The KEATS Family

The earliest ancestor of our Keats family found, so far, is EDWARD KEATS/KATES  (The name differs on various records. It may be that the name was originally Kates, and members of the family  used both, On the 1841 Census it shows that he was not born in Middlesex, where he was then living; on the 1861 Census he gives Reading, Berkshire as his place of birth. His date of birth varies in the records; 1801 in 1841. 1806 in 1861, and possibly 1800 in 1870. No birth or baptism record has been found for Edward so we do not know who his parents were, but it was in Hurst, Berkshire that he (under KATES) married ELIZABETH MILAM on 10th August 1822. Both he and Elizabeth were shown as being of the parish of Hurst, but does not mean he was born there. A family tree on Ancestry [the McNally family] asserts that Edward was 26 at the time of his marriage, giving a further birth year of 1796. His profession was Musician.
Edward and Elizabeth went to live in St. Pancras, Middlesex. Their first child was:

•  Emma Jane Kates, who was born on 2nd October 1823 and baptised at St. Marylebone on January 4th 1824. Father's profession was Musician.

The 1851 Census shows Emma Jane Keates, born in London in 1825, at 26, Green St,. Cambridge St. Michael. She is listed as Niece to the householder and it is this census entry that leads back another generation.. Head of the household is not there; Mary Thurlbourn listed as Wife, born at Windsor, Berkshire circa 1811; Charles Kates was Mary's brother, born at Yarmouth, Norfolk circa 1815; Mary has a a Servant, and 3 lodgers, 2 being undergraduates.
A Mary Keates was baptised at Clewer (close to Windsor) in 1807 by Edward and Mary Keates. A Charles Kates was baptised at Great Yarmouth in 1813 by Edward and Mary Kates; Edward was a Sailor. Also at Yarmouth, William Kates was baptised by Edward and Mary; the Register kindly lists the mothers' maiden names and we discover that Mary's was Harwood. On looking for a marriage, we find EDWARD WILLIAM KATES married MARY HARWOOD at Drypool, Kingston on Hull on 28th October 1795. Witnesses were Michael Harwood, Sarah Lambert and William Fenwick. I haven't found his birth/baptism, nor son Edward's, but the facts fit.
Daughter Mary married John Thulbourne in 1831 at St. Georges,  Hanover Square, presence of Samuel Vorley and Sarah Payne.
 Son Charles Kates was a Servant in 1851. He was Keates in 1861 and Keats in 1871. Charles lived at Marylebone and was a Staymaker. He lived with Virginia as his wife but I have found no marriage, She was born at Paris, France and I believe she was Virginia Martinet, only because she was a Staymaker on an earlier Census, and the ages match.
Son Edward we have already met, and his story continues below. 
There is a family story [from Barbara Keats] that says we are related to Keith, Prowse, the theatrical agents. William Prowse was a music publisher and instrument maker and dealer, born in London about 1805. He and Robert Keith formed a partnership. There was also a Thomas Prowse in Hanway St. who made flutes, but apparently a different family. the flutes made by these firms are rare and highly collectable.
In 1853 Emma married John Prouse, but this man was born at Bideford, Devon and was a Tailor. I believe he had a brother William, also born at Bideford and a Tailor. I have so far found no link between the Bideford Prowse family and Keith Prowse; but Edward Keats was a flautist and must have known these men, possibly bought his flute and flageolet from them. [Susan and Peter Keats had flageolets, bought for them by Edward's great grandson Alan, at a musical instrument shop in Yarmouth]. 

Edward and Elizabeth's first child was
 Emma Jane, born 2nd October 1823 at St Marylebone, Westminster and baptised 4th January at St. Marys, St Marylebone. She was visiting her aunt Mary Thurlbourne at Cambridge in 1851 with her uncle Charles Kates. She married John Prouse in 1853 at St Georges, Southwark. I have found nothing more about this couple.
Edward and Elizabeth brought the next 3 children to Hurst, Berkshire to be baptised in 1835. They were:

• Ellen Elizabeth Keates, who was born July 31st 1826, baptised at Hurst on October 16th 1835. Parents: Edward & Elizabeth, 'of St. Pancras London'. Profession: Musician. Ellen married Peter Walker at Manchester Cathedral, on 29th January 1853. She was living at Elsworth St., Cheetham and states her father is Edward Keates of London, Professor of Music. Peter is a Manufacturer, living at Lower Broughton and his father is a Gentleman - he was actually a Silk Manufacturer. both give their ages as 24.

