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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: brigidmac on Thursday 04 May 23 10:10 BST (UK)
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My brother in law found the grave of the vicar of the English church in Gothenburg SWEDEN
& Became interested in his story ..
Robert Brew definitely died 19 Feb 1941
Believed to be 73
So born 1868
Doctor of divinity + OBE
He's on records as being of Scottish descent ..I don't which newspapers this was from .
He arrived in Gothenburg 1931
He lived in constantinople, Turkey before then
Apparently Turkish historians have given him the reputation of being a spy + he his not getting credit for his humanitarian works
I found that there is a record of a will ;thru a solicitor in Llandudno Wales to an Albert Adair WHITELEY
We will send of for that .
Grateful for any help with any other information about him
.
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I've found Robert FREW age 33 clergyman travelling from New York USA to London 25th may 1900
Described as Scotch
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What could be the connection to
Albert adair WHITELEY to whom he willed
£316 10s 2d
Could he be a nephew or a colleague
Albert was b 1899 d 1988
In 1939 he was a single public relations advisor for the council of empire settlers in Cromwell road Finsbury
There's an interesting story about a painting donated to Christchurch New Zealand in memory of his first wife Kathleen MAY ( GEE)
https://christchurchartgallery.org.nz/blog/collection/2014/08/still-life-with-flowers-in-a-basket-by-pieter-hard
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found in: The Balkan wars: being a series of lectures delivered at the Army Service Schools, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas by Ford, Clyde S. (Clyde Sinclair), 1867
[referring to 1912/1913]
Our service was continued six months, and we treated at Tash Kishla Hospital 500 patients with three deaths and no complete amputations. For the second two weeks of this period, in company with Mr. Hoffman Philip and the Rev. Robert Frew, a Scotch Presbyterian minister of Constantinople, I also had personal charge of our specially organized Red Cross party which assumed the professional management, subsistence and financial support of the cholera camp at San Stephano, in the suburbs of Constantinople, where we had corraled in a compound, with the aid of an efficient guard, 600 Turkish soldiers, among whom there were 400 cholera cases with 200 deaths.
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I found this at archive .org, a book in Turkish. I have used Google Translate to make the quotation.
from Refik Halid Karay [did not translate, a name? book is a biography?] by Minelbab İlelmihrab
EXPLANATIONS AND SHORT BIOGRAPHIES
3. Sait Molla [a journalist]
After his religious education, he made many kadiqs. He served as the head of the Surayi State (Danistay) and the undersecretary of justice during the armistice. With the British spy, the Reverend Robert Frew, he founded the British Society of Rebels. It is claimed that he is a British agent. He encouraged the opposition to the Anatolian struggle by organizing uprisings in various places. He tried to undermine the Anatolian movements by writing articles against the Anatolian movements in the newspaper "Istanbul", which he owned. When Istanbul was taken back, he fled to Romania and continued his harmful activities there.
Sait Molla, who is one of the specialties, has been in misery in Romania after he got into many dirty jobs.
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How does this particular Robert Frew connect to your FH? There are several Robert Frew births on SP around 1866-1869 - which one is yours?
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The Memoirs of Rt. Honorable Syed Ameer Ali
published in "Islamic Culture – English Islamic Magazine" 1932
A soup kitchen was started in Constantinople under the direction of the Rev. Robert Frew who had with such devotion and self-sacrifice assisted Dr. Godwin Baynes in tending the cholera patients at San Stefano. It was first proposed to give 2,000 portions of soup daily, but the numbers presenting themselves and begging for food were so great that the work had to be extended and eventually 7,000 people were fed every day. No small proportion of them came from miles away bowl in hand to fetch the daily dole. The distribution began at one o'clock, and often lasted four hours, the representatives of about 1,500 Turkish families passing through the tent every day. The cost of running the kitchen for feeding these people was estimated at £600 per month, and the relief lasted up to June 22nd, 1913.
Mr. Frew was assisted in his work of ministering to the starving thousands by Sister Warriner, one of the nurses of the British Red Crescent Hospital staff, who had been sent out when cholera was raging among the Turkish soldiers. She attended to mothers and babies.
The British Red Crescent Societv's representatives were thus able to save the lives of thousands of these babies and small children. In addition to this relief work, Sister Warriner found many cases of smallpox, measles, and other illnesses needing care. Patients too ill to be nursed in the mosques were then taken by ambulance to the refugee Hospital, where they had every care. In addition to the refugees housed in the mosques some were living in houses, stables, and rough shelters, These were more difficult to find and to deal with, but, as far as possible, they were visited from time to time. After the recapture of Adrianople by the Ottoman Army, the Rev. Mr. Frew undertook the stupendous work of relieving the destitute Moslem peasantry of Thrace. Their houses were burnt down, their fields were unsown, their cattle were killed or sold for food. The land was in absolute desolation from one end to another. These were the people whom Mr. Frew undertook to help with the British Red Crescent funds, and nobly he did this work.
In the meantime his place in the administration of the soup kitchen was taken by another volunteer, Mr. Stephen Hobhouse, to whom also the Society owes a deep debt of gratitude.
