Find Ancestors

Welcome to the boards, Gearing.

As you've noticed, you have replied to an old thread.
Andy52 won't be looking here for replies now.

You can try sending him a private message - click on his name at the top of one of his posts.
If he has kept GR informed of any change to his email address, he may be able to receive the notification they will send to let him know there is a message for him in the system.

He may or may not be able or willing to reply.
Good luck!

Although he is your cousin, I assume you are not normally in contact, and don't know his phone number or email address.

Andy

I was looking up something on the net the other day and found this thread.

The thread is now quite old so my information may already be known to you.

I think I have something from my Fathers things which might cast some light on one question that you had regarding the lack of details on the 1901 census.

It seems that Henry W Gearing was elected ( with 818 votes) for a place at the London Orphan Asylum, Watford in the Half Yearly Election which took place on 24th January 1898.

One presumes that he was still there in 1901 and I am guessing that’s why he did appear on the Census.

Amongst my fathers things ( your Uncle Jack ) was Henry Gearing’s old wooden trunk ( it has his name painted on it) and inside it was a notice of the Half yearly election results for the election that took place on the 24th January 1898.
Showing Henry’s election to the institution.

Interestingly there is another Gearing mentioned on the Poll results - Thomas Gearing - not sure if he is / was a relation of Henry’s. Thomas gained 329 votes and therefore was not elected for a place as only 20 boys and 10 girls were elected in each half yearly election. However his votes would carry over to the next Election.

I hope this helps and that you are well.

Best wishes

David Gearing

Thanks.

There is a steady trickle of information hinting at a connection between my 'Gearing branch' and the branch based in Greenwich (rather than Hoxton) throughout (at least) much of the nineteenth century. However, the available information is 'circumstantial' rather than 'conclusive', so the searching goes on!

I have the Gearings in Hoxton in my tree.My great gran was Janet Gearing but i dont think they tie up with yours Andy.Good Luck
Annie

Thanks for that. Even if it turns out that this is not the family of WJG, and they are unrelated to me, I'm gaining some fascinating insights into someone's intriguing family history.

Those quotes were from
http://www.gmt2000.co.uk/Gearing/g_index.htm

You may need to contact Albert.

Life in Greenwich workhouse

The recently concluded Napoleonic Wars had almost bankrupted the country. Hundreds of soldiers and sailors had returned from the wars and were looking for work. Also the Industrial Revolution had begun, throwing thousands of agricultural workers out of work with its introduction of threshing machines. Whole families were flocking to London and other big Cities. It was the period Dickens wrote about in "Oliver Twist", "David Copperfield", and "Little Dorrit".

In the early 1820's many people became desitute and the workhouses were packed--there being no other alternative if you lost your job.
Henry William was christened at St. Alphege Church, Greenwich on 30th June 1822. The father's occupation was given as Mariner N.P. (standing for Naval Pensioner, even though he was only sixteen when he left the Navy!)
His poor wife Elizabeth, remained in the Workhouse with the baby, until April 1823, and then from September until December of that year. During this time she was given £2 per week.

The daily diet in Greenwich Workhouse at that time was:

SUNDAY: BREAKFAST. One Quart of Milk Pottage.
DINNER, Six oz. Beef when cooked and free from the bone, llb. Potatoes
MONDAY: BREAKFAST, One oz. of Butter or two oz. of Cheese.
DINNER, One Quart of good Soup made from Sunday's dinner.
TUESDAY: BREAKFAST, One Quart of Rice Milk.
DINNER: Six oz. Beef, one llb. of Potatoes.
WEDNESDAY: BREAKFAST, One oz. of Butter or Two oz. of Cheese.
DINNER: One Quart of good Soup made from Tuesday's dinner.
THURSDAY: BREAKFAST, One Quart of Milk Pottage.
DINNER, Six oz. Mutton, One lb. of Potatoes.
FRIDAY: BREAKFAST,' One oz. of Butter or two of Cheese.
DINNER, One Quart of good Soup made from Thursday's dinner.
SATURDAY: BREAKFAST, One Quart of Rice Milk.
DINNER, Twelve oz. of Suet Pudding.
SUPPER: Every Day, Two oz. of Cheese or one oz. of Butter.
CHRISTMAS DAY: Eight oz. of Cooked or Baked Beef and Vegetables.
Twelve oz. of Plum Pudding.
One Pint of Strong Beer.