.

• Edward Keates, who was born November 8th 1830 at Brighton, Sussex, and was baptised at Hurst on October 16th 1835. Parents: details as above.

In 1851, Edward jnr was a Teacher of Music, living with his mother and brothers at 116, Chalton St., Somers Town, Middlesex [listed in Ancestry under 'Beals'!]. He joined the 12th Royal Reg. of Lancers in 1851, giving his age as 18. He was discharged as a Chelsea Pensioner in 1856, having seen action in South Africa. The 12th Lancers supported the Light Brigade during their famous, ill-fated Charge in the Crimean War. Edward was there, and it seems he was injured, which could account for his change in employment.
 He married Rebecca Bennett in 1860, registered St. Pancras. [Rebecca, the daughter of William and Louisa Bennett, was born in 1837; William was a Whitesmith, and in 1841 the Bennett family was living at Barrack Field, Croydon.]. I cannot find them on the 1861 Census, but in 1871 Edward and Rebecca were living at 2, Thorns Cottages, Croydon. Surrey. Edward was working as a Railway --- [torn off]. With them was Thomas Bennett, aged 4, a Visitor; 1881 saw them living at 13, Glendall St,. Stockwell, Lambeth. Edward was now a Railway Office Collector. With them were daughter Amy aged 9, born at Penge, and son Thomas, aged 14 and born at Norwood. I think this is the Thomas Bennett from 1871 - an adopted child from the Bennett family? The family have not been found in 1891, but in 1901 Rebecca was listed as Widow , living at 215, Ferndale Rd., Brixton. With her was daughter Amy, 29 and a Tailoress; she was unmarried. There were also 3 boarders. Edward possibly died in 1886; there is a registration at Islington that fits as this Edward was aged 55.

• Joseph Francis Keates who was born August 24th 1833 and was baptised October 16th 1835 at Hurst. Parents: as above.

Joseph was known as Francis on the 1841 and 1851 censuses. On 24th August (his birthday) 1871 Francis married Eliza Ann Hutchinson at Croydon. He gives his occupation as Gentleman and his father as Edward Keates, Musician; Eliza states that her father is William Hutchinson, Gentleman.
Their son, Frank Hutchinson Keats, born in 1872, became a Student of Mathematics and Freud. He married Edith Marion Henderson. In 1901 Frank and Edith were living on their own means with the Hendersons in Sheffield, who were Estate Agents. Later, they lived in a 9-roomed house at Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire. They named their son Maxwell Harold G, and he was an Estate Agent until his death in 1970 at Hatfield.

• Albert Cuthbert Keats, who was born April 30th 1836 and baptised May 20th 1836 at St. Marylebone. Parents: Edward and Elizabeth.  Of Great Edward St. 'Medical Man' (a mistake by the curate?).

 There is a record of a Corporal Albert Keates in the UK Military Campaign Medal & Award Rolls, [ 1793-1949/ Asia, Crimean War on Ancestry] which might be him, as this man was in the 12th Royal Lancers, as was Albert C's brother Edward.
Albert married Celia Amelia Balcon, registered at Islington in 1861 [Celia was the daughter of Jeremiah Balcon, an Artificial Florist. Before her marriage the Balcons lived in Regents Park area, in Cambridge Crescent. A visitor to the area was shocked at the living conditions of this particular street, and adjacent ones, describing the houses as mere huts and hovels, but that some of the residents desperately tried to maintain their dignity in the face of the degradation. One hopes the latter included the Balcons]. In 1871 Celia was living at what appears to be a divided house [4 households] at 32, Netley St., St. Pancras.Though recorded as married Albert is not there and I have failed to find him on this census. He was listed in the Chelsea Pensioners Registers as being admitted and discharged on 3rd May 1880, having been a Private [Regimental No. 79] in the Royal Horse Guards. In 1881 Albert and Celia were living at 34, Cambridge Rd., Willesden, where Albert was a Tobacconist and Celia was an Artificial Florist, an art she had carried on from a young woman, no doubt taught by her father. 1901 saw them living at High Rd., Southgate in Middlesex. Albert now had his own shop, being a Confectioner and Toy Dealer. The couple had no children. Albert died in 1906, registered at Croydon. After his death,  Celia lodged at a 2-room dwelling on the Brighton Rd., South Croydon, where she is shown as Independant, She died in 1917, the death also registered at Croydon.