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The Sphere, Dec 7th 1912
THREE GOOD SAMARITANS OF THE WAR- PHOTOGRAPHED BY OUR CORRESPONDENT IN CONSTANTINOPLE
Our correspondent writes: "My portrait group shows Major C. S. Ford (wearing Red Crescent fez), Madame Schneider, and the Rev. Robert Frew. Ford is an American army surgeon who was on sick leave but volunteered on discovering the disorganisation and need for medical work in the Turkish Army. Frew is a Scotch clergyman located in Constantinople. Madame Schneider is an old Hungarian lady. With Hoffmann Philip, first secretary of the American Legation, and the Hon. Maurice Baring, well-known writer of books on Russian life, Major Ford and Mr. Frew plunged into the work of rescuing the living who were cordoned at San Stefano and left to die. only a few of them receiving even bread and water. Mention must be made of Miss Alt, an elderly Swiss lady, a companion of Miss Schneider. These two ladies were the pioneers of the remarkable undertaking. Living at San Stefano they first saw the horrors of this camp and without appealing for aid or protection entered upon the work with their own hands and their own money"
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An OBE citation from The Edinburgh Gazette June, 1928, is it him?
The Reverend Robert Frew, Chaplain at The Hague.
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Here he is in Copenhagen in 1928.
It is worth visiting the WP page for the English church to see its beautiful setting.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Alban's_Church,_Copenhagen?wprov=sfti1 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Alban's_Church,_Copenhagen?wprov=sfti1)
01 January 1929, Hull Daily Mail
BRITISH SEAMEN ENTERTAINED
CHRISTMAS GATHERING AT COPENHAGEN.
COPENHAGEN, 27th Dec., 1928.
The annual Christmas festival for British Seamen was held at the Seamen's "Bethel" at Copenhagen on Wednesday evening. The crews of the various British steamers which were in port were invited to attend, and about 50 men complied with the invitation. There were representatives from the regular steamers, Spero of Hull: Douglas, of Goole: and Hengist, of Leith, besides of occasional steamers which happened to be here at Christmas. [edit]
Mr Braid. the hon. secretary, opened the meeting, and the Rev. Robert Frew, O.B.E., D.D., of Saint Albans English Church, then addressed the meeting. A special choir from Saint Albans Church sang a number of Christmas carols [continues]...
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There is an article in the Louth Standard, 23 October 1926 (and other sources) reporting the marriage of the Rev. Robert Frew, D.D. of 64, West Cromwell Road, London, S.W. to Mrs. Evelyn Mary Rawnsley, a widow. The type is so smudged that I can't use my usual method to transcribe it fully.
Salient details: conducted by the Bishop of Fulham (the Right Rev. Staunton Batty, a personal friend of the bridegroom; the duties of best man were discharged by Mr. Adair Whiteley, the bridegroom's adopted son.
Added: see reply #2
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In the 1939 Register there is an Albert A Whiteley at 72 West Cromwell Road, Kensington. dob 11/2/1899 (married but no-one else in record) PR Officer, C of E Advisor, Council of Empire Settlement(?)
I haven't quite tied this down yet, but I think he is Albert Adair Whiteley, died 18/12/1988.
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Quote"There is an article in the Louth Standard, 23 October 1926 (and other sources) reporting the marriage of the Rev. Robert Frew, D.D. of 64, West Cromwell Road, London, S.W. to Mrs. Evelyn Mary Rawnsley, a widow. The type is so smudged that I can't use my usual method to transcribe it fully.
The marriage image is on Anc* His father Robert Frew,occ Merchant deceased.
John
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In the 1939 Register there is an Albert A Whiteley at 72 West Cromwell Road, Kensington. dob 11/2/1899 (married but no-one else in record) PR Officer, C of E Advisor, Council of Empire Settlement(?)
I haven't quite tied this down yet, but I think he is Albert Adair Whiteley, died 18/12/1988.
The address given on Robert Frew's marriage is 64, West Cromwell Road, Kensington and 1 witness is an Albert Adair Whiteley
John
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Hi John, yes, in my cryptic way I was drawing attention to that.
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He's listed in Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae (volumes of biographies of Church of Scotland ministers), with a birth year of 1857:
https://archive.org/details/fastiecclesiaesc00scot/page/714/mode/2up
He's also in the index/summary volume, which indicates that he joined the Church of England:
https://archive.org/details/fastiecclesiaesc0000scot/page/164/mode/2up
I haven't looked into this exhaustively, but the 1929 Crockford's Directory (of C of E ministers) gives his ordination in the C of E as 1925, with appointments at Christ Church Mayfair (1925-27), The Hague (1927-28) and Copenhagen (1928 onwards). It also lists his OBE, in 1928.
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1930-37 electoral regs intimate a wife of Albert as Ada Ella.
John
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Roberts marriage did not last that long. By 1939 Evelyn is recorded as Evelyn M Rawnsley divorced. She never seems to appear with Robert on electoral registers from 1926 onwards.
John
added
Reference: J 77/2490/7611
Description:
Divorce Court File: 7611. Appellant: Evelyn Mary Frew otherwise Evelyn Mary Rawnsley. Respondent: Robert Frew. Type: Wife's petition for/of nullity [wn].
Date: 1927
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That’s a remarkably short marriage!
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Her previous husband had only died 4th December 1924.
John
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Just realised there's a discrepancy:
Quote"There is an article in the Louth Standard, 23 October 1926 (and other sources) reporting the marriage of the Rev. Robert Frew, D.D. of 64, West Cromwell Road, London, S.W. to Mrs. Evelyn Mary Rawnsley, a widow. The type is so smudged that I can't use my usual method to transcribe it fully.
The marriage image is on Anc* His father Robert Frew,occ Merchant deceased.
But the Fasti item that I found gives his father as William:
He's listed in Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae (volumes of biographies of Church of Scotland ministers), with a birth year of 1857:
https://archive.org/details/fastiecclesiaesc00scot/page/714/mode/2up
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West Cromwell Road again
23 November 1928, Kensington News and West London Times
Legal Notices.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that ALBERT ADAIR WHITELEY, of 64, West Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London, S. W.5, has applied to the Home Secretary for Naturalization and that any person who knows any reason why Naturalization should not be granted should send a written and signed statement of the facts to the Under-Secretary of State, Home Office, London, S.W.1.
