Queenie Mary George

My grandmother, Queenie Mary GEORGE was the initial reason I took an interest in genealogy and is, of course, the primary inspiration for the skeleton-in-the-closet theme of this website. After years of unsuccessful searching for her birth certificate, hundreds of dollars spent, and a few hired professional researchers, I've decided a website would be a new approach. My clever husband created an animated skeleton-in-the-closet graphic on the index page in an attempt to maintain a sense of humour about the long, drawn out search which has taken us to England twice.

Queenie GEORGE was born on June 2, 1902 in Brentwood, Essex, England. Her parents were Henry GEORGE and Lucy JENKINS. I feel this information is accurate because it appears on all documentation during her lifetime. It always remained consistent. However, in order to know more about her, I must take you back.

From 1881-1899 her mother, Lucy JENKINS was a housekeeper to a Doctor John Wickham BARNES. He had a practise at #3 Bolt Court, Fleet Street, London. Lucy lived there for over twenty years. Doctor Barnes became a widower, but I don't know the exact date. However, as it went, my great grandmother became involved with Doctor Barnes and bore him three children. The eldest, Ernest, was born September 12, 1889. There was another child, John, and a daughter, Dorothy. Her birth was July 31, 1898 at Walton-On-The-Naze, Essex. So far, I've been unable to find her birth certificate.

On the 1881 Census for Bolt Court, an unmarried Lucy gave her surname as JENKINS. On the 1891 Census for Bolt Court, Lucy gave her surname as WICKHAM and to that of her son, and the doctor's, Ernest. She is also listed as "married" on the 1891 census but the doctor is listed as a "widower". Doctor Barnes died October 11, 1899 a National Hospital, Queens Square, London. His obituary listed in the Oct 14, 1899 issue of The Times. Unfortunately, there is no registered Will for Dr Barnes.

However, sometime between 1899 and 1902 Lucy met a Henry GEORGE. I have no evidence of a marriage thus far, but am still searching. In 1902 my grandmother Queenie was born. I've also been told that he emigrated with Lucy and her four children to Canada then "ran off" to the USA. There is no proof so far of anything.

I have no record of Henry GEORGE, only vague stories of how he was "no good", etc. The stories are all the same in that Lucy was left penniless. Upon arriving in Canada, she found work as a "domestic" living in Toronto, Ontario and Salmon Arm, British Columbia eventually settling in Victoria, British Columbia. I have her 1944 death certificate which states "widow" and gives Henry GEORGE as her spouse. I also have obituaries.

In 1919, my grandmother, Queenie, married Joseph GARNER in Vancouver, British Columbia. I have the marriage certificate. On it she states Henry GEORGE as her father. Queenie or "Quin" As she insisted we call her, had three children, Lloyd George, Harold Edward and my father, Douglas Graham. I have all their birth certificates listing Queenie's date and place of birth as June 2, 1902 Brentwood, Essex. Her birth date is always consistent in her documentation.

My grandfather was a steward on the Canadian Pacific Railway and was gone from home for long periods. This, and the fact that grandad was over 25 years her senior, she eventually became very unhappy. Queenie left my grandfather in 1936 for New Zealand. I have the passenger list of the "Aorangi" from Vancouver to Auckland, New Zealand. She died on November 13, 1972 at Auckland Hospital. I have the death certificate.

As a soldier during World War 2, my father (while on leave in London) visited St Catherine's House to learn about his mother's parentage. It had always been a mystery to him. He was of course, unsuccessful in finding anything about her but that is probably because he didn't have much to go on. I have a few wartime letters that wrote back home to his father describing the search.

For reference, I've searched for my grandmother's birth and that of her siblings under the surname JENKINS, BARNES and GEORGE with no success. I've been told that "Queenie" is more a pet name than a Christian name and that she could have been called Elizabeth or Margaret. "Queenie" was apparently popular during and after Queen Victoria's reign.

I lost my father in 1997. He was my research buddy. As he never got to learn about his mother, this makes me more determined than ever to find out all I can. I'm sure he's on "The Other Side" encouraging me. Hence, the website.

Thank you for reading this long screed. Perhaps you'll e-mail me with new angles of pursuit? -Kathy