The Distribution of the Seear Surname

SEEAR The earliest proven ancestor in this line is William Seear who was born about 17531 and because of the marriage of cousins, is 4 x great grandfather three times over. Although there are many variants of the name, the Seear spelling became standard in this branch within three generations and this is generally used through out this narrative, for convenience and clarity. Surname dictionaries have several, not altogether convincing, suggestions for the meaning of the name, including ‘an assayer of metal’, ‘a reciter (i.e. one who says), ‘a sawyer‘, ‘a sewer’ or, perhaps the most likely, ‘one who makes, or sells, say’ (a type of cloth).2 The first concrete references to proven Seear ancestors are the baptisms of the children of William and his wife, Mary, at Stoke Newington, Middlesex in the 1780s and 1790s.3 The seventeenth century had seen an influx of wealthy Jewish settlers, of Spanish and Portuguese descent, arriving in Hackney, Stoke Newington and the surrounding area. Family stories4 and a distinct Jewish appearance make it tempting to seek the origins of the Seear family here but other explanations seem more likely. William Seear was a shoemaker.5 The family almost certainly comes from the shoemaking areas of Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire where the surname Seear, in all its variant spellings, is prolific.6 It is likely that William was born in Hertfordshire, possibly St. Albans.7 A Mary Sear married James Watts in Stoke Newington, Middlesex in 17778 and she may have been William’s sister. If William was born in the home counties, then he picked an unlikely time to migrate to London as, by the 1760s, there was a surfeit of London shoemakers. Although there were

1 Burial registers of St. Mary, Stoke Newington, Middlesex, held at the London Metropolitan Archives. 2 P. H. Reaney, A Dictionary of Surnames Routledge and Kegan Paul 1979; Patrick Hanks and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames Oxford University Press 1988. 3 Baptism registers of St. Mary’s, Stoke Newington, Middlesex, held at the Metropolitan Archives 4 Gwendoline Catherine Braund née Smith, quoting her grandparents Herbert Havet and Catherine Smith née Seear, both of whom descend from the Seear family. 5 Baptism registers of St. Mary, Stoke Newington, Middlesex held at the London Metropolitan Archives. 6 The Surname Atlas Archer Software (2003). 7 William’s granddaughter, Caroline, married into another branch of the Seear family. These Seear’s came from St. Alban’s and the bride and groom may well have been second cousins. Other members of the St. Albans branch move to East London and are connected to William’s descendants. 8 Marriage registers of St. Mary’s, Stoke Newington, Middlesex, held at the Metropolitan Archives.

Stoke Newington c. 1750

many grades of shoemaker, their occupation was considered to be one of the less respectable trades. They were traditionally lazy, notorious for keeping ‘Saint Monday’ and thus working only a five day week. Despite this, shoemakers were generally regarded as being better educated than many artisans. William’s marriage has not been traced but he and Mary had at least ten children, nine of whom were baptised at St. Mary’s, Stoke Newington.9 The baptism register for this period gives exact dates of birth and most of the children were baptised within three weeks. The eldest child was Sarah who was baptised on the 11th August 178210 and about whom nothing further is known, John was born on the 9th of October 1783 and baptised ten days later. He is probably the John Seear who married Mary Bone and was a stationer in Fetter Lane, Holborn.11 The next of William and Mary’s children was Samuel, who was born on the 17th February 1785 and baptised on the 13th March in the same year.12 Again, nothing has been confirmed about Samuel’s future although he is likely to be the Samuel Seear who married Phoebe Harrop Lovell in Tottenham in 1807.13 William and Mary’s daughter, Mary, was born on the 9th of April 1786 and unusually, was not baptised at Stoke Newington until the 24th of September.14 She married Thomas Brown on the 3rd of September 1810 at St. John’s, Hackney, Middlesex where she was living at the time. Although most of the other Seear children were literate, Mary made her

9 Baptism registers of St. Mary’s, Stoke Newington, Middlesex, held at the Metropolitan Archives 10 Baptism registers of St. Mary’s, Stoke Newington, Middlesex, held at the Metropolitan Archives. 11 Marriage registers of St. Mary, Woolnorth, Middlesex, held at the Metropolitan Archives; 1841 census for Fetter Lane Holborn, Middlesex HO107 724/3 folio 13. 12 Baptism registers of St. Mary’s, Stoke Newington, Middlesex, held at the Metropolitan Archives. 13 Parish records Collection www.familypast.co.uk. 14 Baptism registers of St. Mary’s, Stoke Newington, Middlesex, held at the Metropolitan Archives.

The Signature of William Seear as it appears in the

mark.15 It is however not unknown for people who were capable of signing their name to do this. Either Mary, or her husband, were god-parent to their niece, Ann, in 1817 and nephew, Henry, in 1819.16 The fifth known child of William and Mary Seear was 3 x great grandfather (twice over) James . He was born on the 22nd of January 1788, was baptised at Stoke Newington on the 10th of February17 and his story continues below. James was followed by Susanna Maria who was born on the 18th of May 1790 and baptised on the 6th of June at Stoke Newington.18 Susannah married Samuel Vince on the 6th of January 1821 at St. John’s, Hackney. Unlike her sister, Susannah signed her name and one of the witnesses was William Seear, who was almost certainly her father.19 Susannah was followed by Elizabeth Ann, the only one of William and Mary’s known children to be baptised at St. John’s, Hackney. She was baptised on the 26th of February 1792. She is known to have survived to adulthood as she signed as a witness when her brother, James, married in 1813.20 The next daughter was Frances. She was born on the 4th of November 1793 and baptised, back in Stoke Newington, on the 24th November.21 On the 13th of February 1819, she married Henry Pizzey at St. Matthew’s, Bethnal Green, Middlesex.22 Either Frances or her husband were godparents to her nephew, Henry, in 1819 and niece, Eliza, in 1823.23 Henry and Frances had four sons and a daughter baptised in Bethnal Green.24 The next daughter was 3 x great grandmother Charlotte , who was born on the 27th of May 1795 and baptised at Stoke Newington on the 16th of August.25 Charlotte married John Jeremiah Smith at St. John’s, Hackney on the 1st of September 1816 and she too was able to sign the register.26 Her story continues in the Smith section. The youngest Seear child, Ann, was born on the 3rd of February 1797 and baptised on the 26th of February at Stoke Newington.27 She was buried there on the 19th of June 1800.28 Mary Seear was buried at Stoke Newington on the 25th July 1817, at the age of sixty three. Her husband, William, was buried at Stoke Newington on the 25th of February 1821, aged sixty seven. They were both said to be of the neighbouring parish of St. John’s, Hackney at the time of their burials.29

15 Marriage registers of St. Mary’s, Stoke Newington, Middlesex, held at the Metropolitan Archives. 16 Family Bible, in possession of the late David Seear. 17 Baptism registers of St. Mary’s, Stoke Newington, Middlesex, held at the Metropolitan Archives. 18 Baptism registers of St. Mary’s, Stoke Newington, Middlesex, held at the Metropolitan Archives. 19 Marriage registers of St. John’s, Hackney, Middlesex, held at the Metropolitan Archives. 20 Baptism registers of St. Mary’s, Stoke Newington, Middlesex, held at the Metropolitan Archives. 21 Baptism registers of St. Mary’s, Stoke Newington, Middlesex, held at the Metropolitan Archives. 22 www.familysearch.org. 23 Family Bible, in possession of the late David Seear. 24 www.familysearch.org. 25 Baptism registers of St. Mary’s, Stoke Newington, Middlesex, held at the Metropolitan Archives. 26 Marriage registers of St. John’s, Hackney, Middlesex, held at the Metropolitan Archives. 27 Baptism registers of St. Mary’s, Stoke Newington, Middlesex, held at the Metropolitan Archives. 28 Burial registers of St. Mary’s, Stoke Newington, Middlesex, held at the Metropolitan Archives. 29 Burial registers of St. Mary’s, Stoke Newington, Middlesex, held at the Metropolitan Archives.