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Just realised there's a discrepancy:
Quote"There is an article in the Louth Standard, 23 October 1926 (and other sources) reporting the marriage of the Rev. Robert Frew, D.D. of 64, West Cromwell Road, London, S.W. to Mrs. Evelyn Mary Rawnsley, a widow. The type is so smudged that I can't use my usual method to transcribe it fully.
The marriage image is on Anc* His father Robert Frew,occ Merchant deceased.
But the Fasti item that I found gives his father as William:
He's listed in Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae (volumes of biographies of Church of Scotland ministers), with a birth year of 1857:
https://archive.org/details/fastiecclesiaesc00scot/page/714/mode/2up
Believe this Robert (Cornell) Frew appears in 1911 uk census aged 54 =1857 born Scotland occupation "Minister"
John
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From brother-in-law J C in Gothenburg
Wow, this is amazing.I thought I'd found quite a lot about him but this is great. A few weeks ago he was just a grave stone with one note that he started the women's guild in Gothenburg. The guild is still going, which is quite an achievement in its self but has a whole amazing history. Last year he appeared as a character in a Turkish TV series as a spy.
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@reply #22 I’m confused, which is which?
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Daily Telegraph, April 14, 2012
WHITELEY. – ROSEMARY JEAN DOBREE (née Russell) wife of the late ALBERT ADAIR WHITELEY, aged 83, peacefully at home on 11th April. [funeral details follow]
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Re reply 7
Your photo of the 3 Samaritans is much clearer than
J C ' s
In Ms Schneider s memoirs she said that the first time she met Robert FREW he was wearing oilskins to protect from cholera after working in the morgue .
JC also said that he wrote to the Scottish church where there is another Robert FREW b 1815 d 1910 + no records of other family
Otherwise re reply 5
JC has been trying to find more details of the Robert FREW who died in SWEDEN and lived in Turkey
IMO he was doing too many good deeds Tobe a spy .
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Marriages Jun 1959
RUSSELL Rosemary J D WHITELEY Westminster 5c 483
WHITELEY Albert A RUSSELL Westminster 5c 483
RUSSELL, ROSEMARY JEAN DOBREE
GRO Reference: 1928 S Quarter in SLEAFORD Volume 07A Page 694
Births Sep 1928
Russell Rosemary J D mmn Bovill Sleaford 7a 694
John
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Reply 15 Arthurk
The Robert FREW born Irvine 1857n is not the same one .
* Sorry it seems to be the same one but differing dates
Or the researcher for ecclastical review is mixing up 2 people
I'm having a job keeping up with everyone s replies. thank you all .let's hope we can rehabilitate this gentleman whose reputation in Turkey seems bad
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Two quotations from Ataturk: The biography of the founder of modern Turkey, by Andrew Mango, 2004
One British subject who sought to cultivate relations with prominent Turks was the Scottish Presbyterian minister Dr Robert Frew, who could put to political use his ability to dispense relief aid. Mustafa Kemal met Dr Frew twice under the auspices of a certain Monsieur Martin. According to the Kemalist journalist Falih Rufki Atay, Mustafa Kemal rejected Frew’s suggestion that, in order to gain credit with the Allies, the Turks should dissociate themselves from the crimes committed by the CUP. In the speech which he delivered in 1927, Mustafa Kemal described Dr Frew as a British adventurer. Turks were, and remain, convinced that Frew was a high-level British intelligence agent. He is more likely to have been a freelance go-between, who believed that he could make friends for Britain. In any case, neither he nor any responsible British official succeeded in spotting Mustafa Kemal as the future leader of Turkish national resistance.
and
On 20 May, [1919] a Society of Friends of Britain (Ingiliz Muhipleri Cemiyeti, literally English-lovers’ society) was formed in Istanbul, with a cleric, Sait Molla, as chairman; the Reverend Robert Frew acted as its recruiting agent. But Lloyd George’s decision to support the Greek landing in Izmir cut the ground from under its feet.
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All these Robert Frews ???
The Robert Connell Frew born 3rd Oct 1857 Irvine Scotland was the son of William Frew & Jean Connell. His father William died 1866. Robert can be found on 1861/71 scotland census and 1901/11 england census. He died 1920 and his probate record is on Anc* NOT OUR MAN
In 1920 there is a Robert Frew (Scotch)aged 52 occupation Clergman,travelling to Constantinople, Turkey. He had been staying with a Mary McKee at 15 Barbadses Road, Kilmarnock. His age is bang on for 1868 birth.
John
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Following on from the last reply, there is a second page associated with that immigration record in 1920. It says that he was previously in the USA in 1900, which fits with the New York–London record from 1900 noted earlier. It also says that he plans to stay for 2 months, that his destination address is W.S.L., Broadway, NY and that his place of birth is Glasgow, Scotland.
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From www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/11908597:61758 it lists British Nationals who died in Sweden.
Robert Frew's birth date is given as 22 Jan 1868. His date of death was included at the begining (19 Feb 1941).
Monica
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There is this possible birth:
Robert Frew
Birth 22 Jan 1866 Hutchesontown, Glasgow
Parents Robert Frew and Mary Breckenridge
Day and month match, just a couple of years earlier.
Monica
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West Cromwell Road again
23 November 1928, Kensington News and West London Times
Legal Notices.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that ALBERT ADAIR WHITELEY, of 64, West Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London, S. W.5, has applied to the Home Secretary for Naturalization and that any person who knows any reason why Naturalization should not be granted should send a written and signed statement of the facts to the Under-Secretary of State, Home Office, London, S.W.1.
