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Tuesday, March 20, 2012

To Mrs. Harvey, Margate, Kent, England, 1911 from Mother




This is such a wonderful picture, I hope we can figure out the who and where of it.  The reverse gives us some clues:

[Postmarked] -ereford 7:15 pm 25  11 [rest missing]

124 High St.
Margate
[to] Mrs. Harvey

Dear S.  I hope A and John are better and all the rest well.  With
best love to all 
from Mother.


I found the Harveys in the 1911 England census summary book.  Unfortunately, this does not provide the individual names, just the head of the household, "Mr. Harvey."  There are 2 males and 6 females living at 124 High Street, Margate in 1911. 

In the England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1861-1941 I found a record forSarah Jane Harvey, wife of George James William Harvey, who died in 1919 and lived at 124 High Street.  Could "S" be Sarah Jane.  I think the possibility is good.
 

In the 1901 Census, Sarah and her husband, George, a green grocer, are living in Margate on St. John's Road.  Sarah was born about 1877 in Bacton, Herefordshire.  They have two children:  Violet, b. 1899 and George, 1901.  

While I could not find any more information in the records about this family, I did find an Ancestry tree that had Sarah and Geo. in it.  According to the information provided there, the Harveys had four other children:  Jessie Olive, b. 1902, Florence, b. 1905, Agnes Rose, b. 1907 and John, b. 1910.

All the information contained in the note from "Mother" would fit with what we know of the family.  Perhaps John and Agnes had been ill at the time.

So who is featured in the photograph?  I would guess "Mother" is probably Sarah's mother, since the letter seems to be mailed from Hereford, but who is the young girl?  If a marriage record or some other document could be found that lists Sarah's maiden name, that might help us figure out who "Mother" was and where she was living in 1911. 
It's a good start, though.  Any thoughts?

2 comments:

  1. I hope you do not mind me butting in but I have just found your blog. I am interested in anything Margate related and thought I would see if I could find anything.

    George James W Harvey married Sarah Jane GEORGE Q Dec 1896 in Thanet
    Her birth was registered Q March 1877 in Hereford Reg District which covers Bacton.
    On the 1891 Census, Sarah is 14 year old Kitchen Maid at The Rectory, Burghill Herefordshire. Charles Burroughs the Head, Clerk of Holy Orders.
    In 1881 Sarah Jane aged 4 is with her parents! Father William E George aged 29, Farm Bailiff of Lower Grange, Bacton. Mother Jane aged 29. Siblings Isabella aged 6, David William aged 2 and William Parry aged 6m. One visitor, a farmers daughter Sarah Ann Lewis aged 23.
    Back to the parents.
    1891 William now aged 39, Gen Labourer of Flag Station, Mansell Lacy Weobley Hereford. (I found this house, a listed building, and it does not resemble the picture). Wife Jane aged 39. Son William P aged 10, Emma aged 8, Mary Ann aged 6, Hannah aged 4 and Alfred Edward aged 1.
    1901 At Yarsop - Hereford. William aged 49. No Occupation. Jane 49, Son William a Carter aged 20, Mary Ann aged 16 Housekeeper, Hannah aged 14, Dressmaker Apprentice, James aged 8.
    By 1911 Sarah’s mother Jane George is a widow but in Thanet!
    Her daughter Mary Ann George Born 1885 married in 1906 in Thanet to Reginald J Saunders. 1911 he is Market Nurseryman of Pouces Farm, Minster. The mother Jane is aged 59 and widowed.

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  2. Hi Margate F&LH, You aren't butting in at all! Comments and new information are always welcome. Thank you so much for the research you've done on this family and because of that research, we now know that the writer of the postcard is Mrs. Jane George.

    Much appreciated!

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