Genealogy Chat

Emily Groves married Fred Lister and had a son Charles who was born in America. I think Emily came from Yorkshire and Fred from London. Can anyone help? Paul

You will need to put some dates before anyone can offer any help

Sorry good point! Charles was born in 1915, so would put his parents about 1880-1890. Sorry I know its not much but right now don't have loads to go with.

I had a look on Yorkshire BMD - just on the off-chance - and found this! Yorkshire Marriage indexes for the years: 1911 Surname Forename(s) Surname Forename(s) Church / Register Office Registers At Reference GROVES Emily LISTER Frederick R Leeds Registered Building Leeds RB/177/7 That ref will only work for applications to Yorks RO, but if you prefer GRO, then that certainly narrows down the hunt! Christine

This looks like a potential Emily from the same site... Yorkshire Birth indexes for the years: 1896 Surname Forename(s) Sub-District Registers At Reference GROVES Emily Leeds West Leeds WEST/221/387 Christine

I have a Frederick Lyster who was an opera singer and toured both the States and Australia. Don't know about spouses/offspring tho as he is a sibling or someone who married into my tree. His brother was William who was born in 1827 to give you an idea of the era my lot are from. Zoe

Thanks that gives me a great starting place!

Hi Zoe, this must be the same one. Charles is my grandad and certainly talked about an uncle Bill. His parents were performers who toured definately the States i have a list of tour dates not sure about Australia though. How is he connected to your tree?

Paul Wiliiam Saurin Lyster (born 1827) married Georgiana Hodson in Chicago in 1869 (that dates off top of my head - don't take it as bible). William and Georgiana had moved previously to Australia where he was responsible for bringing teh first professional operatic productions to the stage. One his performers was Georgiana and another his brother Frederick. there was a third brother called Mark who fell over board whilst sailing to the States and his body was never recovered. Georgiana Hodson was the sister of my fourth (maybe fifth - doing this from memory) great grandfather George Alfred Hodson - a comedian and music hall composer. The Lyster's (and it's definitely with a Y in everything I've seen) were originally from Ireland and WIlliam Saurin Lyster was named after an uncle who was something big politically there. William went onto own a lot of land in Australia and gave some to the locals to build a school and there is a town named after him beacuse of this - Lysterville. Sorry it's all a bit vague as I'm at work and doing it from memory. Do you have dates for your Fred at all? He may be of a later generation than the brothers I know of and the names could have been passed down. Zoe

Paul this is the best page to find out about William - can't remember if it mentions his brothers or not: http://www.rlcnews.org.au/stories/the_changing_landscape/william_saurin_lyster.php

Not sure the dates match up Zoe for William being born in 1827, because from other people's responses it would appear that Fred was born a bit later than that. But it sounds like to much of a conincedence not to be connected!

Paul William definitely didn't have any children himself so your Fred isn't descended from there - but he could be a generation later (maybe son of Fred). It's worth delving into deeper. theres quite a lot written about them as the family were very big theatrically in Australia and over here. Let me know how you get and on and we can see if we can figure out a link up Zoe

Very interesting. Not the same one as the one I am looking at, but maybe some connection my Fred toured with his wife Emily as a double act, but there must have been a reason he got involved in the performance industy somewhere perhaps an uncle or parent? Maybe this is where your Frederick enters the equation! I will let you know should I find anything else connecting them. Cheers

Some tips for searching theatrical ancestors for you: They are NEVER anywhere you expect them to be because they travel all the time. They will never be in the same town on any two census and all their children will be born in completely different places. Quite often they are not even together having been employed by different companies (my 2x great grandparents do not appear on a census together EVER) Look out for them on census by seeking those listed as Boarder or lodger or Visitor. Their children will often be left with relatives whilst they travel so look for them on census as Niece/Nephew, Grandchildren etc etc For the census you can search occupations try theatrical, performer and professional as well as their particular trade (singer, comedian, actor) Erm - if I think of any more I'll come back Z

Cheers Zoe I am sure that will come in useful. An Auntie just told me that he is buried in London, so I am gonna try work out how old he, and when he was born

Any further help finding details of Fred would be gratefully received!!