The records are on National Archive catalogue - closed until 2030 - but the indexing notes "nationality uncertain"
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Robert Frew Snr and wife Mary Bre/ackenridge married on 11 December 1863 in Glasgow/Blythswood.
I think this is them in 1881:
Robert Frew 40 blacksmith b. Stevenson Ayrshire
Mary Frew 38 b. Ireland
Robert Frew 15 warehouse boy b. Glasgow
William Frew 2 months*
Mary King 16 Servant
Address 288 Cumberland St, Glasgow/ Hutchesontown
* William's birth entry registered as William Breckenridge Frew, b. 2 Feb 1881 in Glasgow/ Hutchesontown.
There is another couple in Ayrshire, Robert Frew and Mary Scott, having children at the same time and muddying the waters ::)
Monica
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There was a daughter, Mary Brackenridge Frew, born in Glasgow in 1884.
She married a William McKie in 1906 in Glasgow. They show in Balham, Wandsworth for the 1911 census www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XW5J-JTR
Was wondering whether this could be the Mary McKee mentioned as Rev Robert's UK contact on the 1920 shipping manifest that John posted earlier?
Monica
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A little more detail for the family:
Mary, born in Glasgow in 1884, died in Glasgow in 1974:
MARY BRACKENRID FREW or MCKIE
Age 90
Mother's maiden name BRACKENRIDGE
1974
Ref 609 / 731
Glasgow, Martha St
Baby William Breceknridge Frew that we had born in 1881 and showing as 2 months old on the census, died that same year (refs 644 / 11 / 715 Hutchesontown).
A couple more early deaths of children include:
Archibald, age 2 - 1880 Hutchesontown
Agnes, age 14 - 1878 Hutchesontown
So, for the family, looks like living children were only two, Robert Jnr 1866 and Mary 1884.
Robert Snr died in late 1904. Registered early 1905:
Robert FREW
Age 74
Mother's maiden name CONWAY (he gave his mother as Agnes Hunter on his marriage)
1905
560 / 29
Cathcart (Lanark)
Will and inventory entries on SP:
Robert Frew
13 / 3 / 1905
blacksmith, 288 Cumberland Street, Glasgow, d. 01/12/1904 at Glasgow, testate.
Glasgow Sheriff Court Inventories
SC36/48/194
Robert Frew
13 / 3 / 1905
24 Carfin Street, Govanhill, Glasgow, d. 01/12/1904 at Glasgow, testate.
Glasgow Sheriff Court Wills
SC36/51/138
Monica
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1901 Census:
Robert Frew 64 blacksmith b. Glasgow
Mary Frew 59 b. Ireland
Mary Frew 16 Locomotive Tracer b. Glasgow
Address 24 Carfin St, Glasgow/Hutchesontown
Monica
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Here is the gravestone in Gothenburg
Too large will have to try another way
It's available on findagrave
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Thanks for all the family history work Monica
We are now building up a picture of the man's life and thanks to John + Alan eliminating the wrong Robert FREW s
When JC writes up the full story of this incredible man . I will share ( unless he joins rootschat first ) today I can share with him before we go back to our respective countries.
I'm really interested in the adopted son .where how why and when he was adopted .
So his naturalization certificate & Roberts will are the first documents to be sent off for
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In Canada?
Calendar of Dalhousie College and University
General Students 1888-89
Frew, Robert; Glasgow, Scotland
Calendar of McGill College and University 1889-90
Faculty of Arts
Partial and Occasional Students
second year, Frew, Robert; Glasgow, Scotland
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Sorry I cannot pursue this further but need to go out for the morning, but other's may be able to help.
It would appear that Albert Adair Whiteley was previously married to a women named Kathleen Muriel. She died 16.6.1949.Her probate names Albert as her husband. The below marriage MAY give his original surname.
Marriages Sep 1947
Abdurahman Albert A Gee Kensington 5c 3317
Abdurahman Albert A Kay Kensington 5c 3317
Gee Kathleen M Whiteley Kensington 5c 3317
Gee Kathleen M Obdurahman Kensington 5c 3317
Kay Kathleen M Obdurahman Kensington 5c 3317
Kay Kathleen M Whiteley Kensington 5c 3317
Whiteley Albert A Gee Kensington 5c 3317
Whiteley Albert A Kay Kensington 5c 3317
John
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What could be the connection to
Albert adair WHITELEY to whom he willed
£316 10s 2d
The probate calendar entry only names the executor(s) to whom probate/administration was granted, not (necessarily) the beneficiaries.
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I first pick up Albert in 1930 electoral register at 64 West Cromwell Road with Robert Frew & Ada Whiteley.
1925-29 register shows Robert Frew, Ada & Reginald Whiteley
Believe Ada Ella Whiteley was born 1863 Clifton, York. Can find her on 1871/81/91 census and then nothing until 1925.
Ada Ella died 1951 and her probate mentions Albert Adair Whiteley. The probate also records she was a "widow". Is Albert her son?? from a possible relationship abroad. There is a will--interesting reading I suspect.
John
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The link posted in reply #5 is about a painting bequeathed to a gallery in Christchurch, NZ. Here I summarize the salient facts that are given there.
Kathleen Muriel Kay (1904-1949) was born in Wellington NZ, parents Rev Thomas Kay and Fanny Buckley (married 1902)
Family moved to London in ~1906
Kathleen married George F Gee (1st cousin) in 1936 in Peshawar, later divorced.
Kathleen married AAW in London in 1947.
Kathleen died, Windsor 2 years later.
AAW remarried, and died in 1988.
His intention that the painting should be given to Christchurch in memory of Kathleen was honoured following the death of his second wife in 2012.