ALFRED ALEXANDER KEAT(E)S  Alfred's story is given later in this account.

In 1841 the family were living at Watmough Cottages [the census transcription for Keats is 'Kinte'!], Edward Street. St. Pancras, Regents Park; this was District 1 in the City and Borough of Marylebone. The household consisted of parents Edward and Elizabeth, with children Edward, Francis [Joseph Francis], Albert and Alfred and 2 little girls; Emma or Essie aged 18 months, born in 1839 and Ellen aged 1 year, born in 1840. The ages of these 2 girls are too close together, it looks a little odd for them both to be daughters and I believe that Edward listed the girls last, forgetting to add their ages, leaving the enumerator later to put in ages he thought appropriate. They are in fact, Emma Jane and Ellen Elizabeth. Edward is described here as Musician. All of them are marked as having been born outside of Middlesex, though we know that Alfred was. Also in the household were Rebecca (20) and Eliza (10) Martin, both domestic servants. It is not known whether these were employees or lodgers.
In 1851 Edward is missing from the family home at Chalton St., Somers Town, which somewhat overlaps St. Panras. The station is very near. The reason for his absence may become clear when we look at a Birth Certificate of 1848. This is the birth of a baby girl, Emily Jane Nightingale Keates at 8, Tottenham Place, Tottenham, St. Pancras. The father was Edward Keates, a Musician, and the birth was registered by Jane Keates formerly Nightingale. In fact, they were not married of course, because Edward's wife Elizabeth was still alive. But he does seem to have deserted her for Jane because he married her -under her full name of Sarah Jane Nightingale, registered in June quarter [April, May, June] in 1856. There are 2 deaths registered at St. Pancras for an Elizabeth Keates; one in 1853, the other in July quarter 1856.

Edward, Jane and Emily have not been found anywhere in the 1851 Census, but by 1861 they were living in rooms at 5, Hampstead St, St. Pancras. Edward now styled himself a Professor of Music while Jane was an Embroidress. [Jane was born at Windsor, Berkshire, circa 1823. which is probably why Edward knocked a few years off his age in order to appear nearer hers]. There is a death registered at Pancras in 1870 which could be Edward's. Interestingly, rooms in the same house were occupied by Frederick Giorgi and his family. Frederick was a violinist, the son of Augustus Giorgi who was a noted musician and came from a family of ballet dancers in the 18th century.

 George Smith, cousin of Alan, Ivan and Barbara Keats related that his mother, Stella Keats had told of a 'Professor of Music who played for the Queen'.
A letter from a member of the Royal School of Music tells us that Edward was not a member, but goes on to say:
"I have found in a Musical Directory of 1869 under 'Professors - London' --Keates, Ed. (fl.flag.), 5, Hampstead St., Fitzroy Square, London. This means he played the flute and flageolet and probably in the Queen's Band i.e., Queen Victoria. The Royal Family employed their own musicians who also undertook other work such as teaching and concerts. 'Professor' is a self-given title meaning nothing in particular, probably to give emphasis to his abilities as a teacher.
The Windsor Castle Archives confirm that Edward was not an employee of the Royal Household bands, but the Registrar continues:
The Queen [Victoria] frequently employed additional Bands such as Strauss and Weiper for special occasions and very many musicians played before the Queen either as soloists or as ad hoc members of her Private Band. It may well be that your ancestor [Edward] performed before the Queen in this way but unfortunately we do not have a complete record of all such musicians' names".

