George Grove [g.12]

George Grove was the eighth child of William Grove & Elizabeth Lloyd born January 7th, 1844 & christened February 11th , 1844 at St John the Baptist, Croydon.

In 1861 George was living with his brother William Grove at Mile End Old Town, Stepney. He was a letter carrier for the GPO.

On April 3rd, 1862 George, aged 19, married Martha Perry, aged 20, at St Dunstan & All Saints, Stepney. George, a letter carrier, was living at 2 South Grove, Stepney & Martha (who made her mark) was of 2 Artichoke Row. Martha was born August 21st, 1841 & christened September 18th, 1842 at Woburn, Eversholt, Bedfordshire, the daughter of Caroline & John Perry, a distiller. Witnesses at the wedding were Martha's mother, Caroline Perry (her mark) & Ishiel Price.

George & Martha's marriage

In 1867 George (24 years old) had fallen foul of the law & was convicted at the Old Bailey on July 8th. He pleaded guilty to the offence of stealing a letter, the property of her Majesty’s Postmaster General, whilst in the employment of the Post Office, for which he was given 5 years penal servitude. The 2 stolen letters, one containing a banker’s cheque & the other, postage stamps, were found in George’s possession. His misdemeanor was discovered after a number of complaints had been received of letters going missing. As a consequence the 2 letters in question were set up as a test.

In 1871 there is a record for George Grove aged 27 as a convict in Her Majesty’s Convict Prison, Portsea. The record states that George was married. Wife Martha was living at 9 Colin St, Bromley St Leonard, Tower Hamlets, Stepney at this time & was noted as married & working as a needle woman. She had 2 children with her – son George, aged 8 & daughter Ada, 6.

George & his family emigrated to Canada in 1880 & came to live in Toronto, Ontario.

The 1881 Canadian census shows George, Martha & children George & Ada living in the St Patrick Ward, Toronto, Ontario & George was a polisher.

Both children married in 1884. Daughter Ada married William Gean Harris (23), a junk dealer on June 30th at Muskoka, Toronto. William was the son of William Gean & Mary Harris & witnesses at the wedding were Malcolm McCarthy & Sarah Harris. Ada & William were to have 4 children – William George, Ada Florence, Albert Frederick & May Queen Harris.

Headstone of daughter Ada Florence (g.12.2) & husband William Gean Harris in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto. Also showing that their daughter Ada F & husband G. Howard Anderson were buried alongside them.

Son George, a polisher, married Christina Durie (20) on November 26th, 1884 in Toronto. Christina was the daughter of Alexander & Christina Durie & witnesses at the wedding were George & Maggie Durie. George & Christina were to have 5 sons.

In 1891 George & Martha were listed in York, Ontario & George was working as a guard at the county jail!

The Canadian census of 1901 shows George & Martha & 'daughter' Elizabeth, aged 14, living in York, Ontario. (The census lists Elizabeth as 'ad daughter' - suggesting adopted daughter?) George was still a jail guard.

George died on May 19th, 1902 at York, Ontario.

In 1911 widowed Martha was listed on her own at Toronto East, Ontario.

Martha died on April 26th, 1913 in Ontario, Canada.

The children of George Grove & Martha Perry were:

g.12.1 George Albert Grove born December 9th 1862 at Bromley, Middlesex & christened April 17th, 1864 at Croydon, Surrey; died October 11th, 1925 at York, Ontario, Canada
g.12.2 Ada Florence Grove born December 24th, 1864 at Strand, London; died September 21st, 1941 at Toronto, Canada

g. 12.3 Elizabeth Grove born c1887 in Ontario, Canada