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@ reply #44
In the probate, Ada Whiteley’s address is 72 West Cromwell Road, the same address as Albert Adair Whiteley in the 1939 register. (She was not recorded in the register at that address.)
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@ reply #44
In the probate, Ada Whiteley’s address is 72 West Cromwell Road, the same address as Albert Adair Whiteley in the 1939 register. (She was not recorded in the register at that address.)
She is recorded at that address from 1946-50 with Albert Adair and by herself in 1951, then she dies.
John
added, she is possibly in Hertfordshire as Whitely with a dob 22.10.1863, a widow living on private means. Her birth
WHITELEY, ADA ELLA mmn SMITH
GRO Reference: 1863 D Quarter in OF YORK Volume 09D Page 8
She was baptised 18th Nov 1863 York.
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I really want to order the will before JC goes back to Gothenburg but have forgotten how to do it . Can someone remind me please
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Looking at Ada Ella Whiteley’s baptism I see another child being baptised on that day by the same parents – Alice Mary. Her birth is registered in the same quarter as Ada. So Ada was a twin.
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I really want to order the will before JC goes back to Gothenburg but have forgotten how to do it . Can someone remind me please
I think this is the link.
https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/search-results
John
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Brigid, given the room for possible confusion on at least the two Robert Frews mentioned (born 1857 in Irvine and 1866 in Glasgow) and mention of Glasgow University, can I make a suggestion?
You could contact the archivists at the University and make enquiries on any records they may have for Robert born 1866. See www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/archivespecialcollections/contact/ancestor/
They used to have these bios online on their site that you could search and view, but that section doesn't seem to be available now which is a pity.
Monica
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Thanks Monica
JC that's more homework for you
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Brigidmac, are you planning on ordering both will's, Robert's and Ada Ella's. If so please do let us know the outcome. This post has a touch of a John Le Carre' novel about it.
John
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It certainly does! He likely had strong views on what was happening at the time. A number of references such as https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9709940
And www.levantineheritage.com/testi90.htm
Above is a copy of the Rev. Robert Frew’s record of the marriage of Cyril Henry Arnold and Euphemia Jane Glass. The witnesses were Philippe Gatt [possibly a family relative and boat builder], Charlotte Arnold [younger sister of the groom], Jessie Glass [younger sister of the bride] and the Rev. Dr. Robert Hannington a long term resident of Istanbul [1883 – around 1920], Doctor to the Jewish Mission and Minister of the Union Church of Istanbul on a three occasions. This copy of the record was kindly provided by Elaine van Rensburg of the Union Church of Istanbul.
Robert Frew was minister to the Union Church from January 1902 to January 1924. He ministered in difficult times, he was not allowed to live in Constantinople [Istanbul] for much of WW I, but visited to conduct the church affairs, frequently performing marriages, baptism etc. It was probably at this time that he was named as honorary chaplain to the Netherlands Legation, which gave him legal standing and tax exemption. The Union Church of Istanbul is located in the Dutch Chapel within the walls of the Dutch Consulate General.
Robert not only gave spiritual assistance, but he also worked to look after the welfare of the many Westerners remaining in Constantinople [Istanbul] and the City’s citizens in the cholera camps. He was commended for his work which was often carried out with great courage and at great personal risk.
Brigid, you mentioned this earier. Just adding the link www.findagrave.com/memorial/251082144/robert-frew
Monica
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Thanks for the extra information Monica
It gives an example of Robert FREWs handwriting too which may help in future
John thanks for link ;I.ll get on with ordering Roberts Will today
* Robert FREW doesn't come up.on that search ..how else can I go about it ?
Not sure if JC wants Ada Ella's too
Alan : siblings are often baptised together so not necessarily twins
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As I said, the girls’ births were also registered at the same time:
Birth Registrations
Ada Ella Whiteley; 1863; Oct-Nov-Dec;York, Yorkshire East Riding, England
Alice Mary Whiteley; 1863; Oct-Nov-Dec;York, Yorkshire East Riding, England
Baptisms
Ada Ella Whiteley; 18 Nov 1863; York, Yorkshire, England; parents: George Whiteley, Rachel Thomasin Whiteley
Alice Mary Whiteley; 18 Nov 1863; York, Yorkshire, England; parents: George Whiteley, Rachel Thomasin Whiteley
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Thanks for the extra information Monica
It gives an example of Robert FREWs handwriting too which may help in future
John thanks for link ;I.ll get on with ordering Roberts Will today
* Robert FREW doesn't come up.on that search ..how else can I go about it ?
Not sure if JC wants Ada Ella's too
Alan : siblings are often baptised together so not necessarily twins
Just tried the probate link website. If you type in JUST surname FREW and dod 1941. Whilst it might appear 0 results keep scrolling down and there should be images starting with surname ALLAN. Then move along next page twice and REV Robert Frew will appear. At the side of window will be option to order,
I believe the wills are only £1.50 each so ordering Ada's as well should not break the bank.
John
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In 1891 he graduates from The Presbyterian College, a seminary in Montreal, Canada. https://www.presbyteriancollege.ca/alumni/alumni-list/
Then as far as I can see he spends some time at St Paul's Church in Nelson, Canada before leaving from New York in 1900 and arriving in Constantinople in 1902 as a 'missionary to the Jews'.
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Hi John This is interesting, that's our man. So he returned to Scotland at this point for a while. Where did this come from?
JC
All these Robert Frews ???
In 1920 there is a Robert Frew (Scotch)aged 52 occupation Clergman,travelling to Constantinople, Turkey. He had been staying with a Mary McKee at 15 Barbadses Road, Kilmarnock. His age is bang on for 1868 birth.