Now to return to 3 x great grandfather, James Seear. James’ first marriage took place at St. Anne’s, Tottenham, Middlesex on the 5th of August 1809. His bride was Elizabeth Morgan and she was almost certainly pregnant.30 The couple had one child, a daughter, Elizabeth Ann, who was born at one in the morning on the 28th of February 1810 and baptised at St. John’s, Hackney on the 30th of March.31 A Bible survives that lists all of James’ children, their times and dates of birth, their baptisms and the surnames of their godparents. Elizabeth Ann’s godparents were her aunt and namesake and Richard and Ann Morgan. Her mother, Elizabeth, died in December 1810 and was buried at Stoke Newington on the 10th December.32 Sadly, the young Elizabeth Ann died around the time of her second birthday and was buried at Stoke Newington on the 8th of March 1812.33 James married again on the 30th of January 1813 at St.Olave, Old Jewry, where both he and his bride were said to be living at the time. His wife was Ann Lambell who had been born in Bampton, Oxfordshire about 178934 and both could sign the register.35 Their first daughter, Ann, was born at three pm on the 27th of August 1813 but died on the 10th of September, before she could be baptised. She was buried at Stoke Newington although, at the time, James was said to be a carrier of Hackney.36 The next child was James William. He was born at midnight on the 23rd of November 1814 and was baptised at Stoke Newington on the 23rd of December. His godparents were what appear to be E and J (or possibly T) Seear and Parkinson.37 James junior was followed by another Ann. She was born at two pm on the 8th of June 1817 and was baptised at Stoke Newington on the 10th of September with E Davis, Brown and J or T Seear as her sponsors.38 She too did not survive infancy and died on her third birthday, the 8th of June 1820 and was buried at Stoke Newington on the 13th. James and Ann’s fourth child was Henry. He was born at one in the afternoon on the 30th of July 1819. The family Bible says that he was baptised at Stoke Newington, with S Seear, Pizzey and Brown as his godparents but that has not been confirmed in the parish registers.39 This is of particular interest as he was apparently the last of James and Ann’s children to be baptised in Stoke Newington and by the time his sister, Ann, was buried there the following year the family were ‘of Hackney’. It seems therefore that the move back to Hackney took place in 1819 or 1820.40 Caroline was probably the first child born after the move. She was born at two in the morning on the 28th of July 1821. She was baptised at St. John’s, Hackney with Mr and Mrs Amor and Mrs Harris as her godparents.41 Caroline was followed by great great grandmother Eliza . Eliza was born at three in the morning on the 10th of June 1823. She too was baptised at St. John’s,

30 www.familysearch.org; Family Bible, in possession of the late David Seear. 31 Family Bible, in possession of the late David Seear; baptism registers of St. John’s, Hackney, Middlesex, held at the Metropolitan Archives. 32 Burial registers of St. Mary’s, Stoke Newington, Middlesex, held at the Metropolitan Archives. 33 Burial registers of St. Mary’s, Stoke Newington, Middlesex, held at the Metropolitan Archives; family Bible in Possession of the late David Seear. 34 1851 census for 35 Marriage registers of St. Olave Old Jewry, Middlesex, held at London Metropolitan Archives. 36 Burial registers of St. Mary’s, Stoke Newington, Middlesex, held at the Metropolitan Archives; family Bible in Possession of the late David Seear. 37 Baptism registers of St. Mary’s, Stoke Newington, Middlesex, held at the Metropolitan Archives; family Bible in Possession of the late David Seear. 38 Baptism registers of St. Mary’s, Stoke Newington, Middlesex, held at the Metropolitan Archives; family Bible in Possession of the late David Seear. 39 Family Bible in Possession of the late David Seear. 40 Baptism and burial registers of St. Mary’s, Stoke Newington, Middlesex, held at the Metropolitan Archives. 41 Family Bible in Possession of the late David Seear.

Hackney, with Pizzey, Mrs Harris and Mrs Davis as her godparents.42 At nine pm on the 20th of June 1826, George Seear was born. His place of baptism was described as Hackney Wick and his godparents were J (or T) Seear, Mr Moore and Mrs J Seear.43 Then came the second of James and Ann’s children to be a great great grandparent, Frederick . He was born at ten to six am on the 15th of August 1829. He too was baptised at Hackney Wick. This time the godparents were Mrs Hutt, John Seear and Mrs Smyth.44 The youngest child was Alfred, born at half past eleven in the morning of the 11th of February 1834 he was baptised at Hackney Wick with Henry Seear and Mary White acting as sponsors.45 By the time of the 1841 census, the family were living at 5 Prospect Place, which was a terrace on the Kingsland Road in Hackney. James was working as a grocer, with James junior and Henry assisting him and George working as a clerk.46 Caroline had married and left home47 and Frederick was at John Gowring’s boarding school, at Seller’s Hall, Nether Street, Finchley, Middlesex.48 Ten years later, the children were no longer at home and James had left the running of the business to his sons. He and Ann were living at 9 Buckingham Road, West Hackney and he was described as a ‘proprietor of houses’.49 Buckingham Road was on the De Beauvoir Estate and according to the Booth Survey, was an area of the comfortably off who earned ‘good ordinary wages‘. Nearby Kingsland Road was described as ‘mixed’, with some being comfortably off and others poor.50 At the end of 1851, James made his will. He left no fewer than twenty two properties, divided between his children, several pictures, a watch and chain, seals, silver, a snuff box and a legacy to West Hackney National School.51 He was clearly, by this time, a man of some substance and this is born out by his description as ‘gentleman’ on his death certificate.52 James died at 9 Buckingham Road on the 23rd of September 1854 of laryngitis. His son, George, was the informant.53 James was buried at Abney Park Cemetery, Stoke Newington, in section M09, on the 29th of September 1854.54 In 1861, the widowed Ann Seear was living at 3 Buckingham Road. This may actually be the same property that had been subjected to a renumbering. With her was a seventeen year old servant, Mary Wales.55 On the 17th of July 1867, Ann died at 1 Durham Place, Grange Road, Dalston. She had been suffering from paralysis, probably the result of a stroke, for sixteen days. Her son Henry registered the death.56 She was buried, with her husband, at Abney Park on the 24th of July.57

42 Family Bible in Possession of the late David Seear. 43 Family Bible in Possession of the late David Seear. 44 Family Bible in Possession of the late David Seear. 45 Family Bible in Possession of the late David Seear. 46 1841 census for 5 Prospect Place, Kingsland Road, Hackney, Middlesex HO107 700/7 folio 45. 47 1841 census for 42 Church Street, Woolwich, Kent HO107 493/5 folio 22. 48 1841 census for Seller’s Hall, Nether Street, Finchley, Middlesex HO107 663/3 folio 16. This property has now been demolished. 49 1851 census for 9 Buckingham Road, West Hackney, Middlesex HO107 1504 folio 286. 50 The Charles Booth Online Archive http://booth.lse.ac.uk/ Last accessed February 2011. 51 The will of James Seear proved 1854, held at The National Archives PROB11/2205 folio 221. 52 The death certificate of James Seear, 1854 from the General Registrar. 53 The death certificate of James Seear, 1854 from the General Registrar. 54 Index to burials at Abney Park Cemetery, Stoke Newington, Middlesex http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~abneypark/abneyy.html Last accessed February 2011. 55 1861 census for 3 Buckingham Road, West Hackney, Middlesex RG9 155 folio 164. 56 The death certificate of Ann Seear, 1867 from the General Registrar. 57 Index to burials at Abney Park Cemetery, Stoke Newington, Middlesex

The Entrance to Abney Park Cemetery

It is now time to look at each of James and Ann’s children, who survived infancy, in turn. James William Henry By 1841, Henry was already working for his father, as an assistant in the grocery business at 5, Prospect Place.58 In 1844 he married Mary Curtis in Brentford, Middlesex registration district.59 Whilst his elder brother, James, took over at 5 Prospect Place, Henry set up his tea dealer’s and grocer’s business next door, at number 6. Each of the premises in Prospect Place seemed to house two businesses and Henry shared with George Edwards, the pork butcher. In 1851, Henry was employing his younger brother Alfred and William Cuffley as his assistants.60 Henry and Mary had no children of their own but they adopted61 Esther (or Hester) Le Bouttilier. Esther had been born in Honfleur, France about 1854 and is described as Henry’s niece although, if she were a blood relation, this is likely to have been on his wife’s side.62 By 1861, Henry’s family had 6 Prospect Place to themselves and the grocer’s business was employing one male assistant. The family also had a live-in, female servant. Ten years later, little had changed except the names of the two servants. Emily Goddard, a married niece, again probably Mary’s rather than Henry’s, was with the household. By this time, Henry appears to have moved to nearby 416 Kingsland Road.63 Esther, was up the road, visiting her uncle, James William Seear, at 382 Kingsland Road.64 Henry died on

