Genealogy Chat

My first visit to the community! i would dearly love to give my Mum (1928) some information on her Dad Harry William Seale who died when she was only 10. She has no living relatives who knew her when she was a child. I know that he was a butler at Ragley Hall and that he also worked for Lord Sainsbury in London. He died in Moreton in the Marsh Hospital, Gloucestershire in February after being taken in on Christmas Eve 1938. There being little or no transport my Mum and her little brother and sister never saw him again. His wife Dorish Seale (nee Paish) was only able to visit him twice but she kept the letters he sent her. I can only find his birth and don't know what else I can do for my Mum. Any suggestions?
Thank you in advance!

Depending when in 1901 he was born you might find him in the 1901 census - or at least find his parents?

You should be able to find him (with parents?) on the 1911 census.

Jill

Wow, fast response jill! I didn't expect that! I don't know his mother's name. His Father was Arthur Seale and he was married again so I think Harry's mother died young too. Harry was born 1st July - a day after his future wife Doris, who was born on 30th June 1901. I have only got my Mum's sketchy memories to go on I'm afraid.

We are super-fast on here you know!!

Do you have his marriage certificate? That should give his father's name and help you trace him on the 1911.

You will probably need his birth cert as well to confirm mum's maiden name.

Jill

Any idea where he was born?

This death record?

Harry W Seale
Death Registration Month/Year: 1939
Age at death (estimated): 35
Registration district: North Cotswold
Inferred County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 6a
Page: 709

This birth record matches the age at death - and is the only Harry William I can find at the moment:

Births Sep 1904 (>99%)
Seale Harry William Tunbridge 2a 845

My Mum may have her parents wedding certificate. I'm pretty sure she hasn't got his birth certificate though. I would really like to put some flesh on his bones for her, if you understand me? She has confused thoughts about him because she was so young when he died. She has letters sent to her Mum from previous employers after her Dad died and they seem to have genuinely appreciated him but she seems to think he had secrets!

If he was the one born in Tunbridge in 1904 then this MIGHT be his dad's marriage:

Marriages Dec 1895 (>99%)
Ashdown William Tunbridge 2a 1280 Scan available - click to view
Barden Beatrice Louise Tunbridge 2a 1280 Scan available - click to view
Hodgson Bertha Evelyn Tunbridge 2a 1280 Scan available - click to view
Seale Arthur George Tunbridge 2a 1280 Scan available - click to view

Sorry, I really am a beginner. What do I do with the information you just left for me?

I'm going out on a limb here:

Could be his dad and Beatrice (known as Louie?)

Arthur G Seale
Age: 4
Estimated birth year: abt 1897
Relation: Son
Father's Name: Arthur
Mother's Name: Louie
Gender: Male
Where born: Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England

Civil parish: Southborough
Ecclesiastical parish: Southborough St Matthew
County/Island: Kent
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status:

View image

Registration district: Tonbridge
Sub-registration district: Tunbridge Wells
ED, institution, or vessel: 29
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 130
Household Members:
Name Age
Arthur Seale 24
Louie Seale 33
Arthur G Seale 4
Elsie L Seale 10 months


Source Citation: Class: RG13; Piece: 755; Folio: 136; Page: 20.

Oh wow, I can't keep up with you! Yes i believe that is his death but he was definitely born in 1901.

I only know (think) Harry had a full brother, Fred and half siblings. Maisie and Arthur. I don't Mother or Step mother's names.

Hi Pamela

The death registration shows his age as 35, which indicates a birth of 1904. Of course it all depends on who registered his death and the age may not be accurate, but I cannot spot an earlier birth for him.

Have you rummaged around in FreeBMD - it's free to use and very easy.

To order certs you need to go to the General Register Office (GRO). You can order online. At the moment they cost £7 each but are about to go up to £9.25 (on 5th or 6th April).

I don't know whether the Kent family are your family at all - just that the ages and names all seem to fit ... Maybe a few of the names will jog your mum's memory?

But start with his marriage certificate - if your mum has that. Check the age on there. (Is it possible he lied about his age when he married if his wife was born in 1901 ... ??)

Jill

Thanks Jill, I had the same thought - could one of his secfrets be that he was not as old as his wife? I will ask my Mum as soon as I can. Some days she is very interested and some days she seems to be afraid of what I will find. I would love to give her some good news for a change!

If that's the marriage it looks like the Beartice Louise Barden. There is an Arthur with a Louie in the 1901 census.

Peter

perhaps
1911 census free search
Henry Seale 1878
Edith Seale 1882
Harry Seale 1905
Fredrick Seale 1909

living Tonbridge

That's the only one I'm seeing as well. No Harry with an Arthur.

1911 census transcription details for: 8 Castle St Southborough
RG14PN4072 RG78PN156 RD50 SD1 ED33 SN193


Reg. District: Tonbridge Sub District: Tunbridge Wells
Parish: Southborough Enum. District: 33
Address: 8 Castle St Southborough
County: Kent
SEALE, Henry Head Married M 33 1878 Coachman Domestic Hildenborough Kent
SEALE, Edith Wife Married F 29 1882 Kent Southborough
SEALE, Harry Son M 6 1905 School Kent Hildenborough
SEALE, Fredrick Son M 2 1909 Kent Tonbridge


Maureen

There is a Beatrice L Seale daeth Tonbridge in 1959

Free BMD gives Seale mmn Barden biths including 1916 in Tonbridge

1901 Census gives Arthur George b 1897 - may make a 1911 search easier......

Peter

Suggest Seal as alternative spelling in 1911

Peter