research keeps me going, don't really know what I would do without it.
Looking forward to seeing the pictures,
kindest regards,
Sue
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Hi John,
Just wanted to say thank you so much for the photos and letters, my word they are so interesting. The letters are such wonderful keepsakes.
Regarding the photograph taken at Kings Somborne, yes there is certainly a connection, not sure who it is, but there was also a thatcher in the village called Geary. I will see if I can find out more.
You asked what my connection to the Pragnells was - my grandmother was Caroline Pragnell, daughter of Henry George Pragnell and Ellen Pragnell (I believe they were second cousins that married).
Once more, many thanks for those photos etc., I am so pleased with them. I will see what further information I can find out about the Geary's and will forward anything I find.
Happy Easter by the way!
Regards,
Sue
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Hi Sue. So glad you enjoyed seeing them. Yes, the letters are quite something. John Geary, Walter's father, WAS a master thatcher of great ability and skill. I happen to remember Walter talking about it. There were probably many cottages around the area and more widely that were, at some time, thatched or repaired by him. Interesting that you should mention that. So the Pragnell's were relatives of Sarah Geary/Vane. I remember reference being made to a branch of their family - as living at something like 'Bannow?' Lane in Romsey. Does this mean anything to you? Happy Easter. John.
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Hi
I see from this site that you are a decendant of Walter Geary from KS. My Great Great Grandfather was William Geary born 1847, brother of Walter Geary. Williams Eldest Son Thomas was my Grandfathers father.
I still live in KS, and have some info. I know that Walter had 2 daughter one of which had a daughter that worked at Sainsburys Badger Farm for some time.
I am fortunate to live here in KS, and have been told some of the family history.
I would love to know some more tho.
Regards
Sharon
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Hi Sharon.
Yes that's right. Walter Charles Geary [1891 - 1971], younger brother of William George Geary, was my grandfather. I visited Kings Somborne and Brook and Michelmersh, all places related to his life before he moved into Romsey, in 2008 while on holiday and researching his life in the area. Obviously I knew him very well and often stayed at his home at The Causeway near Sadlers Mill. He worked at Broadlands as Head Water Bailiff for fifty years. Walter had two children - Joanne and Ron. Joanne was my mother [1923 - 2004].
Can you explain your family relationship to William Geary [who I never met]. Which of his children are you related to? I look forward to exchanging information with you and thank you for making contact. With regards. John CH.
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Hi John
My connection with William is as follows
William Born 1847 was married to Miriam Lawrence - thier eldest son was Thomas William Born 1879 who was married to Ada Ellen Smart - thier eldest son was William Eric Geary Born 1900 who was married to Gladys Hewlett - thier eldest son was Laurence Eric who was my father, I am Sharon, the youngest of three.
Thier is still alot of family connection in KS so I am able to give information about several members.
Its funny, as over 25 years ago while my Great Aunt was visiting I have written down a Walter Geary - Water Keeper at Broadlands, and now I have had contact with you.
My email address is * if you wish to email me through that address.
With kind regards
Sharon
*Moderator comment: e-mail address removed to prevent spamming and other abuse. Please use the personal message system for exchanging e-mail addresses. Thanks.
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Evening John
I am Barry Geary.son of Ron Geary,Joans brother.Its been a long time since we have spoken. Of course I know a lot about grandad. contact me at my e mail address and we can talk. Regards Barry
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Hello Barry.
Well, that is a surprise. Good to hear from you. I've sent a message via this system with my email. All good wishes, John.
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Sue, I apologise for butting in on your conversation, on the internet. I was looking up references to Kimbridge and a mention of ‘brought up in Kimbridge’ was certainly going to get my attention. I stayed as an evacuee in Meadow Cottages during 1940/2. I was living with Wilf Gould and his wife Olive. Did you know anything of them?
For my great grandchildren I am writing about how it was in the world during the middle of the 20th century, about the war in fact and intermixed with the various nasty things I am copying entries from my childhood diaries. Some of that includes Kimbridge and those bits I have copied as the attachment to this email, perhaps it will amuse you. The paragraphs are not connected, but I hope they make sense. It is a lot of scribble, but it’s only a small part of the 165,000 words that I have and it isn’t finished yet.
I was in Kimbridge two months back, it’s something I try to do when I’m on my way from Honiton, in Devon, to visit one of my children in Sussex, I usually spend the night in Stockbridge.
Sincerely from Tony Moy
ps tried to email att. but the address not recognised. my email *
*Moderator comment: e-mail address removed to prevent spamming and other abuse. Please use the personal message system for exchanging e-mail addresses. New members have to make at least two postings to use the system. Thanks.
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I just found this thread, which is of great interest to me in my search for my Garey roots. I seem to be from a Stockbridge family of carpenters, but I have in my records some of the Michelmersh and Kings Somborne people, so your posts bring me up to date on that. It seems that the family name was sometimes Geary and sometimes Garey.
One point: was William George married twice? He is on record as having Winifred and Phyllis by Emily Elizabeth Topp, and Sarah E and Thomas William by Miriam Lawrence. Or have I got something mixed up?
Thanks if you can clear this up for me. I must try to get to Hampshire one day to search for my Gareys!
Laurence
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Hello Sharon. We are already in touch! I haven't yet found a link between the Gearys of KS, and the Gareys. Still searching.
Laurence
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Hi Laurence.
I originally started this thread. I'm sorry, but I am sure that there is no link between Geary and Garey. I have searched the family some way back and Garey nowhere features.
In a previous message you asked if William George Geary was married twice. That is not so. Our WG married Emily Topp and she bore Winifred and Phyliss. He died in 1950.
Hope this clears up two possible false leads for you.
Good luck and Christmas wishes. JohnCH.
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Thanks John. I think I had worked out the problem of the two marriages. I too have followed the Kings Somborne Gearys, given the leads in the Davis family Tree, and again found no link to my Gareys. I am surprised, as to have have two separate families who both seem to have used the two family names in such a small area seems odd to me. I have been trying for years to correlate my Gareys after they moved to London: there too there seem to be several families living in the Shoreditch and Lambeth area that may not be linked.
Best wishes for Christmas and New Year too.
Laurence