On two days in the summer, Five oz. of Bacon and Green Peas.
On two other days, Five oz. Bacon and Green Peas.
On four other days. Good Mackerel and One lb. of Potatoes.
On four other days. Good Herring and One lb. of Potatoes.
On six other days. Good salt Fish instead of Meat.
Each adult and children over twelve years of age were to receive; Fourteen oz. of Bread and Two Pints of Beer per day.

They certainly fared much better in Greenwich, than poor Oliver Twist did!

In 1840, a new Workhouse with infirmary attached, was built in a field at the bottom of what was Love Lane and is now known as Vanbrugh Hill.
Up until the second world war. the Workhouse was still in use. There Were railings at the front, going along Woolwich Road, I remember as a boy seeing the old men sitting! behind them, wearing grey tweed suits and cap. The Infirmary was known as St. Alphage Hospital. After the war it was pulled down, to be replaced by Greenwich District Hospital.
© Albert W. Gearing

Greenwich as it used to be:

Indenture of apprenticeship as a Thames Waterman [1814]

Young Henry left the Navy after serving for four years in 1814, at the age of sixteen. His father then apprenticed him as a Waterman and Lighterman on the River Thames--the year the Thames froze over.


I still have his original Indentures, and quote from them as follows:

"THIS INDENTURE Witnesseth, That Henry Gearing, Son of Henry Gearing, of the Parish of St. Alphage, Greenwich, in the County of Kent, doth put himself, Apprentice to Thomas Starkey, of the Parish aforesaid. In the County aforesaid. WATERMAN AND LIGHTERMAN."

"To learn his art, and with him after the manner of an Apprentice to dwell and serve upon the River Thames, from the day of the date here-of, until the full end and term of Seven Years from thence next following, to be fully complete and ended, during which term, the said apprentice his said
Master faithfully shall serve. His secrets keep, his lawful commandments everywhere gladly do. He shall do no Damage to his said Master, nor see it be done by others, but he in his Power, shall let or forthwith give warning to his said Master of the same; He shall not waste the Goods of the said Master, nor lend them unlawfully to any. He shall not commit Fornication, nor contract Matrimony within the said Term. He shall not play Cards, Dice, Tables or any unlawful games, whereby his said Master may have any loss. With his own Goods or others during the said Term, without licence of his said Master, he shall not buy nor sell; He shall not haunt Taverns or Playhouses, nor absent himself from his Masters service Day or Night, unlawfully, but in all things as a faithful Apprentice he shall behave himself towards his said master, during the said Term. And the said Master in consideration of Services of his said apprentice in the same art which he useth by the best means that he can, shall teach and instruct or cause to be taught and instructed, finding unto the said Apprentice Meat, Drink, Apparel, Lodging and all other Necessaries, according to the custom of the City of London.
In witness whereof, the parties above named to these indentures, have put their hands and seals. The Twenty Fourth Day of October 1814. Signed and sealed in the presence of: Henry Gearing and Thomas Starkey.'

© Albert W. Gearing

I seem to have 'lost' my earlier reply from this thread?

Thanks for the leads. There is support for the three Gearings (WH, HE and JJ) being, respectively, the father, aunt and uncle of the William John born in Bengal in April 1849, so the Naval College connection could be valuable (coincidentally, I visited the former College, and the Observatory, in April 2012). Furthermore, it is possible that the enduring connection between Henry William's family and the River around Greenwich could have encouraged his return to the area after his family tragedies in India, so there is some reason for scouring the records.

When I first saw the FIBIS record of Mrs H Gearing's arrival in Calcutta from Rangoon in June 1845, I assumed it might be Eliza Jane returning for the birth of her first child in August, following her marriage to Henry William in November 1844. I wonder what might have taken her to Rangoon (or whatever her final destination might have been) at such a time? I couldn't find any relevant evidence of other Gearings (of any spelling) travelling to the UK in the 1850-80s.

