On 29th December 1872 my grandfather, George William Potts was born in Delaval to Mary Ann Potts. No father was recorded. Mary’s father was the manager of a coal mine in Delaval.
I have so far decided, subject to any contradictory evidence being unearthed that Thomas Potts, Mary’s father, wouldn’t allow the marriage until John Harvey was 21 and able to support his daughter. This is almost certainly wishful thinking and as likely as the view offered by my ex-wife Valerie that it was probably the presence of one of the Spanish miners working in Newcastle in the 1870’s who had smooth talked their manager’s daughter into a dalliance.
22 months later, October 5, 1874, John Harvey Henderson married Mary Ann Potts in Benwell, Northumberland. when he was 21 years old.
In the 1881 Census George William, aged 9, was living with his parents in Paradice Row in Benwell. He was called Henderson
In 1891, now 18, he had moved with the family to 4 Havelock Villas in Colville Road in Wisbech St Peter in Cambridgeshire. He was a draper’s assistant.
I have not traced my grandfather in the 1901 Census but my grandmother was a governess but the following year on 24th August 1902 he married her, Ada Mary Humphrey, at St Leornard’s Church in Streatham. No family members witnessed the marriage certificate which is strange. Ada Mary came from a rich family (she went to a residential weekly school – a horse and cart – at the school she had her own cow for milk).
on 28th July 1903 Agnes May was born at 131/3 Hammersmith Road and on 27th November 1907 Molly was born at the same address.
In the 1911 Census the family was living at 10 Beaumont Crescent in West Kensington Also living there was Otto Dressel a pianoforte professor (this is probably him) and a 16 year old servant. George was still a draper’s assistant.
On 27th May 1911 Kitty was born at that address but a couple of years later they were living at 43 Jeddo Road in Hammersmith where my father George Eric Henderson was born on 16th November 1913.
Obviously there is more information on my Dad on this site
My grandfather died at 43 Jeddo Road Hammersmith on 14th November 1932. He died from cardiac valvular disease and was working for John Lewis at the time, presumably in the draper’s department.
Joan who was born on 14th December 1923 was adopted by my grandmother when she was 10 years old, on 5th June 1934, after my grandfather had died
I met all the sisters other than the first born, May.
Copies of his birth, marriage and death certificates are on my ancestry web site
Not many photos of my grandfather and of course he had died 9 years before I was born
George William Henderson
Grandpa and family – Copy
Grandpa Henderson