General Chat

Lainey that was a really kind act on your part.
I would NEVER have thought of buying the photo. I would have , as I often do, stand and look at it and say things like... "how sad that this is here and not with a family."
Nice one Lainey, and the others who did the searches. Very interesting... clever !
Deanna X

I am still trying to find a home for this photograph. I now know that this gentleman lived with his children at Woldingham Park Surrey but was missing from the 1901 census. The children were left in the charge of a companion.

He was also a Fellow Of The Royal Geographical Society. FRGS.

Hoping for some success this year x

I have just discovered his marriage to Susannah Elizabeth Weaver in the January quarter of 1882 in Woolwich Greater London. This fits because in the 1891 census he is found with wife Susannah E Skerry and also in the 1901 census his children are left with their companion Maude Dupre/Dupri. Also with them is a niece with the surname Weaver.

On Ancestry there is a record for George Edward Skerry who died in 1930 in the: England and Wales National Probate Calender(Index of wills and administrations) 1861-1941. I am unable to access these records. Can I please ask a kind member to have a look at these records for me.

Many thanks Lainey

I'll type out the record for you.........

SKERRY George Edward of 9 Parade-road, St Helier, Jersey died 23 August 1930.
Probate London 20 November to Emily Elizabeth Trevaille-William widow and Gertrude Evelyn Skerry spinster.
Effects £13078 5s 9d in England

Gwyn

Thank you Gwyn, that is definitely him as it says on the back of the photo that he died on that date. Interesting to see that he died in Jersey, he did get about a bit! Makes you wonder how this photo ended up in a bootsale in Winchester.

We now know that Gertrude was his daughter, but I wonder if Emily Elizabeth Trevaille-William was his widow or just a beneficiary?

Interestingly, the companion from the 1901 census was born in St Helier, Jersey.

Thank you again.

Lainey

? Gertrudes death index
Name: Gertrude E Skerry
Death Registration Month/Year: 1967
Age at death (estimated): 82
Registration district: Chichester
Inferred County: Sussex
Volume: 5h
Page: 711

?1911 census

Person: SKERRY, George Edward
Address: Woldingham Court Woldingham



census search results 1911 address search redefine current search
Name Relation Condition/
Yrs married Sex Age Birth
Year Occupation Where Born Original
census
image
SKERRY, George Edward Head Married M 54 1857 Principal Of College Civil Service And University Charlton Kent VIEW
SKERRY, Susannah Elizabeth Wife Married
29 years F 58 1853 Woolwich Kent VIEW
SKERRY, Emily Elizabeth Daughter Single F 28 1883 Edinburgh Scotland
SKERRY, Mable Edith Daughter Single F 25 1886 Edinburgh Scotland
WEAVER, Lottie Evelyn Niece Single F 25 1886 Woolwich Kent
NIELSEN, Dagny Augusta Servant Single F 18 1893 Housemaid Drammen Norway
PEDERSEN, Thura Servant Single F 24 1887 Cook Lier

Hello jansmith, thank you for this information. So it looks like Gertrude stayed in the UK and as she was a spinster there will be no descendants from her side.

I have found another record on Ancestry showing the UK incoming passenger lists. This record shows that Emily Travaille Williams entered the UK via Southampton. I can't access the record, so I don't know when.

I will make more enquiries into who she is as she may well be related and have descendants. I am determined to get this photo back to the family.


Once again Thank you!

Lainey

Oh WOW Thank you again, jansmith. So Emily Elizabeth was his daughter. Maybe she was returning from Jersey after her Father's death.

I wonder if she had any children. More research to do!

Thank you.

Lainey

Oh my word, Sue this is wonderful. Thank you so much for putting so much work into this. I will pursue this line and try to find the family.

I have now discovered through googling that Susannah Elizabeth nee Weaver outlived her husband George Edward Skerry and was still living with him in Jersey when he died.

Thanks again Sue, I will let you know what progress I make.

Lainey

You could always ask someone on one of the boards to do aan Electoral Roll look up for Dawn S Lacey around Croydon,,she has 2 little girls .

Thank you Sue, I have contacted a few people thru GR and another website. If nothing comes of that I will ask for the electoral roll lookup. A good idea.

Thank you so much for all your help.

Lainey

sorry i had to go off line but it looks like you might be getting somewhere now,please keep us posted and i will keep this bookmarked

Just glad to help you return the photo to the family..

They may not have any photo's of the man in question...
Good Luck..

Sue

I carnt beleve how wounder full you all are to go though all this
to find an owner of a photo

iv read though the thread quickly as it is bed time
and i do hope you find some one to pass the photo on to
and i hope it finds its way to some one that is also doing threre family tree so it will be saft for many years to come

Shelly xx

Thank you Shelly. I am hoping this photo will go to someone who does not already have the it and therefore it will be a lovely surprise to be able to see what their ancestor looked like. I have been researching my family for many years and recently through GR found a cousin who sent me photos of my Great Great Grandparents. I had never seen pictures of them and did not know what they looked like. When I received the photos I cried, it was so emotional, to finally see their faces. I had actually given up ever seeing their faces and was concentrating on researching them and their livelihood very closely to get a better picture of them. They were market gardeners and strawberry growers in the Fareham district. Their trade is very well documented and gave me an insight into the people, but nothing compared to getting the photos. I hope whoever receives this photo will enjoy it too.

I have also learnt to put details on the backs of my family photos.

I think this photo will be finding its way back home this year!

Lainey

Any updates yet Lainey?

Wishing you luck.

Gwyn

Ice~Ice~Baby,

Thank you for bringing this to our attention, To be honest I had not thought of that issue, but of course you are right.

However as this is all unintentional and all anyone is trying to do is help, I will pm those members who have given replies which need editing and draw this to their attention.

I will keep everyone updated on any progress made.

Thank you to all concerned.

Lainey

Just wanted to add an update! I have found another researcher who is the Nephew by marriage of George edward Skerry. This nephew lives in Canada. He was unaware of some of the family info that I have given him, which has opened up more questions. He also provided me with additional info which helped with my search.

I am now trying to find out if George Skerry married twice(once in Scotland) and if his first wife died, possibly in Scotland, but I am having trouble accessing any Scottish records.

However there may now be a direct descendant living in Canada, I just have to try and find her.

Many thanks for everyone's help.

Lainey

a George E Skerry can be found in old newspapers.....Lancashire libraries......it is possible to join online.