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~abneypark/abneyy.html Last accessed February 2011. 58 1841 census for 5 Prospect Place, Kingsland Road, Hackney, Middlesex HO107 700/7 folio 45. 59 The marriage indexes of the General Registrar; 1881 census for 416 Kingsland Road, Hackney, Middlesex RG11 294 folio 53. 60 1851 census for 6 Prospect Place, Kingsland Road, Hackney, Middlesex HO107 1504 folio 416. 61 There was no formal adoption until 1927. 62 1861 census for 6 Prospect Place, Kingsland Road, Hackney, Middlesex RG9 156 folio 17; 1871 census for 382 Kingsland Road, Hackney, Middlesex RG10 318 folio 41. 63 1871 census for 416 Kingsland Road, Hackney, Middlesex RG10 318 folio 43. 64 1871 census for 382 Kingsland Road, Hackney, Middlesex RG10 318 folio 41.

the 1st of June 1880 and was buried in section M09 at Abney Park on the 7th of June.65 In his will, which he had written in 1852, he left everything to his wife, Mary.66 Mary remained running the business at 416 Kingsland Road and was there, with her sister Jane and a domestic servant in 1881.67 Shortly afterwards, Mary moved in with her adopted daughter Esther.68 Esther had married Eustace Proctor Davis, a Hertfordshire woollen merchant, in 1876, in Hackney registration district.69 The couple had five children, Amy, Florence, Walter, Minnie Le Bouttilier and Ethel.70 They began married life at 33 Kenninghall Road, Hackney and then moved to Hollydell, Great North Road, Finchley, Middlesex, where Henry’s widow, Mary, joined them.71 Mary died, at Hollydell, on the 22nd of September 1900, leaving everything to her adopted daughter, Esther.72 She was buried at Abney Park, with her husband on the 17th of September.73 The Davises remained at Hollydell.74 Caroline and the Hertfordshire Seears It is Caroline who provides possible clues to earlier generations of the Seear family. In 1840, Caroline married John Hayes Seear at St. John‘s, Hackney.75 It seemed too much of a coincidence to believe that the couple were unrelated so it was important to trace the ancestry of her husband in the hope that earlier generations of Caroline’s family would also be revealed. Caroline’s husband, John Hayes Seear, was born on the 13th of February 181376 and baptised at St. Andrew’s. Holborn, Middlesex on the 11th of March. His ancestry can be traced back to his grandparents Thomas and Elizabeth Seear née Smith who married in St. Albans, Hertfordshire on the 14th of October 1779.77 The Smith connection here is almost certainly not significant. It is probable that this Thomas Seear was a son of another Thomas and his wife, Mary Phillips who married in St. Albans in 1746.78 Although no baptism has been found for a son Thomas, other children were baptised in St. Albans, including a William on the 28th of January 1755 who, despite the couple of years’ age discrepancy, is likely to be 4 x great grandfather, William the shoemaker of Stoke Newington.79 Thomas and Elizabeth Seear née Smith had five children baptised at St. Peter’s, St. Albans. The eldest, Thomas was a shoemaker who lived in Hemel Hempstead,

65 The indexes of the Principal Probate Registry; Index to burials at Abney Park Cemetery, Stoke Newington, Middlesex http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~abneypark/abneyy.html Last accessed February 2011. 66 The will of Henry Seear proved 1880, held at The Principal Probate Registry. 67 1881 census for 416 Kingsland Road, Hackney, Middlesex RG11 294 folio 49. 68 1891 census for Hollydell, Great North Road, Finchley, Middlesex RG12 1056 folio 111. 69 The marriage indexes of the General Registrar; 1891 census for Hollydell, Great North Road, Finchley, Middlesex RG12 1056 folio 111. 70 1881 census for 33 Kenninghall Road, Hackney, Middlesex RG11 304 folio 83; 1891 census for Hollydell, Great North Road, Finchley, Middlesex RG12 1056 folio 111; 1911 census for Hollydell, Great North Road, Finchley, Middlesex RG14 7166 folio 71. 71 1881 census for 33 Kenninghall Road, Hackney, Middlesex RG11 304 folio 83; 1891 census for Hollydell, Great North Road, Finchley, Middlesex RG12 1056 folio 111. 72 The indexes of the Principal Probate Registry; The will of Mary Seear proved 1900, held at The Principal Probate Registry. 73 Index to burials at Abney Park Cemetery, Stoke Newington, Middlesex http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~abneypark/abneyy.html Last accessed February 2011. 74 1911 census for Hollydell, Great North Road, Finchley, RG14 7166 folio 71. 75 Oral evidence from the late David Seear. 76 The birthday book of Mabel Alice Seear, in the possession of the late Alan Seear. 77 www.familysearch.org. 78 www.familysearch.org. 79 www.familysearch.org.

Hertfordshire.80 Thomas‘ grandson, Thomas Robert, began his working life as a Hemel Hempstead shoemaker, like his grandfather and father, Charles Robert junior.81 In the 1870s he moved to Islington, Middlesex and became a fruiterer’s foreman.82 In 1881, Thomas Robert was living next door to fellow fruiterer Frederick Edwin Smith, son of John Jeremiah and Charlotte Smith née Seear.83 This too seems unlikely to be coincidence. Thomas and Elizabeth Seear née Smith had four more children. A daughter, Elizabeth, baptised in 1782, has not been traced further.84 The next son, Charles Robert senior, was also a shoemaker.85 At some point between 1813 Charles Robert moved from Hemel Hempstead to London. He married in Holborn in 1812 and settled in Shoreditch.86 It is highly likely that Thomas and Elizabeth’s youngest son, William, born about 1790, made a similar move. He married Mary Ann Smith, possibly a cousin, in St. Albans in 1811 and four likely children of this couple are baptised in Shoreditch.87 John Seear, son of Thomas and Elizabeth Seear née Smith was baptised at St. Peter’s, St. Albans on the 24th of September 1786.88 On the 11th of May 1812 he married Elizabeth Brickland at St. Andrew’s, Holborn; the witnesses were John Hayes and James Horton.89 John Hayes, after whom John and Elizabeth were to name their son, could be related to the John Hayes, a fruit seller of Irish extraction, who can be found in Holborn district in 1851.90 Although the surname Brickland is found in St. Albans and Hemel Hempstead, Elizabeth claimed to have been born in London.91 John and Elizabeth had three children. The eldest John Hayes Seear was born on the 13th of February 181392 and baptised on the 11th of March 1813 at St. Andrew’s, Holborn;93 his story continues below. Next was Frederick Augustus, who was baptised on the 13th of February 1816, also at Holborn. Finally, Elizabeth Mary Hayes was baptised on the 9th of August 1820 at St. Leonard’s, Shoreditch.94 Shortly after the births of his children, John, describing himself as a stationer and bookbinder of Shoreditch, made his will leaving everything to his wife. In 1849, by then giving his address as 9 Heath Place, Cambridge Heath, he added a codicil making his son, John Hayes Seear, joint executor95 In 1841, John, Elizabeth and their daughter were living at Gretton Place, Bethnal Green, Middlesex and John was described as being of independent means.96 Frederick Augustus, about whom there is some mystery, cannot be found in the 1841 or 1851

80 1851 census for High Street, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HO107 1715 folio 123. 81 1851 census for High Street, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HO107 1715 folio 185. 82 1881 census for 3 Northampton Place, Holloway Road, Islington, Middlesex RG11 247 folio 72. 83 1881 census for 3 Northampton Place, Holloway Road, Islington, Middlesex RG11 247 folio 72. 84 www.familysearch.org. 85 www.familysearch.org; 1851 census for 22 Willow Walk, Shoreditch, Middlesex HO107 1534 folio 373. 86 www.familysearch.org; 1851 census for 22 Willow Walk, Shoreditch, Middlesex HO107 1534 folio 373. 87 www.familysearch.org. 88 www.familysearch.org; 1851 census for 9 Gwynne Place, Bethnal Green, Middlesex HO107 1539 folio 638. 89 Certified copy of an entry in the marriage registers of St. Andrew’s, Holborn, Middlesex, from the late David Seear. 90 1851 census for 1 George Alley, Finsbury, Middlesex HO107 1515 folio 262. 91 www.familysearch.org; 1851 census for 9 Gwynne Place, Bethnal Green, Middlesex HO107 1539 folio 638. 92 The birthday book of Mabel Alice Seear, in the possession of the late Alan Seear. 93 www.familysearch.org. 94 www.familysearch.org. 95 The will of John Seear proved 1857, held at the National Archives PROB 2252 folios 100-102. 96 1841 census for Gretton Place, Bethnal Green, Middlesex HO107 692/2 folio 11.