                                                  ALFRED ALEXANDER KEATES
ALFRED ALEXANDER KEAT(E)S was born at 1/2 past 7pm on September 14th 1838 at 54, Edward St., Saint Pancras in the Sub-district of the Regents Park. E. Keats registered the birth. His father's profession was: Professor of Music. Alfred's baptism has not been found.
Alfred was Edward and Elizabeth's youngest son and it must have hit him hard when his parents separated. Like his father and eldest brother Edward, Alfred also became a Musician. But it's also likely that he worked for the Great Northern Railway [late London and York Railway]. This line incorporated Leeds and Leicester, which was important for our story.
In 1861, we find Alfred married and living with his in-laws at Margaret St., York. In early Spring 1861, Alfred had married Mary Corner, the daughter of John and Margaret Corner. John Corner was a Porter to Silversmiths; Mary was born at Norton, Yorkshire in 1837. There were no children from this marriage and sadly Mary died in 1868, aged only 30.
In 1871, Alfred Keats was boarding at the house of John and Hannah Smith at 8, Cockrofts & Helliwells, Ovenden, Yorkshire. [Ovenden is a village 1 mile from Halifax; it had a railway station, originally on the Halifax and Ovenden Junction Railway line.] Alfred is a Musician and he is described as unmarried though in fact a widower. On October 10th that year Alfred married JULIA HEARD at Halifax Parish Church on October 19th 1871. Apparently, Alfred must have stayed at Wigston Magna before this, where he met Julia. She eloped to marry him, although she was of full age being 24. For some reason, she gave her father's name as John though it was in fact William.  Neighbours who knew Alfred while he was in Wigston described him as 'a gentleman, very elegant and well dressed. A sketch done by George Smith from a photograph taken in London shows Alfred; he does indeed look sophisticated and elegant, with a neat beard and holding a cane. With him are 2 children believed to be Stella and Alan. By contrast, the same neighbours described Julia as 'dowdy'.

                                  
  St. John the Baptist, Parish Church of Halifax, where Edward and Julia were married.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Minster#/media/File:Halifax_Parish_Church.JPG



Their first son was born at Halifax; this was ALRED EDWARD, whose birth was registered there between July and September, 1872. Their second son, FREDERICK WILLIAM, was born at Halifax in the Spring of 1875. Sadly, in the last months of that year they lost Alfred Edward, and the little boy buried at Wigston Magna. Frederick only lived until late 1876, his death was registered at Leeds.
ALLAN JOHN was their third son; he was born at Leeds in Autumn, 1877. MAXWELL Followed, on 25th January, 1879, also at Leeds.
By 1881, the family had moved to Leicester, and here MAY ESTELLA was born in the first months of that year, and ETHEL GORDON in 1885. They were living at 25, Conduit Field Cottages, Framland St., (listed under Keites). Alfred is described as General Agent. In fact, he was a Railway Detective, working for the Midland Railway. 
Tragedy struck the family in 1887; Alfred died on the 6th January, the cause of death being 'albuminurin'. which I think was albuminuria. This referred to protein collecting in the urine; according to Wikipedia: "The kidneys normally do not filter large molecules into the urine, so albuminuria can be an indicator of damage to the kidneys or excessive salt intake. It can also occur in patients with long-standing diabetes, especially type 1 diabetes". his wife, Julia was present at his death, which occurred when they lived at Stoughton Street Cottages. Alfred is buried at Welford Rd Cemetary, in a common grave as there was no money for a proper one. It must have been a terrible year, and a further blow came when young Allan died of TB late that year. He is also buried at Welford Rd. Later members of the family were named Alan in his memory, he must have been a well-loved boy.
A year later, Julia took Maxwell, May, and Ethel to be baptised at St. Peter's, Highfields. They were then living at 5, Stoughton St. In 1891 they had moved, and were now living at Back of 122, Stoughton St., occupying 2 rooms. Julia was employed in Fancy Hosiery Manufacture, while the 3 children were Scholars.
                                                                                                                                    

