Harry Seyfang
- Born: 3 Jul 1868, Peckham, Surrey 6
- Married: 29 Jan 1906, Register Office, Lambeth 1
- Died: 21 Feb 1939, St Giles Hospital 7
- Buried: 24 Feb 1939, Camberwell Old Cemetery (Forest Hill)
 Cause of his death was Thrombosis.
General Notes:
Born at 2.15 am. His Army papers consistently give his birth year as 1870
Received the Freedom of the City of London 17th January 1900.
There is some mystery in Harry's life in that his mother almost cut him out of her will (in 1904), leaving him £500 for the purchase of an annuity 'if and when he should attain the age of 50 years'. The reason is not known; his children seem to have been on good terms with their siblings but several relatives have said that the family was very poor and that Charlotte worked her fingers to the bone to keep the family in a reasonable state. He is reputed by some to have been a drunkard, but Dorothea Ellen (his daughter) said that he was a 'lovely man', a man of letters who loved his books, but who also liked his drink. Carolyn Ann Stevens (his daughter-in-law) said that the only relations who really cared for the family were the Baileys, and that Harry used to go to Aunt Beatrice each week for his half-a-crown (Beatrice Lucy Bailey nee Jardine, Harry's cousin).
It is possible that he upset his mother during childhood, although letters to her from him whilst en route to S. Africa in 1900 appear normal and affectionate. Another possibility is that his marriage to Charlotte was disapproved of as she has been said to be of a lower class than the Seyfangs. But the marriage took place two years after his mother's death (albeit 2 days before the birth of his first child, Dorothea Ellen).
Charlotte's first marriage certificate (to Alfred James) shows her father as John Brown, labourer. Alfred James was a Harness-maker (journeyman). Charlotte's marriage certificate states her father as Farmer (retired). This lends credence to the idea that Ellen disapproved of Charlotte, although she would have had to have done so before 1904, and we do not know when Harry and Charlotte became involved.
Both Harry and Charlotte saw a lot of their three children and their spouses - this much is clear from the many visits mentioned in letters. Several letters exist from both Harry and Charlotte to Dorothea after she left home on her marriage; they are cheerful and inconsequential and, in Harry's case, show a strong sense of humour.
One such letter, written on Dec 17th 1938, two months before he died, sheds further light on the family inheritance. He writes:
"I went to Theresa on Thursday they are all going to make their wills leaving it to you and your brothers so that Gordon shall not get the whole of Mother's Estate." (and they did, for what it was worth).
The Gordon referred to is Gordon Siemssen, son of Amy Laura Seyfang and Hermann Siemssen.
The same letter has an amusing ps:
"I burnt all my hair off in the gas in my bedroom. I am very disappointed as I was going to have it permed for Xmas". 206
Events:
1. Education, 1894, Hatcham. 207 1894 University of Cambridge Junior Certificate: Religious
Knowledge, History, Geography, Latin, French, Maths
2. Education, Dec 1885, Hatcham. University of Cambridge Senior Certificate in Greek and Roman
History, geography and Shakespeare, Latin, French
3. Hobbies, 20 Oct 1909, Brixton. 208 Won a copy of 'Ingoldsby Legends' in 'The People'
crossword competition.
4. Residence, 24 May 1905, 358 Kennington Road, Se. 27
5. Military Service, Between 1895 and 1920, London. 209,210 City Imperial Volunteers, sergeant No 4129. Served in South Africa 1900 attested 4 Jan 1900, discharged 30 Nov 1900 on disbandment of Regiment after 283 days service abroad and (presumably) transferred to reserve.
Discharged 11 Nov 1908 after service of 12 years 222 days Attested 11 Nov 1914 for the Rifle Brigade (had also served in the Northamptonshire Regmt) Transferred to reserve 4 Mar 1920
6. Education, 23 Mar 1896, London, Society Of Incorporated Accountants. 209 Preliminary Examination
7. Education, 10 Aug 1898, London, Society Of Incorporated Accountants. Intermediate Examination
8. Education, 3 Jan 1902, London, Society Of Incorporated Accountants. Final examination
9. Residence, 29 Jan 1906, 20 Lansdowne Gardens, South Lambeth.
10. Employment, Mar 1902, Glastonbury, Somerset. 65 Clerk to JohnBishop & Co.
11. Employment, May 1904, 58 Moorgate St, E.C. 65 Clerk to G. Cape
12. Employment, Oct 1909, 10 Tudor St, E.C. 65
13. Employment, Nov 1910, 21 Cowley Road, Brixton. 65
14. Employment, 1913-1914, 49 Finsbury Pavement, E.C. - TN London Wall. 65
15. Employment, 1914-1915, 21 Cowley Road, Brixton. 65
Harry married Charlotte Brown, daughter of John Brown and Elizabeth Beachamp, on 29 Jan 1906 in Register Office, Lambeth 1. (Charlotte Brown was born on 5 Oct 1866 in Whichford, Warwick 2,3, died on 7 Aug 1950 in Aspley Guise, Beds and was buried in St Botolph, Aspley Guise.)
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