censuses.97 By 1851, John, his wife and daughter had moved to 9, Gwynne Place, Bethnal Green and John was stated as having ‘no business’.98 John died of paralysis and a serious effusion on the brain, probably what would now be described as a stroke, on the 3rd of March 1857 at 9, Gwynne’s Place; he was a house proprietor99 In 1861, John’s widow, Elizabeth was back in Heath Place, at number eight. This may be the same property that the family were in when John wrote his codicil in 1849 or he may have owned a terrace of houses of which these were two, Her daughter was with her, along with Thomas and Fanny Smith, a couple in their sixties. Thomas had been born in Aldenham, Hertfordshire and Fanny had been the informant on John’s death certificate. They may have been servants, or perhaps some kind of relation to John and Elizabeth.100 Frederick Augustus re-emerged by 1861 and was living in some kind of lodging house in Orchard Street, Edmonton, Middlesex, working at his father’s trade of bookbinding.101 Frederick is mentioned in his mother’s will, which she made on the 28th of September 1865. At this time she was living at 5 Newmarket Terrace, Cambridge Heath. All three children were beneficiaries.102 Shortly afterwards, in 1868, Elizabeth Mary Hayes Seear married James Kerr Anderson, an outfitter from Woolwich, in Hackney registration district.103 Perhaps she felt able to marry once her mother had died. In 1871, the Andersons were living at 3 Maryon Road, Charlton, Middlesex.104 Elizabeth Mary Hayes Anderson died in 1879, in Woolwich registration district.105 Although he cannot be found in the 1871 census106 it seems that Frederick Augustus was last heard of by his family in 1872. His death was registered in 1883, when letters of administration were taken out, at the same time as his brother’s will was proved. The probate indexes state that he died in or since 1872107 To return to John Hayes and Caroline Seear, who had married in 1840. In 1841, they were living at 42 Church Street, Woolwich, Kent. John, like so many members of the Seear family, was a grocer.108 John and Caroline had ten children; their descendants have not all been exhaustively traced. The eldest daughter, Elizabeth Ann, was born in 1841 and baptised at St. Mary Magdalene, Woolwich on the 18th of August 1841.109 In 1851 Elizabeth Ann was a scholar, living with her parents at 42 Church Street, Woolwich.110 Along with her sister, Emily, she became a milliner,111 before marrying Leonard Percival Thomas in Greenwich registration district in 1863.112 Eliza Caroline was born to John Hayes and Caroline in 1843 and she was baptised at St. Mary Magdalene, Woolwich on the 19th of April.113 In 1851 Eliza too was a scholar, living with her parents.114

97 Census indexes for England and Wales at www.findmypast.co.uk 98 1851 census for 9 Gwynne Place, Bethnal Green, Middlesex HO107 1539 folio 638. 99 The death certificate of John Seear, 1857 from the local register office. 100 The death certificate of John Seear, 1857 from the local register office; 1861 census for 8 Heath Place, Cambridge Heath, Bethnal Green, Middlesex RG9 253 folio 61. 101 1861 census for Orchard Street, Edmonton, Middlesex RG9 796 folio 21. 102 The will of Elizabeth Seear proved 1866, held at The Principal Probate Registry. 103 The marriage indexes of the General Registrar; Letters of Administration for Frederick Augustus Seear proved in 1883; 1871 census for 3 Maryon Road, Charlton, Kent RG10 774 folio 22. 104 1871 census for 3 Maryon Road, Charlton, Middlesex RG10 774 folio 22. 105 The death indexes of the General Registrar. 106 Census indexes for England and Wales at www.findmypast.co.uk 107 The death indexes of the General Registrar; Letters of Administration for Frederick Augustus Seear proved in 1883; indexes of the Principal Probate Registry. 108 1841 census for 42 Church Street, Woolwich, Kent HO107 493/5 folio 22. 109 The birth indexes of the General Registrar; Oral evidence from the late David Seear. 110 1841 census for 42 Church Street, Woolwich, Kent HO107 493/5 folio 22. 111 London Post Office Commercial Directory 1862 - southern suburbs. 112 The marriage indexes of the General Registrar; will of Caroline Seear proved 1874, held at the Principal Probate Registry. 113 The birth indexes of the General Registrar; Oral evidence from the late David Seear.

Eliza Smith née Seear

In 1856, Eliza Caroline died and was buried at Woolwich Cemetery in section H No. 127.115 John Hayes and Caroline’s next daughter was Emily Frances, who was baptised at St. Mary Magdalene, Woolwich on the 2nd of March 1845.116 Like her sisters, she was a scholar in the family home in 1851.117 In 1862, she was conducting a millinery business, along with Elizabeth Ann, at 34 Richard Street, Woolwich.118 She returned home, perhaps after Elizabeth Ann married and was working as a milliner from 42 Church Street in 1871.119 In 1881, she was with her widowed father at 34 Hare Street, Woolwich.120 In 1886, after her father’s death, Emily, by then in her forties, married James Denham, strangely in Basford district, which borders Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.121 James Denham was a tobacconist and confectioner who was some twenty five years Emily’s junior.122 Perhaps it was significant that Emily was pregnant at the time of the marriage.123 The couple’s daughter, Elsie Caroline, was born early in 1887, in Woolwich.124 In 1891 the family were living at 63 Holloway Road, Islington, Middlesex, where James was a confectioner.125 Emily died in July 1901 and was buried in Woolwich Cemetery, in the same section as her sister.126 John James was John Hayes and Caroline’s eldest son and he was born on the 7th of July 1847 and baptised at St. Mary Magdalene, Woolwich on the 18th of August.127 Despite being only three years old, he is listed as a scholar in the 1851 census.128 He was still at home and a scholar in 1861.129 In 1874 John James married Harriet Alice Scott. NB Possibility of Huguenot connection Eliza In 1851, Eliza was acting as housekeeper for her brother Frederick. Frederick had set up on his own as a master grocer at 3 High Street, West Hackney and was employing one man.130 On the 31st of August 1852, Eliza married her first cousin William Joseph Smith , the son of her aunt Charlotte. The ceremony took place at West Hackney church and the witnesses were Eliza’s brothers, James and George, William’s sister, Elizabeth Mary and Sarah Harriet Scott, who was later to marry Eliza’s brother, Alfred.131 Eliza’s story continues in the Smith section.

114 1841 census for 42 Church Street, Woolwich, Kent HO107 493/5 folio 22. 115 The death indexes of the General Registrar; Oral evidence from the late David Seear. 116 Oral evidence from the late David Seear. 117 1841 census for 42 Church Street, Woolwich, Kent HO107 493/5 folio 22. 118 London Post Office Commercial Directory 1862 - southern suburbs. 119 1871 census for 42 Church Street, Woolwich, Kent RG10 777 folio 13. 120 1881 census for 34 Hare Street, Woolwich, Kent RG11 746 folio 110. 121 The marriage indexes of the General Registrar; Oral evidence from the late David Seear. 122 1891 census for 63 Holloway Road, Islington, Middlesex RG12 152 folio 7; Oral evidence from the late David Seear. 123 The birth and marriage indexes of the General Registrar. 124 The birth indexes of the General Registrar; 1891 census for 63 Holloway Road, Islington, Middlesex RG12 152 folio 7. 125 1891 census for 63 Holloway Road, Islington, Middlesex RG12 152 folio 7. 126 The death indexes of the General Registrar; Oral evidence from the late David Seear. 127 The birth indexes of the General Registrar; Oral evidence from the late David Seear. 128 1841 census for 42 Church Street, Woolwich, Kent HO107 493/5 folio 22. 129 1861 census for 42 Church Street, Woolwich, Kent RG9 404 folio 83. 130 1851 census for 3 High Street, West Hackney, Middlesex HO107 1504 folio 210. 131 The marriage certificate of William Joseph Smith and Eliza Seear, 1852 from the General Registrar.

