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Research in Other Countries => South Africa => Topic started by: FrancisGrn on Thursday 30 October 25 14:43 GMT (UK)
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Dear all,
I am looking to trace a man who mysteriously emigrated to South Africa from England some time in the 30s or 40s. Ernest George Mackenzie was born in Bedminster in 1892 to Henry William Mackenzie and Florence Louisa Fulford. He can be easily traced in the censuses in the Fulham/Kensington area up until 1921. He worked as an insurance official, and had four siblings: Arthur Henry William (1884-1963), Henry John (1885-1938), Charles Henry (1887-1929) and Dorothy Kathleen (1889-1949). He married Florence Louisa Cass Fulford and had one son, Kenneth Francis Ewart Mackenzie (1918-1997). The family story goes that he emigrated, abandoning his family, and last saw his son some time in the 30s, before emigrating to SA. I would like to trace what happened to him and when he died.
Best wishes,
Francis
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Do you know if he divorced Florence? Did she ever remarry?
Did he marry Jessie Mary or Florence Louisa? You said his mother was Florence Louisa so just checking.
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There is a marriage announcement in the East Anglian Daily Times on 1st Januray 1915
On December 9th 1914 ..at Chiswick, Ernest George youngest son of the late H.W. MacKenzie and Mrs MacKenzie of Bristol to Jessie Mary Cockrell ....
Birth of the Kenneth you mention
He married Florence Louisa Cass Fulford and had one son, Kenneth Francis Ewart Mackenzie (1918-1997).
Births Sep 1918
Mackenzie Kenneth F E mmn Cockrell Fulham 1a 387
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He married Florence Louisa Cass Fulford and had one son, Kenneth Francis Ewart Mackenzie (1918-1997).
He is with his wife Jessie Mary in 1921 :-\
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The family story goes that he emigrated, abandoning his family, and last saw his son some time in the 30s, before emigrating to SA. I would like to trace what happened to him and when he died.
Best wishes,
Francis
Where do you have Jessie and Kenneth in 1939
For info only - death
MACKENZIE, KENNETH FRANCIS EWART bn 1918
GRO Reference: DOR Q4/1997 in DEBEN (7431) Reg 22C Entry Number 102
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Where do you have Jessie and Kenneth in 1939
Looking at Jessie (Cockrell) I think she was actually born in 1881 (not 1887 as the 1921 census suggests) daughter of Harry and Emily Cockrell.
Her baptism in Ipswich gives the birth date of 11th August 1881.
Which leads to a Jessie Mackenzie, married, birthdate 11th August 1881, a visitor in Ipswich in 1939.
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His birth was registered as George Ernest
MACKENZIE, GEORGE ERNEST mmn FULFORD
GRO Reference: 1892 J Quarter in BEDMINSTER Volume 05C Page 675
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One for further investigation. Your man as pointed out was born George Ernest MacKenzie in 1892.
He is the only man with that name born in England/Wales/Scotland/Ireland between 1891-93.
There is a death in 1956
MACKENZIE, GEORGE aged 64 = 1892
GRO Reference: 1956 D Quarter in LONDON CITY Volume 05D Page 132
Probate record records him as George Ernest MacKenzie. Wife Genene. They are together from 1945-56 London Electoral registers, George always recorded as George C MacKenzie. She died in 1981 also leaving a probate record.
She does appear at the probate address in 1939 war register but I am struggling to understand the entry.
SS
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Probate record records him as George Ernest MacKenzie. Wife Genene. They are together from 1945-56 London Electoral registers, George always recorded as George C MacKenzie. She died in 1981 also leaving a probate record.
She does appear at the probate address in 1939 war register but I am struggling to understand the entry.
SS
The name originally in the 1939 register was William Buckley.
There is a 1943 London Gazette notice of change of name for Genene Buckley (widow) to Genene MacKenzie. Her address is the same as in the 1939 entry.
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Following up on Genene, there is this marriage:
Marriage Jun 1925 Marylebone 1a 1329
Buckley William A R Coelen
Coelen Eugenie M J Buckley
Maybe Eugenie preferred to be called Genene.
Birth June 1905 Uxbridge 3a 39
Coelen Eugenie J M
In 1911 Eugenie (b. 1905) is with her parents, Gerard F J H Coelen and Marie A G V Coelen. Her parents were born in Holland (maybe where the South Africa connection came from - surname/accent??)
The 1939 entry (William Buckley/Genene Mackenzie) has her birth as 20th March 1908.