John
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I.ll have another go at the wills tomorrow
Might as well add other information found by jayC
It may come in useful later ;
"Frew married Evelyn Mary Rawnsley in 1926, divorcing in 1927. She retains his name until his death in 1941 and then reverts to her first husbands's name of Rawnsley.
Her first husband - John Franklin Rawnsley who was born in 1862, John married Evelyn M Rawnsley (née Chaplin) in 1888, at the age of 26.
Evelyn was born in 1866, in Scarborough, Yorks. John died in 1924, at the age of 62.
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Re John Franklin Rawnsley, his family is detailed here. Father Reverend Drummond Rawnsley and mother Catherine Ann Franklin www.thepeerage.com/p73113.htm
Monica
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The link posted in reply #5 is about a painting bequeathed to a gallery in Christchurch, NZ. Here I summarize the salient facts that are given there.
Kathleen Muriel Kay (1904-1949) was born in Wellington NZ, parents Rev Thomas Kay and Fanny Buckley (married 1902)
Family moved to London in ~1906
Kathleen married George F Gee (1st cousin) in 1936 in Peshawar, later divorced.
Kathleen married AAW in London in 1947.
Kathleen died, Windsor 2 years later.
AAW remarried, and died in 1988.
His intention that the painting should be given to Christchurch in memory of Kathleen was honoured following the death of his second wife in 2012.
Just a thought but - was it the wrong Christchurch? – RJD was born in Wellington NZ ie. on the North Island, Christchurch is on the South Island. Her family moved to London when she was 2 years old. What connection could she have to Christchurch?
RF does have a reference to working (1925-27) at Christ Church in Mayfair! -
Do we know the church where Kathleen married AAW in 1947?
JC
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The marriage is registered in Kensington, so that doesn’t rule out your theory.
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Ordering the wills is proving harder than I expected
I need the death and probate death of Ada ella Whiteley nee smith to order that one
Rev Robert FREW s is in the basket
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Ordering the wills is proving harder than I expected
I need the death and probate death of Ada ella Whiteley nee smith to order that one
Rev Robert FREW s is in the basket
* Done ordered both
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I first pick up Albert in 1930 electoral register at 64 West Cromwell Road with Robert Frew & Ada Whiteley.
1925-29 register shows Robert Frew, Ada & Reginald Whiteley
Believe Ada Ella Whiteley was born 1863 Clifton, York. Can find her on 1871/81/91 census and then nothing until 1925.
Ada Ella died 1951 and her probate mentions Albert Adair Whiteley. The probate also records she was a "widow". Is Albert her son?? from a possible relationship abroad. There is a will--interesting reading I suspect.
John
From an Ancestry family tree for Albert Adair Whiteley, I saw this and forgot to post. It is unsourced so, as always, flashing all the standard health warnings for this info that is not sourced:
Also Known As
Albert Adair Abderahman
www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/117020831/person/152479709940/facts - for those with access to Ancestry.
Monica
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Also
The London Gazette - Volume 3 - Page 3752
books.google.co.uk › books
Great Britain · 1951 · Snippet view
Found inside – Page 3752
www.rootschat.com/links/01saq/ (link shrunk from google books)
Gold Cross of the Order of the Phoenix with Swords
Major Albert Adair WHITELEY ( 159899 ) , Royal Pioneer Corps .
There is a Greek connection to this award. Not an area I have any knowledge about ::) https://en-academic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/11861135
2nd Liuteneant appointment in 1941 here www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35133/supplement/2095/data.pdf Matching Regimental number 159899
Monica
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Hi Alan - any chance that W.S.L. is actually W.S.Y. ? I think he might have stayed at the West Side YMCA.
JC
Following on from the last reply, there is a second page associated with that immigration record in 1920. It says that he was previously in the USA in 1900, which fits with the New York–London record from 1900 noted earlier. It also says that he plans to stay for 2 months, that his destination address is W.S.L., Broadway, NY and that his place of birth is Glasgow, Scotland.
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Definitely WSL, but I suppose it could be a typo.
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apparently 9 Broadway housed the offices of the White Star Line
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Ok, there you go. W.S.L. The White Star Line (owner of the Titanic) had an office at 9 Broadway, NY.
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Ordering the wills is proving harder than I expected
I need the death and probate death of Ada ella Whiteley nee smith to order that one
Rev Robert FREW s is in the basket
* Done ordered both
Have the wills arrived?
John
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I had email to say probate record arrived but am having difficulty accessing the records
The numbers I'm typing in don't come up
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It's just like the lottery.
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Wills hadn't disappeared I was able to download.
I don't know if I can share on here Ada WHITELEY s was very simple
oops this is the grant will to follow
=i think ive downloaded part 2 of robert frew s before part 1
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That worked so I'll post the others
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Part 1 Robert FREW seems too big to post am trying to clip
Codicil confirms name of his sister
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i love the comment about not leaving anything else to his wife at her request .
ada ella WHITELY s will simply bequethed everything to Albert Adair WHITELEY
She's listed as widow
* Calling him her son .not adopted son !
it is witnessed by Robert Frew
i wonder if he was actually her birth son
Robert FREW considers him his adopted son but acknowledges that there was no official adoption.
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A few details :
1.The address of Ada given as 72 west Cromwell road is the same address as 64 Cromwell road .
The numbering must have changed .
2 )Who was Reginald Whiteley who was with her on earlier electoral role .
3) who is the wife Robert FREW refers to in will regarding the oil painting .. he'd need divorced from Evelyn Rawlings nee CHAPLIN for decades ..did he mean Ada as his common law wife ?