George George Seear married Caroline Buffen in Lambeth, Surrey registration district, in 1847, at the age of twenty.132 Their eldest daughter, Caroline Mary Elizabeth, was born in Hackney later that year. Her brother, George, was born in 1849.133 In 1851, the family were living, along with George’s two elder brothers, in the row of shops at Prospect Place, Kingsland Road, Hackney. George was working as a linen draper and clerk. It is likely that George carried on his own work as a clerk, leaving the draper’s business to his assistants, and possibly his wife. George‘s two assistants were both listed as cousins by the census enumerator. One, Elizabeth Mary Smith, provided the clue that enabled the Smith family to be traced further back. The other was seventeen year old Benjamin Thomas Appleton, who had been born in Shoreditch, Middlesex.134 Unfortunately, it has not been possible to find out anything more about Benjamin. George and Caroline’s second daughter, Alice, was born in 1851. She was followed by Frank Havet in 1855 and Raymond in 1859.135 The middle name, Havet, which is repeated elsewhere in the family, may be another clue to the origins of the family. It is a name that is rarely found in England but is a surname that occurs in Belgium, again perhaps suggesting a Huguenot connection.136 By 1861, the two elder children had left the family home. Caroline cannot be located but George junior was with his aunt Caroline in Woolwich.137 The occupation column makes it clear that George senior’s clerking was for a corn merchant.138 Three further children were born to George and Caroline in the next decade. Lucy Anne was born in 1861 and baptised at West Hackney on the 15th of June 1862.139 Lucy died on the 18th of January 1868 and was buried at Abney Park three days later.140 Harry Buffen Seear was born in 1864 and the youngest child, Alfred in 1866.141 By 1871, George’s address is given as 378, Kingsland Road, however, this is clearly the same address as 3 Prospect Place. This time, George was designated as a merchant’s clerk, whilst Caroline and their son, George, were the drapers, assisted by daughter Alice.142 At some time during the next ten years, George gave up the draper’s business and moved to 4 Gore Road, Hackney; he continued working as a corn merchant‘s clerk.143 George died on the 13th January 1887. His address at the time was given as 4 Forest Drive, Leytonstone, Essex.144 He had made his will in 1864, leaving everything to his wife, Caroline.145 George was buried at Abney Park on the 18th of January.146 In 1891,

132 The marriage indexes of the General Registrar; 1851 census for 3 Prospect Place, Kingsland Road, Hackney, Middlesex HO107 1504 folio 415. 133 The marriage indexes of the General Registrar; 1851 census for 3 Prospect Place, Kingsland Road, Hackney, Middlesex HO107 1504 folio 415. 134 1851 census for 3 Prospect Place, Kingsland Road, Hackney, Middlesex HO107 1504 folio 415. 135 The birth indexes of the General Registrar; 1861 census for 3 Prospect Place, Kingsland Road, Hackney, Middlesex RG9 156 folio 14 136 www.familysearch.org; census indexes for England and Wales at www.findmypast.co.uk . 137 1861 census for 42 Church Street, Woolwich, Kent RG9 404 folio 83. 138 1861 census for 3 Prospect Place, Kingsland Road, Hackney, Middlesex RG9 156 folio 14 139 The birth indexes of the General Registrar; baptism registers of West Hackney, Middlesex, held at the London Metropolitan Archives. 140 Index to burials at Abney Park Cemetery, Stoke Newington, Middlesex http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~abneypark/abneyy.html Last accessed February 2011. 141 The birth indexes of the General Registrar; 1871 census for 374 Kingsland Road, Hackney, Middlesex RG10 318 folio 41. 142 1871 census for 374 Kingsland Road, Hackney, Middlesex RG10 318 folio 41. 143 1881 census for 4 Gore Road, Hackney, Middlesex RG11 312 folio 105. 144 The indexes of the Principal Probate Registry. 145 The will of George Seear proved 1887, held at The Principal Probate Registry.

Caroline was living at 4 Forest Drive ‘on her own means‘. Sharing the house with Caroline was her disabled son Raymond, who was described as paralysed and her grandson, Ernest Johnson, described as ‘an imbecile‘. This politically incorrect term suggests a mental disability from birth. Also living at 4 Forest Drive was Caroline‘s widowed daughter, Caroline, Caroline’s two sons, a boarder and a servant.147 By 1901, Caroline, still with her son Raymond and daughter Caroline, had moved to 18 Mornington Road, Leytonstone148 and in 1903, still at that address, Caroline made her will, leaving paintings and personal effects to her children.149 Caroline died on the 31st of May 1910 at 485 Lea Bridge Road, Leyton150 and was buried at Abney Park on the 3rd of June.151 It has been possible to trace the children of George and Caroline further. In 1868, Caroline Mary Elizabeth married James Lovell Batley, a corn dealer, in Hackney registration district152 and the couple moved to 166 Hoxton Road, Shoreditch.153 They had two sons, William F in about 1872 in Hoxton and Ernest George a year later in London. Although no death registration has been traced,154 James presumably died shortly afterwards as, in 1880, Caroline remarried, to widower Charles Thornton Townsend in Hackney registration district.155 Charles had been a Lieutenant in the Indian Navy.156 The following year the couple were living at 2 Pellet Villas, Tottenham, Middlesex.157 Caroline was widowed a second time and in 1891 and 1901, was living with her mother in Leyton.158 In 1911, Caroline was visiting Rosa Knower in Faversham. Kent.159 In 1871, George and Caroline‘s son, George, was assisting his father with the draper’s business at Kingsland Road.160 Strangely it has not been possible to identify George in any subsequent censuses,161 yet, in 1903, he is mentioned in his mother’s will162 and he appears to have died in Camberwell, Surrey registration district, in 1921.163 George’s younger sister, Alice, married George Johnston, a fancyware salesman, in Hackney registration district, in 1874.164 The couple had four children in Dalston. Ernest George was born in 1875, followed by Clara Lilian about 1876, then Constance Caroline about 1880 and Clarence Charles Samuel in 1882.165 At the time of the 1881 census,

146 Index to burials at Abney Park Cemetery, Stoke Newington, Middlesex http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~abneypark/abneyy.html Last accessed February 2011. 147 1891 census for 4 Forest Drive, Leyton, Essex RG12 1346 folio 37. 148 1901 census for 18 Mornington Road, Leytonstone, Essex RG13 1620 folio 135. 149 The will of Caroline Seear proved 1910, held at The Principal Probate Registry. 150 The indexes of the Principal Probate Registry. 151 Index to burials at Abney Park Cemetery, Stoke Newington, Middlesex http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~abneypark/abneyy.html Last accessed February 2011. 152 The marriage indexes of the General Registrar; 1871 census for 166 Hoxton Street, Shoreditch, Middlesex RG0 461 folio 38. 153 1871 census for 166 Hoxton Street, Shoreditch, Middlesex RG0 461 folio 38. 154 The death indexes of the General Registrar. 155 The marriage indexes of the General Registrar; 1881 census for 2 Pellet Villas, Tottenham, Middlesex RG11 1387 folio 13. 156 1881 census for 2 Pellet Villas, Tottenham, Middlesex RG11 1387 folio 13. 157 1881 census for 2 Pellet Villas, Tottenham, Middlesex RG11 1387 folio 13. 158 1891 census for 4 Forest Drive, Leyton, Essex RG12 1346 folio 37; 1901 census for 18 Mornington Road, Leytonstone, Essex RG13 1620 folio 135. 159 1911 census for Melrose, Athelstan Road, Faversham, Kent RG14 4390 folio 226. 160 1871 census for 374 Kingsland Road, Hackney, Middlesex RG10 318 folio 41. 161 Census indexes for England and Wales at www.findmypast.co.uk. 162 The will of Caroline Seear proved 1910, held at The Principal Probate Registry. 163 The death indexes of the General Registrar. 164 The marriage indexes of the General Registrar; 1881 census for 4 Gore Road, Hackney, Middlesex RG11 312 folio 105. 165 1881 census for 97 Albert Road, Dalston, Middlesex RG11 300 folio 59;1891 census for 4 Northcote Terrace, Grove Green Road, Leyton, Essex RG12 1343 folio 110.

together with her daughter Clara, Alice was visiting her parents.166 George remained at home at 97 Albert Road, Dalston, with Ernest and Constance.167 George Johnston died during the following decade and in 1891, Alice was living at 4 Northcote Terrace, Grove Green Road, Leyton, Essex with Clara and Clarence.168 Constance was visiting her uncle Alfred at 15 Grove Villas, Mornington Road, Leyton, Essex.169 Ernest, as mentioned above, was living with his grandmother.170 In 1901, Alice was living at 76 Malvern Road, West Ham.171 Constance was working at 77 Osborne Road, West Ham, Essex, as a domestic servant for Elizabeth Fardell.172 There is no sign of the other children.173 By 1911, Alice had moved to 94 Granleigh Road, Leytonstone, Essex.174 In 1881, Frank Havet Seear, the second son of George and Caroline, was a clerk, living with a friend, H Aldrich at Clive Lodge, Marlborough Road, Brentford, Middlesex.175 Frank has not been traced beyond this point, although he was mentioned in his mother’s will in 1903.176 His brother, Raymond, was living with their mother, Caroline, until 1901177 Although he died in Billericay, Essex registration district in 1921,178 he cannot be traced in the 1911 census.179 In 1881, Henry Buffen Seear was living at home with his parents at 4 Gore Road, Hackney, working as a clerk.180 He married for the first time, in West Ham registration district, in 1888. His bride was Frances Hester Carrington181 and their daughter, Ada Carrington, was born in 1890 in Leytonstone, Essex.182 There was another child who died in infancy.183 In 1891 the family were living at 8 Grosvenor Villas, Fairlop Road, Leyton and Harry was working as a banker’s clerk.184 Ten years later Harry and his family appear to be at the same address, this time just recorded as Fairlop Road and Harry’s occupation was banker’s cashier.185 Frances Hester died in Barnet, Middlesex registration district in 1907.186 By 1911 Harry and his daughter, Ada, were living at 30 Talgarth Mansions, West Kensington, Middlesex and Henry had been promoted to Bank Manager.187 In 1914 Harry remarried in Wandsworth, Surrey registration district. His bride was Dorothy Slater.188 In 1930 Harry made a will leaving £500 to his daughter, Ada, and the residue to his second wife. By this time Harry had retired and was living at Hillside, 51 Union Road, Clapham,