 MAXWELL KEATS

Max was a chorister at St. James the Greater Church, at one point being solo boy. Around 10 years old, he won a scholarship through the Church to a London Choir School, but there was not enough money to allow him to go. He had a beautiful voice, and also played the piano well - a legacy no doubt from his musical forebears.
When Max was 14 he took a school examination and became a 'half-timer'. This meant that he attended school in the morning, but was free to also take up work. This he did, working for the Midland Railway, delivering goods with a cart. But this wasn't all; Julia, who also stitched gloves, took in washing. It was necessary in those days, there were not benefits like today, and families would do anything to keep out of the Workhouse when hard times came. In the evening, Max  collected the clean, ironed laundry and delivered it to the big houses on London Rd. He then took the next pile of washing back home, for his mother to launder the next day. By these means the family survived, and by 1901 had moved to 104, Earl Howe St. By this time Max and May were Box Makers, (Cardboard), while Ethel was a Dressmaker. I think Max was working at Jane Cox at this time; he had started there as a lad, delivering boxes to customers in a handcart, and ended as her foreman. Miss Cox could apparently be mean; the workers were due a half-day on Saturdays but had to wait for her to dismiss them. She would ignore this, getting an extra hour out of them; one day, Max put the clock on an hour then reminded her. Of course, everyone went home on time, and she never did that to them again!
Maxwell married August 1st., 1908. His bride was MABEL TIMSON and they were wed at the Congregational Chapel in Oxford St., Leicester. Their witnesses were JAMES TIMSON, father of the bride, and Laura Timson, her sister. Max's occupation was Cardboard Box Cutter, and Mabel's was Cardboard Box Maker.
May Estella (Stella) married Charles Smith, a baker's son in 1904.
Max and Mabel went to live at 41, Trafford Rd., a 6-roomed house, and it was here that Max started his cardboard box firm. The 1911 Census shows him as a Cardboard Box Maker (Employer) and listed with them is their first son, little ALAN aged 1 (this was in May, Alan would be 2 on August 27th). Max expanded the business with the help of a loan from Henry Oram, a butcher. Henry's son William (Uncle Will) married Mabel's sister Emily Agnes. The agreement was that Max take another of Henry's sons, Walter, into the firm as a Partner, and thus Keats and Oram was born. They opened a factory at Wood Hill, Leicester, and later opened another at Auburn Rd., Blaby.
In the Spring of 1912 Mabel presented Max with their second son, IVAN MAXWELL, born 26th December, 1911. The same year, Max's sister Ethel married Frederick Brookes [Uncle Fred]. Ethel and Fred acted and sang light opera, such as Gilbert and Sullivan, on stage].
Two years later the Great War began. Max did not join up until after 1915; we know this because he was not awarded the Star. He joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner, his service number being 154940. Uk WW1 Medal and Award Rolls [Ancestry] states that he was in 450 Sge. Battery. With help from Rootschat members, Brentnor boy and Max D, I was able to establish that Maxwell was mobilised in mid-1917, and the 450th. joined 67 Heavy Artillery Group (67 Brigade RGA) becoming Army Troops in Jan 1917. This fits, as I have a photo of Maxwell in uniform sitting next to Mabel, who has a few months old Barbara [born 23rd March] on her lap

.67th Siege Bty transferred to 42nd HAG in Fifth Army in the Ypres Salient on 19 May. It was then made up to six howitzers and was joined in June by the personnel of a section from newly-arrived 318th Siege Bty. This battery had been formed at Prees Heath Camp the previous December but the men had trained on 6-inch howitzers.^[7][11][24] On 29 June the expanded battery switched to 99th HAG in Second Army as Second and Fifth Armies prepared for the forthcoming Third Ypres Offensive. Second Army's role was to provide flank support, but as the campaign bogged down it took over direction of the battle in September. The Battles of the Menin Road, Polygon Wood and Broodseinde were highly successful because of the weight of artillery brought to bear on German positions. But as the offensive continued with the Poelcappelle and First and Second Battles of Passchendaele, the tables were turned: British batteries were clearly observable from the Passchendaele Ridge and were subjected to CB fire, while their own guns sank into the mud and became difficult to aim and fire.^{[7][11][25][26][27]} 67th Siege Bty had been with 16th HAG from 29 September, then with 1st Canadian HAG from 24 October, supporting the Canadian Corps at Passchendaele to the end of the fighting. [Wikipedia]