Thames watermen and lightermen 1688-2010 (Find My Past)

Last name:Gearing
First names:Henry William
Bound year:1885
Bound month:Mar
Bound day:10
Where from/Notes:Greenwich
Master's last name:Gearing
Master's first names:John James
Date free:1890 Apr 8
Source:Binding Records 1692-1949
Record source:Thames watermen and lightermen
Data provider:Rob Cottrell, Trueflare Limited

(think there could be more Gearing in this index)

Chris :)

Last name:Gearing
First names:John James
Bound year:1844
Bound month:Dec
Bound day:12
Where from/Notes:Greenwich
Master's last name:Gearing
Master's first names:Henry
Date free:11 Feb 1858
Source:Binding Records 1692-1949
Record source:Thames watermen and lightermen

Last name:Geering
First names:Henry
Bound year:1814
Bound month:Oct
Bound day:27
Where from/Notes:Greenwich
Master's last name:Starkey
Master's first names:Thomas
Date free:01 Apr 1824
Source:Binding Records 1692-1949
Record source:Thames watermen and lightermen

I have ancestors on each of the streets mentioned in those baptisms.
East Lane is now Eastney Street.

They are in a very small area alongside the Royal Naval College.
There were a high concentration of fisherman/mariners in the area.
It was a dangerous occupation and many orphan's went to one of the fisherman's schools.
It would be worth checking the records of the Greenwich pensioners.

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~genmaps/genfiles/COU_files/ENG/LON/creighton_greewich_1835.html

Baptism (Find My Past)
Forename(s):Henry William
Surname:Gearing
Year:1822
Month:Jul
Day:25
Father's Forename:Henry
Father's Occupation:Mariner
Mother's Forename:Elizabeth
Mother's Surname:
Birth Day:30
Birth Month:Jun
Birth Year:1822
Notes:Pn Denotes Poor Note, Believed To Be A Note From The Poorhouse To Pay For The Baptism.
Abode:Poor House
Place:Greenwich
Parish:St Alfege
County:Kent
Data provider:North West Kent FHS

Forename(s):Hannah Elizabeth
Surname:Gearing
Year:1825
Month:Apr
Day:4
Father's Forename:Henry
Father's Occupation:Waterman
Mother's Forename:Elizabeth
Mother's Surname:
Birth Day:7
Birth Month:Mar
Birth Year:1825
Notes:Pn Denotes Poor Note, Believed To Be A Note From The Poorhouse To Pay For The Baptism.
Abode:Roan Street
Place:Greenwich
Parish:St Alfege
County:Kent

Forename(s):John James
Surname:Gearing
Year:1827
Month:Aug
Day:20
Father's Forename:Henry
Father's Occupation:Waterman
Mother's Forename:Elizabeth
Mother's Surname:
Birth Day:27
Birth Month:Jul
Birth Year:1827
Notes:Pn Denotes Poor Note, Believed To Be A Note From The Poorhouse To Pay For The Baptism.
Abode:East Lane
Place:Greenwich
Parish:St Alfege
County:Kent

Forename(s):Caroline
Surname:Gearing
Year:1831
Month:Jun
Day:22
Father's Forename:Henry
Father's Occupation:Waterman
Mother's Forename:Elizabeth
Mother's Surname:
Birth Day:26
Birth Month:May
Birth Year:1831
Notes:Pn Denotes Poor Note, Believed To Be A Note From The Poorhouse To Pay For The Baptism.
Abode:Queens St
Place:Greenwich
Parish:St Alfege
County:Kent

Chris :)

Name: Henry Gearing (Bachelor)
Spouse Name: Elizabeth Humphreys (Spinster)
Record Type: Marriage
Event Date: 2 Jun 1821
Parish: Deptford St Nicholas
Borough: Greenwich
Register Type: Parish Register
(witnesses James Humphreys (would say his attempt as Humphreys), Caroline Clements)


Arrival (Fibis)
Month Jun
Year 1845
Name of Ship Clown
Captain J. Talbert
Title or Rank Mrs.
First Name H.
Passenger Surname Gearing
Passenger Origin Rangoon
Passenger Destination Calcutta
Vessel Origin Rangoon
Vessel Destination Calcutta
Source Bengal Directory
Edition 1846

OOPs - you will have spotted the transposition of my grandfather's initials in my previous message: he was William John Gearing (WJG), rather than JWG!!!