166 1881 census for 4 Gore Road, Hackney, Middlesex RG11 312 folio 105. 167 1881 census for 97 Albert Road, Dalston, Middlesex RG11 300 folio 59. 168 1891 census for 4 North Cote Terrace, Grove Green Road, Leyton, Essex RG12 1343 folio 110. 169 1891 census for 15 Grove Villas, Mornington Road, Leyton, Essex RG12 1347 folio 4. 170 1891 census for 4 Forest Drive, Leyton, Essex RG12 1346 folio 37. 171 1901 census for 76 Malvern Road, West Ham, Essex RG13 1614 folio 16. 172 1901 census for 77 Osborne Road, West Ham, Essex RG13 1589 folio 66. 173 Census indexes for England and Wales at www.findmypast.co.uk. 174 1911 census for 94 Granleigh Road, Leytonstone, Essex RG14 9631 folio 271. 175 1881 census for Clive Lodge, Marlborough Road, Brentford, Middlesex RG11 1346 folio 93. 176 The will of Caroline Seear proved 1910, held at The Principal Probate Registry. 177 1901 census for 18 Mornington Road, Leyton, Essex RG13 1620 folio 135. 178 The death indexes of the General Registrar. 179 Census indexes for England and Wales at www.findmypast.co.uk. 180 1881 census for 4 Gore Road, Hackney, Middlesex RG11 312 folio 105. 181 The marriage indexes of the General Registrar; 1891 census for 8 Grosvenor Villas, Fairlop Road, Leyton, Essex RG13 1346 folio 21. 182 The birth indexes of the General Registrar; 1891 census for 8 Grosvenor Villas, Fairlop Road, Leyton, Essex RG13 1346 folio 21. 183 1911 census for 30 Talgarth Mansions, West Kensington, Middlesex. RG14 304 folio 193. 184 1891 census for 8 Grosvenor Villas, Fairlop Road, Leyton, Essex RG13 1346 folio 21. 185 1901 census for 16 Fairlop Road, Leyton, Essex RG13 1622 folio 18. 186 The death indexes of the General Registrar. 187 1911 census for 30 Talgarth Mansions, West Kensington, Middlesex. RG14 304 folio 193. 188 The marriage indexes of the General Registrar; The will of Harry Buffen Seear proved 1945, held at The Principal Probate Registry.

Surrey.189 Harry died on the 9th of October 1944. He had moved to Henry VIII Cottage, New Street, Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire;190 this may have been to escape war-time London. In 1936, Ada married Edwin W Stokes in Westminster, Middlesex registration district.191 Dorothy Seear died on the 9th of October 1961 at Connaught Hospital in Walthamstow, although her normal address was 73 The Avenue, Higham‘s Park, Essex.192 George and Caroline’s youngest child, Alfred, married Ellen Eliza Rouse, known as Nellie,193 in West Ham registration district in 1890.194 The following year they were living at 15 Grove Villas, Mornington Road, Leyton, where Alfred was working as a draughtsman/designer.195 Alfred and Ellen Elizabeth had three sons. Sidney Alfred was born about 1892,196 Leslie followed in 1893 and Frederick in 1895.197 By 1901, the family were living at 5 Leybourne Road in Leytonstone and Alfred was described as an artist/designer.198 Alfred wrote a will in 1903, leaving everything to his wife. At the time, the family were living at 35 Colworth Road, Leytonstone.199 Alfred’s son, Sidney Alfred, died in 1903200 and a daughter, Muriel, was born in Leytonstone in 1904.201 In 1911, the family were living at 485 Lea Bridge Road, Leytonstone and Alfred was described as a mosaic designer, son Fred was a clerk and Leslie a marble worker.202 Ellen Eliza died at 2 Grove Road, Richmond, Surrey on the 23rd of August 1937. She was said to be of 33 The Terrace, Barnes, Surrey at the time.203 Alfred died on the 13th of April 1938 at 13 South Worple Way, Mortlake Surrey. As Alfred had named Ellen Eliza as executor in his will and she had pre-deceased him, it was invalid.204 Frederick Although he was only twenty one, by 1851, Frederick was already set up as a master grocer with one employee at 3 High Street, Hackney. His sister, Eliza, was acting as his housekeeper.205 On the 16th of November 1852 Frederick married Ellen Alice Rickard in her home parish of Tottenham. The witnesses were Frederick’s brother, George; L Rickard (almost certainly Ellen Alice’s schoolmaster father Lancaster), Mary Ann Rickard and Ellen Lockyer.206 On the death of his father, Frederick inherited the property at 3 High Street, along with two other properties and a painting entitled ‘The Miser’.207 Frederick and Ellen Alice had two short-lived daughters. Ellen Alice was baptised on the 18th of

189 The will of Harry Buffen Seear proved 1945, held at The Principal Probate Registry. 190 The indexes of the Principal Probate Registry. 191 The marriage indexes of the General Registrar. 192 The indexes of the Principal Probate Registry. 193 1901 census for 5 Leybourne Road, Leyton Essex RG13 1620 folio 107. 194 The marriage indexes of the General Registrar; 1901 census for 5 Leybourne Road, Leyton Essex RG13 1620 folio 107. 195 1891 census for 15 Grove Villas, Mornington Road, Leyton, Essex RG12 1347 folio 4. 196 1901 census for 5 Leybourne Road, Leyton Essex RG13 1620 folio 107. 197 The birth indexes of the General Registrar; 1901 census for 5 Leybourne Road, Leyton Essex RG13 1620 folio 107. 198 1901 census for 5 Leybourne Road, Leyton Essex RG13 1620 folio 107. 199 The Letters of Administration for Alfred Seear proved 1938, held at The Principal Probate Registry. 200 The death indexes of the General Registrar. 201 The birth indexes of the General Registrar; 1911 census for 485 Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, Essex RG14 9658 folio 224. 202 1911 census for 485 Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, Essex RG14 9658 folio 224. 203 The indexes of the Principal Probate Registry. 204 The Letters of Administration with will for Alfred Seear proved 1938, held at The Principal Probate Registry. 205 1851 census for 3 High Street, West Hackney, Middlesex HO107 1504 folio 210. 206 The marriage certificate of Frederick Seear and Ellen Alice Rickard, 1852 from the General Register Office. 207 The will of James Seear proved 1854, held at The National Archives PROB11/2205 folio 221.

June 1854 at West Hackney208 and died on the 28th of May 1857. She was buried at Abney Park on the 2nd of June.209 Mary was baptised on the 3rd of May 1855 at West Hackney210 and was buried three days later at Abney Park.211 Frederick Rickard Seear was born on the 18th of May 1856212 and was baptised at West Hackney on the 18th of June.213 He was followed by another daughter who died in infancy. Clara was baptised at West Hackney on the 23rd of September 1857214 and buried at Abney Park on the 28th of May 1858.215 Frederick’s wife, Ellen Alice died on the 18th of January 1860216 and she too was buried at Abney Park, in the family section M09 on the 26th of January.217 In 1861, Fredrick and his young son, Frederick Rickard, were living at the grocer’s, 3 Kingsland High Street, together with an Irish servant, Mary Newman.218 Shortly afterwards, on the 18th of August 1861, Frederick married Anne Balls Bulley at St. Luke’s Chelsea.219 Anne’s father had been a commercial traveller for a cocoa dealer220 and this may be how the families met. Frederick and Anne’s first known child was Annie Ellen who was born in July 1864 but was buried on the 1st of September at Abney Park.221 After four daughters dying in infancy, Frederick’s only daughter to reach adulthood was great grandmother Catherine , who was born on the 11th of February 1866 at an address that was given on her birth certificate as 3 Market Terrace, Bridge Road, Bethnal Green, Middlesex.222 This address does not appear to exist and may be 3 Newmarket Terrace, Cambridge Road.223 A son, Richard, was born on the 1st of March 1867, also in Bethnal Green registration district.224 In 1871, the family were living at 105 Grafton Street, Mile End, Middlesex. By this time, Frederick’s business had expanded as he was a tea dealer employing eighteen men and there were two live-in domestic servants.225 The family moved again fairly quickly because when Frederick made his will on the 4th of October 1875, he gave his address as 36 Cawley Road, Hackney. He left everything to his wife, who was also his executor.226 In 1881, Frederick and his family were living at 11