4) what are initials of PROCTOR the medical officer of Vancouver British Caledonia
# was he Dr.Arthur Percival PROCTOR ?
Link to topic about search for Robert FREWs new neice Mary
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=873925.msg7455441
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£10 to his sister Mary & £10 to her daughter Mary ..I have no record of her so presumably born after 1911
What about her other children Ellen Florence b1911+ son Robert Frew MCKIE b1907
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I think his reference to his wife is to Evelyn Rawlings. As a clergyman he may have considered that they were still man and wife in a religious sense, and it would also make sense of the stipulation about that being the only bequest: he insisted on her being a beneficiary, and she wanted it to be kept to a token bequest.
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Alan that's possible unless he'd been living with Ada WHITELEY as man and wife both seem to consider Albert as their son and she considers is a widow in her will tho I haven't found evidence of a previous marriage
Meanwhile I'm stuck on ordering Albert Adair's WHITELEY s probate I have all details
But it's not coming up in gov.uk search
Of eastways titlark hill sunningdale Berkshire died 18 Dec 1988
Probate London 19 April 1989
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I've been tracing the witnesses to the Will.
The first is Colonel Stewart Francis Newcombe https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S._F._Newcombe
A friend of T. E. Lawrence. He was in hiding in Constantinople 1917 having escaped from a POW camp with the help of French/Syrian women whom he later marries. Frew might have met the colonel at that time in Constantinople but Frew was himself in prison in July 1917 and I don't know when he was released.
The colonel gives his address as the United Service Club which was a London gentleman's club for high ranking military officers. It was also the most expensive club with a building on Pall Mall.
The second signature, however I can't make out. The last section is presumably his/her rank or profession but I can't make that out either.
Can anyone help?
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I believe the second person is a clerk - so possibly an employee of the solicitor's firm that was involved in drawing up the will
Address looks like 55 Meadway, NW11 - I've checked and there is such an address
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Yes, that could be it. 55 Meadway is quite a big house for a clerk but maybe he was more of a senior clerk. On the second page his signature appears again and there the first part now looks like the initials A. R.
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1939
55 Meadway is unoccupied
1921
there is no number 55, but it is probably a named house, "Alderley"?. The occupant is indeed a solicitor's managing clerk, but his name is Edwan Charles Elomore.
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1931-36 electoral registers have an Arthur Edward Joll at 55 Meadway. Not sure about the initials, but the surname could well be right?
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When's the novel coming out ?
It's getting more + more exciting
Spy or not a spy ...what do we think ?
I will try adopted sons will again on Tuesday.
jayC there's a forum board for handwriting where there are specialists .in that.
I'm got side tracked with the CHAPLIN connection and the lord's and ladies will s and the Leicester+ Somerset connections
Did you find them all on the CHAPLIN BRADFORD SMITH BLOOMFIELD tree
Carry on FREWing
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An Arthur Edward Joll with an indirect link to Constantinople. And probably a clerk.
Western Daily Press May 29th 1926
JOLL-McCLEAN. – May 20th at St Pancras, London, Arthur Edward Joll (Ministry of Health), fourth son of the late W. F. Joll and of Mrs Joll, 14, Gloucester Road, to Molly, only daughter of the late Dr. J. F. McClean, formerly of the British Hospital, Constantinople.
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Arthur Edward Joll is in the 1939 Register. I believe that I can't post details but his occupation still includes clerk. He is at 8 Chepstow Villas, Kensington. Wife, no children.
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There is an Ancestry tree for the Arthur Edward Joll who married Mollie McClean in 1926, It has his address in 1931, 1934, 1935, 1936 as 55 Meadway. He seems to have remarried (Mary Woodroffe Bunner) in 1937, and indications are that Mollie also remarried; not really relevant here I suppose.
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The Medical Register for 1913
Mclean, John Francis; British Hospital, Constantinople.
Registered 31/8/1897, E [dinburgh?]
MRCSurg Eng 1897
Lic RCPhys Lond 1897
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Obituary
The Lancet January 1927
JOHN FRANCIS McCLEAN M.R.C.S. ENG.
Dr. J. F. McClean senior resident medical officer of the London Fever Hospital, died at St. Thomas's Hospital from septicaemia following an injury to his hand. He was educated at St. Thomas's Hospital and held the appointments of house surgeon and obstetric house physician there after qualifying M.R.C.S. Eng., L. R.C.P. Lond. in 1897. He became acting sanitary delegate of the British High Commission to Turkey and for many years was chief surgeon to the British Hospital in Constantinople. During the war he was interned by the Turks.
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The connections of all these people are linking to an understanding of the Society they moved around in .
I've been finding a lot about Evelyn FREW nee Chaplin .
I wondered if it could have been a marriage of convenience because women at that time had to have mans permission.to buy things like buy and sell property .
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i love the comment about not leaving anything else to his wife at her request .
ada ella WHITELY s will simply bequethed everything to Albert Adair WHITELEY
She's listed as widow
* Calling him her son .not adopted son !
it is witnessed by Robert Frew
i wonder if he was actually her birth son
Robert FREW considers him his adopted son but acknowledges that there was no official adoption.
