Comments on: Geoffs Genealogy Update 2 July 2012

By: Dirk

Dirk — Sun, 13 Dec 2020 19:28:00 +0000

I tried to reply directly but there was a postmaster error (mailbox full??) so I’m posting it here
!
My great aunt, daughter of William Kerr was also called Ophelia! Though she went by Phyllis or Phyll. My grandma is called Patricia. I know they were in Brixton growing up and William ran a fruit and veg stall. From records it seems his mum, the Ophelia we share, was an umbrella maker?
William Kerr (Jr) married Margaret Gannon and had four children.
My grandma is still alive, the others are all dead. Margaret, the oldest and Edward the second youngest died before I was born. Ophelia died in 2012.
Im happy to tell you any more you wanted to know.
I don’t know if you’d know, but I wondered if they had Romany heritage just because the name Ophelia is one I’ve only encountered in Romany or Jewish families and umbrella making and market trading are traditional Romany, traveller or Jewish jobs. Also because my grandma has quite olive skin and Ophelia had darker skin and wavy dark hair, her daughter and granddaughter also do.
I’m assuming they weren’t Jewish as all the records seem to be from C of E churches or registry offices
Thank you again for any help, I was excited to find her on your site!
Dirk

By: Geoff

Geoff — Sun, 13 Dec 2020 16:18:51 +0000

In reply to Dirk.

Hi Dirk
Many thanks for your message through my website. I am delighted to hear from you. My mother was Alice Dorothy Ophelia Smith (1918-1990). As you will have gathered, her uncle Jim was James Archer Smith and your 2 x gt grandmother was mum’s aunt through her second marriage..

Mum’s third forename was given to her after your 2 x gt grandma. She had very fond memories of James & Ophelia, particularly as they helped mum’s family a lot when they fell on hard times. So she quite often used to talk about them. Sadly, I didn’t write down all the things mum told me, and so most of it is lost to me.

Mum’s parents were George Wm Smith (1886-1940) and Alice Louisa Holliday (1891-1982), my grandparents. George had a greengrocery shop in Clapton, London, and was James’ brother.

I assume that you are interested in your family history. If you would like any information from me please feel free to ask me and I shall try to help. If you feel able to give me any information about your family I would be grateful

By: Dirk

Dirk — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 19:34:29 +0000

Ophelia was my great great grandma. My great grandad was William Kerr from her first marriage to the older William Kerr.

By: Neil Price

Neil Price — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:57:48 +0000

I was interested to read about various Prices you had researched around the Haberdashers Company records. My great grandfather Alfred Price (b 26 Dec 1824) was the son of a John Price, of whom we know very little other than he was perhaps a merchant of gold lace and whose funeral occurred during the riots caused by the Reform Bill (presumably 1831/2). Alfred was the middle of 3 sons and strangely, on the marriage records of the 2 that married, the father is referred to as “Charles Price” – all other references being to John. I do know far more about the mother of the 3 sons. She was Sarah Price (nee Peake) and was born in Stafford, the daughter of an architect. I have completely failed to find any record of the marriage (presumably c1820). Sarah was born in 1795 and died, after a long widowhood, in Edinburgh on 7 December 1877.
If any of this rings any bells with you, following your research of the Bankes, I would be delighted to hear from you.

By: Geoffrey Charles Garn

Geoffrey Charles Garn — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 16:46:06 +0000

The name Banks runs through the family I believe from a testator of a will named John Banks circa 1711 and my eldest nephew was the last person to claim from the fund (Ashley McIntyre) I have a copy cf the family tree but when I get to my grand mothers era late 1800 (Mary ellan Jones)it all falls apart ,if this information is of any help to youand I can help any further let me know Regards Geoff