208 Baptism registers of West Hackney, Middlesex, held at the London Metropolitan Archives. 209 Index to burials at Abney Park Cemetery, Stoke Newington, Middlesex http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~abneypark/abneyy.html Last accessed February 2011. 210 Baptism registers of West Hackney, Middlesex, held at the London Metropolitan Archives. 211 Index to burials at Abney Park Cemetery, Stoke Newington, Middlesex http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~abneypark/abneyy.html Last accessed February 2011. 212 Oral evidence from the late David Seear. 213 Baptism registers of West Hackney, Middlesex, held at the London Metropolitan Archives. 214 Baptism registers of West Hackney, Middlesex, held at the London Metropolitan Archives. 215 Index to burials at Abney Park Cemetery, Stoke Newington, Middlesex http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~abneypark/abneyy.html Last accessed February 2011. 216 Oral evidence from the late David Seear. 217 Index to burials at Abney Park Cemetery, Stoke Newington, Middlesex http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~abneypark/abneyy.html Last accessed February 2011. 218 1861 census for 3 Kingsland High Street, Hackney, Middlesex RG9 155 folio 59. 219 The marriage certificate of Frederick Seear and Anne Balls Bulley, 1861 from the General Register Office. 220 1851 census for 8 Grosvenor Street, Walworth, Surrey HO107 1567 folio 162. 221 Index to burials at Abney Park Cemetery, Stoke Newington, Middlesex http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~abneypark/abneyy.html Last accessed February 2011. 222 The birth certificate of Catherine Seear, 1866, from the General Register Office. 223 Elizabeth Seear née Brickland, widow of John Hayes Seear lived at 5 Newmarket Terrace when she made her will in 1866. 224 The birth indexes of the General Registrar; oral evidence from the late David Seear. 225 1871 census for 105 Grafton Street, Mile End, Middlesex RG10 568 folio 68. 226 The will of Frederick Seear proved 1884, held at The Principal Probate Registry.

Albany Road, Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, Essex. Frederick Rickard was assisting his father in the tea dealer’s business and the two younger children were scholars.227 This was the same road, and possibly the same property as the one in which Frederick’s nephew, Alfred, was to live thirty years later.228 Another resident of Lea Bridge Road was the Hobart family. John Hobart was a corn dealer form Suffolk229 and his daughter, Eliza, was to marry Frederick Rickard Seear on the 4th of February 1883 at Leyton Baptist Church.230 On the 22nd of February 1884, Frederick died of angina, presumably a stroke, at 11 Albany Road. His son, Frederick, was the informant.231 It seems likely that his widow, Anne, and children Catherine and Richard would be together in the 1891 census but they cannot be found.232 When Catherine married the following year she gave her address as 24 Eastbank, Stamford Hill, Hackney and this address is occupied only by a servant in 1891233 so the family may have been away from home. They apparently did enjoy cruises and pictures survive of someone purporting to be Catherine that were taken in Berlin, so they could have been on an overseas trip.234 On the 7th of June 1892 Catherine Seear married her first cousin, Herbert Havet Smith at St. Thomas’, Hackney. The witnesses were her brother, Richard and Eliza Smith, Herbert’s mother or sister.235 In 1901, together their young son, grandfather Frederick Herbert (Eric), and Catherine’s mother, Anne Seear, Catherine and Herbert were living at 159 Osbaldston Road, Hackney.236 Anne was to leave this property to Catherine, along with furniture, plate and jewellery, in her will.237 Catherine’s story continues under Smith.238 Unfortunately, Anne Balls Seear née Bulley cannot be located in the 1911 census.239 The following year, on the 23rd of January she was living at 13 Marine Avenue, Westcliffe Sea, Essex when she made her will. She began by making distant relative Geoffrey Drury her executor but later changed this and appointed another distant family connection, Ralph Sinclair, instead, as she felt Geoffrey may be called for war service.240 Anne died, of bronchitis and myocarditis, on the 14th of May 1918 at 95 Valkyrie Road, Southend on Sea, Essex. Her daughter, Catherine, who was also living in Southend at the time, was present at the death.241 Frederick Rickard and Eliza Seear had two sons. Frederick Hobart Seear was born on the 1st of September 1884 in Stamford Hill.242 He was followed by Herbert Charles who was born in 1886243 but died on the 2nd of October 1887 and was buried in Tottenham Cemetery.244 In 1891 Frederick and his family were living at 166 Margate Street, Dover,

227 1881 census for 11 Albany Road, Leabridge Road, Leyton, Essex RG11 1726 folio 5. 228 1911 census for 485 Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, Essex RG14 9658 folio 224. 229 1881 census for Leabridge Road, Leyton, Essex RG11 1725 folio 152. 230 Oral evidence from the late Alan Seear 231 The death certificate of Frederick Seear, 1884 from the General Register Office. 232 Census indexes for England and Wales at www.findmypast.co.uk. 233 1891 census for 24 Eastbank, Stamford Hill, Hackney, Middles RG12 183 folio 46. 234 Oral evidence from Gwendoline Catherine Braund née Smith; Photographs in the possession of the late Alan Seear. 235 The marriage certificate of Herbert Havet Smith and Catherine Seear, 1892 in family possession. 236 1901 census for 159 Osbaldston Road, Hackney Middlesex RG13 213 folio 87. 237 The will of Ann Balls Seear proved 1918, held at the Principal Probate Registry. 238 See Smith section. 239 Census indexes for England and Wales at www.findmypast.co.uk. 240 The will of Ann Balls Seear proved 1918, held at the Principal Probate Registry. 241 The death certificate of Ann Balls Seear, 1918 from the General Register Office. 242 Oral evidence from the late Alan Seear; 1891 census for 166 Margate Street, Dover, Kent RG12 744 folio 15. 243 Oral evidence from the late Alan Seear; the birth indexes of the General Registrar. 244 Oral evidence from the late Alan Seear; the death indexes of the General Registrar.

Kent, where Frederick was managing a musical depot.245 From there, they moved to 15 College Road, Walthamstow, Essex and in 1901, Richard was working as a biscuit salesman, whilst Frederick junior was a solicitor‘s clerk.246 The 1911 census reveals a similar situation.247 In 1918 Frederick inherited three properties from his step mother, 27 Roman Road, and 2 and 4 Gardeners Row, Old Ford, Middlesex.248 Frederick Rickard Seear died in Leytonstone workhouse on the 22nd of August 1920.249 His will, made in 1910, left everything to his wife, Eliza.250 Eliza, in turn, left everything to Frederick Hobart Seear, her son.251 Eliza died on the 8th of August 1933 at Eagle House Nursing Home, Woodford Green, Essex but the family home remained 15 College Road.252 In 1928, Frederick Hobart Seear married Mabel Alice, the widow of Reverend John Jomini. Mabel’s maiden name was Seear and the couple were second cousins.253 In 1939 they adopted Mabel’s nephew, Allen Oswald Horridge and renamed him Alan Frederick Seear.254 Frederick Hobart died at St. Mary’s Hospital, Eastbourne, Sussex on the 13th of May 1959. The family home at the time was 29 Langdale Road, Hove, Sussex.255 Mabel Alice died on the 15th of January 1981 in Croydon, Surrey.256 Her great age and that of her mother who lived to be ninety eight, meant that family information was perpetuated in this branch of the family. Richard, son of Frederick and Anne Balls Seear, married Alice Scott in 1894 in Hackney registration district.257 They had two daughters Harriet Dora, born on the 5th of May 1895 and Harriet Ann Alice, born the following year, both in Hackney.258 Richard and his family continued to live in what appears to have been the former family home at 24 Eastbank, Stamford Hill, they can be found there in both 1901 and 1911. Richard was a bank clerk by profession.259 Richard was left this property in his mother’s will along with furniture, clocks and pictures.260 Richard died on the 7th of December 1934 at 134 Park Avenue, Bush Hill Park, Edmonton. His usual address being Halifax, Park Avenue, perhaps the same property, and this was the address he gave when he wrote his will in 1929.261 His wife, Alice, did not die until the 14th of January 1962, when she was living at Crossways, Audley Way, Frinton on Sea, Essex.262 Harriet Dora married Stanley Cornish in 1919 in Edmonton registration district.263 They had three sons.264 Harriet Dora died in December 1987.265 Her sister, Harriet Ann Alice