However, The Daily News (London) dated 24 March 1905 has this birth announcement. "COELEN - 20th March, at The Warren, Northwood, Middlesex, the wife of Gerard Coelen, of a daughter". Same address as 1911.
Eugenie can also be found in 1921 with her widowed mother as guests at a hotel in Pembridge Square, London.
I'm still looking but will post this for your thoughts.
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Well found Jool. Ernest George/George Ernest was born 6th March 1892. he appears as a married man in war register with this same dob as George O Mackenzie. He also appears in the London electoral registers at the 1939 address from 1935-9 as George Ernest MacKenzie
SS
added- possibly
BUCKLEY, WILLIAM ARTHUR ROBERTS mmn ROBERTS
GRO Reference: 1906 S Quarter in OLDHAM Volume 08D Page 660
BUCKLEY
WILLIAM ARTHUR ROBERTS aged 87 mmn Roberts
1993
734 / 564
St Andrew (Edinburgh)
William seems to have remarried a Mary Usher in 1926 Midlothian. Wonder if he and Eugenie divorced?
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Plot thickens.
Births Dec 1923
Coelen Charles Coelen Marylebone 1a see J'25
BUCKLEY, CHARLES COELEN
GRO Reference: 1925 J Quarter in ST. MARYLEBONE Volume 01A Page 657
SS
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Well found Jool. Ernest George/George Ernest was born 6th March 1892. he appears as a married man in war register with this same dob as George O Mackenzie. He also appears in the London electoral registers at the 1939 address from 1935-9 as George Ernest MacKenzie
The person who wrote out the 1939 page had very idiosyncratic handwriting. Looking at other examples on neighbouring pages I would say that the initial after George isn't 'O' but 'E'.
Compare with the 'E' in Eliza on these snips
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George E Mackenzie's occupation in 1939 was Advertising Manager.
This fits well with the occupation of the George Mackenzie who died in 1956.
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Do folks think he is the op’s man
SS
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Could this be him in the Cape? Sorry incorrect. Not sure how to delete this.
DEPOT KAB
SOURCE GSC
TYPE LEER
VOLUME_NO 2/1/1/260
SYSTEM 01
REFERENCE 95
PART 1
DESCRIPTION ILLIQUID CASE. EDWARD ERNEST ROBERT LENTZ VERSUS IRVINE GEORGE
MACKENZIE ELDER. DAMAGES.
STARTING 19280000
ENDING 19280000
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Ernest George Mackenzie has quite a distinctive signature at the bottom of the 1921 census (when he is with Jessie and Kenneth). Maybe Francis could order a copy of the probate record for George Ernest Mackenzie posted by softly softly in post #7 and compare the signature. It only costs £1.50.
https://www.gov.uk/search-will-probate
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Do folks think he is the op’s man
SS
Given the coincidence of the dates of birth I think it seems a strong possibility.
I like Jool's idea of comparing signatures.
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Do folks think he is the op’s man
SS
Yes, I think he is the right man. As Jen said the matching birth dates seem too much of a coincidence. Well done SS.
It would be good to hear the op's thoughts on this.
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It would be good to hear the op's thoughts on this.
Francis, quite a lot of time has been spent looking at this for you, it would be nice to hear your thoughts.
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First time I have read this thread and may be throwing a spanner in the works, but seeing as Eugenie seems to be calling herself Genene I was struck by the marriage of William Buckley to J M Cockrell.
Could that be Eugenie Jessie Mary Coelen?
Pheno
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Francis, have you any comments re All the replies to your original post, see you are online. Feedback is always an encouragement to us posters,
SS
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Dear all,
Thanks so much to everyone here for the help in shedding more light on this mystery. Apologies for the long delay in getting back; I have had quite a lot of work at uni at the moment so slightly paused researching. A few concluding thoughts:
- It does absolutely seem like the man who died in '56 is our man. I shall definitely buy the probate record and compare signatures, which would hopefully verify this
- I wonder where the whole SA thread might have come from; my suspicion is this was something told as a 'cover story' for what seems to be an unofficial divorce and cohabitation arrangement between our man and Genene, who seems never to have divorced William Buckley and chaned her name. Maybe the Dutch surname played a role here too
-Anyone got any suggestions as to where I could go further with this; would there be anywhere i could look to trace his journalistic career?
-I will compile everything here to send to my godfather, for whom I am doing this research (EG Mackenzie was his grandfather)
Once again, warmest thanks for helping me out with this ;D
FG