The Allery Brothers

Great Grandfather, Samuel John Allery was never part of the landed gentry, but he certainly moved around a great deal in his lifetime. I have counted twenty different Residences from 1847 to 1922, let alone the various properties he had acquired in his lifetime and bequeathed to his children. His residences stretched from Holborn to Peckham and his properties were located in Norbiton and Camberwell.

The men in my paternal ancestry have strong connections with the trades. You could say they all landed on their feet in solid occupations.

My grandfather Walter was one of three boys born to Mary Ann Hall and Samuel John Allery. Walter was a Tailor and his father was a Master Tailor. There were 5 surviving siblings; his eldest brother Henry John became a Bookbinder. His younger brother George Samuel was a private in the West Yorkshire Regiment and died at the age of 19 in 1896. His sister Rosina Elizabeth became a Tailoress. Two other sisters died as infants. His mother Mary Ann Hall died in 1881 when he was just 9 years old.

Great Grandmother Jemima became a second wife for my great grandfather Samuel John Allery in 1884. At 32 she took on parenting the 5 surviving children from his previous marriage to Mary Ann Hall. Henry John, Rosina Elizabeth, Walter Frederick, Jessie Amelia, and George Samuel. 

During her 30s and 40s, Jemima gave birth to six boys of her own. Her band of young men was her greatest legacy. Her boys all lived to a great age, served their country in the First World War and built their own businesses and dynasties.

Dave Bertie was born in 1886, Francis Joseph Andrew was born in 1888, Benjamin Robert Phillip was born in 1890, Sidney James in 1892, Ernest Alexander in 1894 and Edward St Swithin in 1898.

In the Will of Samuel John Allery, all the sons and daughters from his first marriage, including my Grandfather Walter Frederick, were given a handsome legacy.  The total of the Allery estate – 9,826 13s. 3d. Samuel John had provided well for both sets of children.

Walter Frederick served in the Royal Berkshire Regiment and survived, and later became a Tailor Journeyman and finally a Master Tailor. He died at 45 from Tuberculous Meningitis. 

Rosina Elizabeth, his eldest sister was given the four properties at 46, 48, 50 and 52 Elton Road, Norbiton, Kingston-on-Thames.

Henry John was to inherit the four properties of 4,6,8 and 10 Crown Street, Camberwell. He was the only one not to join the building trade or tailoring dynasty; instead, he became a Bookbinder.

George Samuel, Walter’s younger brother, served in both the West Yorkshire and Middlesex regiments and became a Printer’s Apprentice and finally a Tailor. He died at 19.

Landed on their feet

One could say that the children of Samuel John definitely landed on their feet. Three of Jemima’s six boys, survived the Great War and landed on their feet in solid occupations.

Francis Joseph Andrew served with the 8th Battalion Surrey Regiment and received a military award for bravery. He later became a Painter, then a Painter and Decorator, and finally a Builder.

Ernest Alexander served as a Private, in the Devonshire Regiment. He was wounded in France in 1916 and entitled to wear a “Wound Stripe”. He became a Kitchen Porter and later a Builders’ Labourer Heavy.

Benjamin Robert Phillip was with the Royal Fusiliers and later became a Builder.

Three other Allery brothers also were gainfully employed in the Building Trade;

Edward St Swithin served as a Private in the Labour Corps and later became a Master Builder and finally an Estate Agent.

Dave Bertie was a House Decorator and finally a builder.

Sydney James was a Builders’ Labourer and then a Builder.

The prowess of the nine Allery Brothers is something I am proud of – they are not listed among the noblemen of their time – but their entrepreneurial and practical skills make them heroes in our family.