All,

Thanks for all the checking/searching, including the FIBIS site - that is the source of a lot of what I know about the Gearing family in India. I'll have another look at the 1839 marriage and 1845 baptism.

The tantalizing thing is that I have not yet been able to identify a marriage/death record for the India-born (1849) William John Gearing, and nor have I yet been able to able to confirm a record for the UK birth of my grandfather (JWG) who was married in 1886, became the father of my grandfather (HWG) in 1887, and died in 1889.

I'm a novice when it comes to passenger records, but I couldn't find anything remotely relevant on the Ancestry records for any Gearings returning from India anytime in the late nineteenth century. I did wonder if such a journey could have been 'obfuscated' by JWG's father being an employee of P&O, but that thought has yet to take me anywhere. I haven't found a relevant will yet, but acknowledge there is more searching to be done there, as there is among bankruptcy records and engineer registers.

The Gearing-Humphreys marriage of 1821, according to more than one public member tree, is of ancestors of the "Indian Gearing" family. I have sent a message to a couple of Ancestry public member tree contacts re their knowledge of JWG, but I await a response from both.

Andy Turner

Thanks for the leads: I'll follow them up over the next few days.

Still can't find any Gearings coming into the country, from India, before the 1890s. And no censuses before then with a Gearing born in India.

I assume you've already spoken with the poster who has the Public Tree on Ancestry with Henry William Gearing going to India. I wonder how they know they have the correct one. That Henry Gearing appears to show up on the 1861 census claiming to be married.

That tree has also killed off mother, Elizabeth, in 1862. But she appears to be very much alive in 1871, living with her daughter Hannah, and her family.

http://search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/aps_person_search.php

http://indiafamily.bl.uk/ui/Advancediscovery.aspx


(had a look on above links, for India side of things, but nothing. other than already known!)

Chris :)

there is this marriage but not sure


London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921 about George Henry Gearing
Name: George Henry Gearing
Age: Minor
Spouse Name: Caroline Morley
Record Type: Marriage
Event Date: 3 Nov 1839
Parish: Shoreditch St Leonard
Borough: Hackney
Father Name: Simon Gearing
Spouse Father Name: Richd Morley
Register Type: Parish Register

London, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906 about William Gearing
Name: William Gearing
Record Type: Baptism
Baptism Date: 2 Nov 1845
Father's Name: George Henry Gearing
Mother's Name: Caroline Gearing
Parish or Poor Law Union: Hoxton St John
Borough: Hackney
Register Type: Parish Registers

There are other children.

worth a look

Parish Records Collection marriage

Surname:GearingForenames:HenryYear of Marriage:1821Month of Marriage:JUNDay of Marriage: 2Spouse surname:HumphrysSpouse forenames:ElizabethPlace:DeptfordCounty:KentGroom notes:Bride notes:Source:St.Nicholas Deptford 1813-1847 Record source:Thames & Medway Marriages Data provider:Rob Cottrell, Trueflare LimitedTranscriptions © Rob Cottrell, Trueflare Limited

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About this collection
groom's name: William John Gearing
groom's birth date: 1853
groom's birthplace:
groom's age: 33
bride's name: Louisa Adelaide Tyler
bride's birth date: 1865
bride's birthplace:
bride's age: 21
marriage date: 22 Sep 1886
marriage place: St Marks, Kennington, Surrey, England
groom's father's name: Henry George Gearing
groom's mother's name:
bride's father's name: Henry John Tyler
bride's mother's name:
groom's race:
groom's marital status: Single
groom's previous wife's name:
bride's race:
bride's marital status: Single
bride's previous husband's name:
indexing project (batch) number: M01064-5
system origin: England-EASy
source film number: 375305
reference number: 66, p 57