245 1891 census for 166 Margate Street, Dover, Kent RG12 744 folio 15. 246 1901 census for 15 College Road, Walthamstow, Essex RG13 1628 folio 29. 247 1911 census for 15 College Road, Walthamstow, Essex RG14 149702 folio 93. 248 The will of Ann Balls Seear proved 1918, held at the Principal Probate Registry. 249 The indexes of the Principal Probate Registry. 250 The will of Frederick Rickard Seear proved 1920, held at the Principal Probate Registry. In his will, Frederick gives his address as 17 College Road but the family seem only ever to have lived at number 15. 251 The will of Eliza Seear proved 1933, held at the Principal Probate Registry. 252 The indexes of the Principal Probate Registry. 253 Oral evidence from the late Alan Seear; the marriage indexes of the General Registrar. 254 Oral evidence from the late Alan Seear. 255 The indexes of the Principal Probate Registry. 256 Oral evidence from the late Alan Seear. 257 Oral evidence from the late David Seear; the marriage indexes of the General Registrar. 258 Oral evidence from the late David Seear; the birth indexes of the General Registrar; 1901 census for 24 Eastbank, Stamford Hill, Middlesex Rg13 214 folio 9. 259 1901 census for 24 Eastbank, Stamford Hill, Middlesex Rg13 214 folio 9; 1911 census for 24 Eastbank, Stamford Hill, Middlesex RG14 1049 folio 253. 260 The will of Ann Balls Seear proved 1918, held at the Principal Probate Registry. 261 The indexes of the Principal Probate Registry; The will of Richard Seear proved 1934, from the Principal Probate Registry. 262 The indexes of the Principal Probate Registry. 263 The marriage indexes of the General Registrar, oral evidence from the late David Seear. 264 The birth indexes of the General Registrar, oral evidence from the late David Seear.

married twice, to Reuben Long in 1925 and Arthur E Mullett in 1952 but had no children.266 She died on the 1st of September 1969 and was buried in Edmonton Cemetery.267 Alfred In 1851, Alfred was working as an assistant to his brother, Henry, at the tea dealer’s and grocer’s at 6 Prospect Place.268 In 1855, he married Sarah Harriet Scott in Hackney registration district.269 For many years, Sarah’s father had run the butcher’s shop at 5 Prospect Place,270 so Alfred had, literally, married the girl next door. Kathleen Isabel, the eldest of Alfred and Sarah’s four children, was born in about 1857 in Hoxton, Middlesex. She was followed, in 1859, by Ellen Jannett, who was also born in Hoxton.271 The family have not been located in the 1861 census272 but in 1871, Alfred was a tea dealer, living at 63 New North Road in Hoxton. Two, short-lived, children had been born to the family during the 1860s. Alfred was born on the 3rd of October 1861, died in January 1865 and was buried at Abney Park on the 31st of January. His sister, Ada, was born in April 1863 and lived just twelve days, being buried at Abney Park on the 7th of May.273 Alfred died on the 21st of September 1876 at 63 New North Road. He had made his will, leaving everything to his wife, Sarah, eight years previously.274 Alfred was buried at Abney Park with the rest of the family, in section M09, on the 26th of September.275 In 1881, Sarah and her younger surviving daughter, Ellen had moved to part of 60 Albert Road, Dalston, Middlesex, living off the income from property left by Alfred.276 Kathleen Isabel, the elder daughter, had married Edwin H Stacey in Shoreditch registration district in 1878.277 Edwin was a grocer and the couple lived at 14 Boxworth Grove, Islington, Middlesex.278 Their daughter, Ellen Kate, was born in 1879.279 Edwin and Kathleen did have another child who died in infancy.280 By 1891, the Staceys were living at 82 Columbia Road, Bethnal Green.281 Ellen Jannett had married Ralph James Sinclair in 1881282 and Alfred’s widow, Sarah, was living with them at 1 Florence Villas, De Beauvoir Square, Hackney, in 1891.283 Ralph was an undertaker and auctioneer and by this time, the couple had had three children. Ralph Herbert was born about 1883, Gertrude Ellen in

265 Oral evidence from the late David Seear. 266 The marriage indexes of the General Registrar, oral evidence from the late David Seear. 267 Oral evidence from the late David Seear. 268 1851 census for 6 Prospect Place, Kingsland Road, Hackney, Middlesex HO107 1504 folio 416. 269 The marriage indexes of the General Registrar. 270 1841 census for 5 Prospect Place, Kingsland Road, Hackney, Middlesex HO107 700/7 folio 45; 1851 census for 6 Prospect Place, Kingsland Road, Hackney, Middlesex HO107 1504 folio 416. 271 The birth indexes of the General Registrar; oral evidence from the late Alan Seear; the 1871 census for 63 New North Road, Hoxton, Middlesex RG10 449 folio 7. 272 Index to the 1861 census at www.findmypast.co.uk. 273 Index to burials at Abney Park Cemetery, Stoke Newington, Middlesex http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~abneypark/abneyy.html Last accessed February 2011. 274 The indexes of the Principal Probate Registry; the will of Alfred Seear proved 1877, held at the Principal Probate Registry. 275 Index to burials at Abney Park Cemetery, Stoke Newington, Middlesex http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~abneypark/abneyy.html Last accessed February 2011. 276 1881 census for 60 Albert Road, Hackney, Middlesex RG11 300 folio 64. 277 Marriage indexes of the General Registrar. 278 1881 census for 14 Boxworth Grove, Islington, Middlesex RG11 233 folio 78. 279 1881 census for 14 Boxworth Grove, Islington, Middlesex RG11 233 folio 78; birth indexes of the General Registrar. 280 1911 census for 18 Alexandra Road, Finsbury Park, Middlesex RG14 1029 folio 241. 281 1891 census for 82 Columbia Road, Bethnal Green, Middlesex RG12 258 folio 17. 282 Marriage indexes of the General Registrar. 283 1891 census for 1 Florence Villas, De Beauvoir Square, Hackney, Middlesex RG12 190 folio 23.

1889 and Dudley in 1890, all in Hackney.284 The Sinclairs did have two children who died young. One is likely to have been Alfred Ernest who died in 1884 and would have been a twin to Ralph Herbert.285 In 1901, Sarah Seear, Alfred’s widow, was a boarder at 50 Amhurst Road, Hackney, which was the home of Rhoda Beall.286 Meanwhile the Staceys were still at 82 Columbia Road and Ellen Kate had begun work as a clerk.287 The Sinclairs, now joined by Kathleen Elsie, who had been born about 1892, had moved to 25 Parkholme Road, Dalston.288 Ten years later, Ralph, Ellen and their four grown up children, were living in a large house at 74 Cazenove Road, Stoke Newington. Ralph was no longer an auctioneer but was still working as an undertaker.289 In 1911, the Staceys were living at 18 Alexandra Road, Finsbury Park. By this time Edwin was working as a clothing collector. The Staceys had several foreign students, from India, Russia and Germany, as boarders.290 Ellen Kate, listed as a clerk typist, was away from home visiting the Morrison family in Richmond, Surrey.291 Sarah Harriet was living next door to her daughter, Kathleen Stacey, at 17 Alexandra Road.292 Sarah died in 1914 and was buried near her husband at Abney Park on the 2nd of May.293

284 1891 census for 1 Florence Villas, De Beauvoir Square, Hackney, Middlesex RG12 190 folio 23. 285 The other was probably Harold James, born and died 1887 and buried at Abney Park. Birth and death indexes of the General Registrar; 1911 census for 74 Cazenove Road, Stoke Newington, Middlesex RG14 1055 folio 33; Index to burials at Abney Park Cemetery, Stoke Newington, Middlesex http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~abneypark/abneyy.html Last accessed February 2011. 286 1901 census for 50 Amhurst Road, Hackney, Middlesex RG13 217 folio 75. 287 1901 census for 82 Columbia Road, Bethnal Green, Middlesex RG13 282 folio 101. 288 1901 census for 25 Parkholme Road, Dalston, Middlesex RG13 223 folio 42. 289 1911 census for 74 Cazenove Road, Stoke Newington, Middlesex RG14 1055 folio 33. 290 1911 census for 18 Alexandra Road, Finsbury Park, Middlesex RG14 1029 folio 241. 291 1911 census for 11 Sheen Park, Richmond, Surrey RG14 3596 folio 113. 292 1911 census for 17 Alexandra Road, Finsbury Park, Middlesex RG14 1029 folio 240. 293 Index to burials at Abney Park Cemetery, Stoke Newington, Middlesex http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~abneypark/abneyy.html Last accessed February 2011.