Could Ada have been Albert's sister?
https://www.ancestry.com/1940-census/usa/New-York/Ada-Whiteley_d9q51
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POST 42#. Marriage cert “ might” record some interesting names and occupations
John
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Ada WHITELEY was never officially married
So is not the Ada nee SMITH
or the one in 1940 NEW. YORK
I had another go at getting Albert Adair s will
Couldn't find the correct reference on ancestry or on the death record of gov probates
I didn't try under his original Surname of ABDERHAMAN /OBDERHAMAN
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Ada WHITELEY
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Ada WHITELEY was never officially married
So is not the Ada nee SMITH
or the one in 1940 NEW. YORK
I had another go at getting Albert Adair s will
Couldn't find the correct reference on ancestry or on the death record of gov probates
I didn't try under his original Surname of ABDERHAMAN /OBDERHAMAN
It's odd - he's definitely on the probate register. I can see the image on their system and on Ancestry. But if you put his details into the order form, it doesn't find him. I can only assume there's a transcription error somewhere
Name Albert Adair Whiteley
Death Date 18 Dec 1988
Death Place Sunningdale Berkshire
Probate Date 19 Apr 1989
Probate Registry London
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the family in reply 95 are very interesting
Ada Kirely or Dekirely came over from Canada age 15 with her father + mother Adeline + sisters
she was born in Constantinople and her father was Evangelical
so is there a connection thru her husband Joseph Whitely to adopted Albert Adair WHITELEY or Ada WHITELEY in london or reginald who was boarding with them .
yes Mabel it is odd that date is listed on ancestry but not on GRO
.I wonder if the will +probate is listed under a military title on gov,Site
Im not good at playing around with variables !
was he major when he died ?
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there is also a swedish connection to joseph Whiteley
his mother Eliza Bjork was a Swedish national
married his father william H whitely in sweden
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the local family history society have offered to help look for Albert Adair WHITELY s will + probate
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It could've useful to find Albert Adair WHITELEY in 1921
He was naturalised in 1928
So could have been going by his birth surname .
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The link posted in reply #5 is about a painting bequeathed to a gallery in Christchurch, NZ. Here I summarize the salient facts that are given there.
Kathleen Muriel Kay (1904-1949) was born in Wellington NZ, parents Rev Thomas Kay and Fanny Buckley (married 1902)
Family moved to London in ~1906
Kathleen married George F Gee (1st cousin) in 1936 in Peshawar, later divorced.
Kathleen married AAW in London in 1947.
Kathleen died, Windsor 2 years later.
AAW remarried, and died in 1988.
His intention that the painting should be given to Christchurch in memory of Kathleen was honoured following the death of his second wife in 2012.
Just a thought but - was it the wrong Christchurch? – RJD was born in Wellington NZ ie. on the North Island, Christchurch is on the South Island. Her family moved to London when she was 2 years old. What connection could she have to Christchurch?
RF does have a reference to working (1925-27) at Christ Church in Mayfair! -
Do we know the church where Kathleen married AAW in 1947?
JC
According to Albert's probate his first wife was born in Chirstchurch and the painting was intended for Christchurch NZ on the death of his second wife.
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Hi John This is interesting, that's our man. So he returned to Scotland at this point for a while. Where did this come from?
JC
All these Robert Frews ???
In 1920 there is a Robert Frew (Scotch)aged 52 occupation Clergman,travelling to Constantinople, Turkey. He had been staying with a Mary McKee at 15 Barbadses Road, Kilmarnock. His age is bang on for 1868 birth.
John
Do you have any more information on that? According the The Orient newspaper it appears that he was not preaching in Constantinople between July 1920- November 1920. He was also in the US in Jan 1921. Do these dates match with him being in Kilmarnock?
JC
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JayC031, to be quite honest without reading the complete post again I moved onto other things. The opening post was looking for details of Robert Frew. I believe we have as far as I can remember found his parents, when and where he was born, when he died, whom he married/parted from. His movements during his lifetime are reasonably covered. His relationship with Arthur Adair Whiteley & Ada though was never fully understood. I was hoping that Abert's marriage cert would have been ordered to establish whom he named as his father.
John
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I think I can help. I knew Albert Adair Whiteley (b. 1899) and his second wife Jean (née Russell) in person & went to see them often at „Eastways“ in Sunningdale. Bertie was the son of an English teacher at the Palace in Constantinople and one of the (Crown?) Princes. The pregnant teacher was secretly helped to leave and Robert Frew later became Albert‘s guardian. Jean once showed me the key to one of the gates of Constantinople that was in Bertie‘s possession. That‘s the gist of the story.
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swiss national
how wonderful that you can fill in the details .
so Albert was the only son of a prince .. this story gets more and more exciting
do you know who the mother was ?
was it Ada whitely ? often middle names are significant and i wondered if Adair could be male version of Ada
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Unfortunately, I don‘t know who the mother is…we would need to find out whether Ada had been teaching in Istanbul at some (early) stage of her life…but if she were B.‘s mum, the odd 1-year-marriage w Robert Frew might make some sense…? I just know that Bertie was born in 1899 (he was very proud that he was born in the last year of the 19th century - and also, that he had known four generations of my family: my Swedish great-grandmother „Bell“ Dickson from Göteborg, my grandmother, my mother and her sister - and me…). We wd need to find out who Bertie‘s father was, maybe there are descendants from his half siblings he MAY have had…Bertie said he was sure he had met his Father once by chance in the streets of London, when he, Bertie was a young man (17-20?). But his maybe Father just walked past him, looking hard ahead…I‘ve tried to find out who this cd have been - Yusuf Izzettin Efendi? Mehmed VI? Abdülmecid II? Abdülmecid (1868-1944) loved the Arts (and English!), he was a painter - and Bertie‘s name „Abdurahman“ might be a hint in that direction…Abdülmecid means „servant of the glorious“ (= God) and Abdurahman means „servant of the merciful“ (= God), even though it‘s Arabic not Turkish…Also, „Eastways“, where Bertie & his second wife Jean lived, was furnished exquisitely w arts and antiques…He may have been conceived at Feriye Palace…if one cd find out more about that? I seem to remember, Bertie talked about a Crown Prince…During the war, Bertie told me, he served as an interpreter and his back was hit by shrapnel at some stage, so he cd not bend over any more.