So it seems that the 'big battle' was Passchendaele. I was told that Max joined the Royal Corps of Signals in 1917, but they were not formed until 1920. There is no doubt though that Max was in Signals, and was involved in one of the big battles of WW1; he possessed 2 dog-tags, with 2 different numbers, I believe Peter Keats has these now. Sadly, his service records do not seem to have survived, but we know from the Medal Roll that he earned the British Medal and the Victory Medal, honours given those soldiers who saw action overseas between 1914 and 1918.

In 1939, Max, Mabel and daughter Barbara were living at 26, Hazelwood Road. The family had beenn living at 288, Uppingham Road, which Max had bought when it was built, but Mabel had a weak heart so they moved to the bungalow and rented out the house, which was in Mabel's name. Maxwell died in 1964 at Leicester Royal Infirmary and is buried at Gilroes with his beloved Mabel, who died in 1941.

ALAN KEATS

Alan, the eldest son of Max and Mabel, was born on 27th July, 1909 at Causeway Lane Lying-In Hospital in Leicester. As a small boy, with his younger brother Ivan, he loved gazing in thetoy shop window at Christmas time as there was a model railway set up in the  steamed-up window. Alan had a life-long love of steam trains, making 3 beautiful scale models when he was older.
While still a lad he wished for a pair of clogs like his friends wore, but his mother told him only street urchins wore them, so he went without. He remembered gas lighting at home, when his Mam would swear if the mantle burned out. "Bother" was her strongest oath!
As a teenager, Alan played football with the neighbourhood boys, and remembered the Italian ice-cream man who came to the park on his bicycle; he would accept foreign coins, and the boys had those as their dads had returned from war in foreign parts.
When he was old enough, Alan was apprenticed to Gents, the precision engineers, and would have gone far. However, Max had earmarked Ivan to follow him in the family business but Ivan wished to open a cycle shop of his own, so Aln was instructed to leave Gents and join the firm. I don't think Alan wanted this, but he was a dutiful son and with John Oram ran the Blaby factory until it was sold and Alan retired.
Alan was a musician too, playing clarinet, alto-sax and violin at gigs all round Leicester and beyond. It was at one of these that he caught the eye of Mavis Mary Roe who, at 16 years old, declared to her mother that she was going to marry Alan Keats - Alan of course knew nothing of this!
Alan had a motorbike which he raced; on this occasion he had lent it to a friend at the track, who altered it somehow to go faster. Riding it on the way home, Alan and Mavis had an accident as the controls were mis-set. A posh car passed and the chauffeur got out to help; the lady owner took the pair to the nearest doctor. Alan proposed in the waiting room saying "If we were married I could come in with you". They were married on 23rd July 1936 at St Marys, Humberstone, and honeymooned at Bournemouth.
They rented their first home from Mavis's parents, 19, Greenland Avenue, New Humberstone, where on 29th March 1938 their son Peter Alan was born. Their daughter, Susan Mary, followed, being born on 23rd December 1942 at Fielding Johnson Hospital in Leicester.
Alan was given 6 months after her birth before being called up i 1943. He joined the Fleet Air Arm, but an opportunity arose to join the RAF. After training, he became part of the Ground Crew, servicing and repairing Mosquitos which flew as Pathfinders.
After the war, Blaby factory had to be re-started as it had been requisitioned by the War Office. Alan was in charge of buying and maintaing the machines and getting customers, old and new back, who died in 1941.
After his mother died, Alan bought the family home at 288, Uppingham Road, but they could not move in as there was a tenant. So for a year the family lived in Queniborough Road in Leicester before being able to move into No. 288. Here was where Alan had passed his teenage years as Max had bought the house when it was built. It had a big garden, and Alan had a sizeable vegetable patch, and a large greenhouse where he grew tomatoes, chrysanthemums, carnations and dahlias.