Many thanks to John Berry for additional details on this family.
Jonathan Hazell contacted me with a missing relative, which I have now added to the family, many thanks
In February 2000 after my adopted parents had both died, I decided to try and found out about my natural parents. With the help of the internet and by putting my birth surname of Tolliss into google. Another Tolliss was selling his car at the time so I contacted him with a carefully worded email. This distant cousin told me I had a 1st cousin who lived in Australia and he contacted him on my behalf. Hence I saw the first pictures of my mother. There was no fathers name on the birth certificate and as no-one in the family knew about me, there is little chance of finding out about him. However the information from these 2 people, who welcomed this stranger into their family, fed my desire to find out more about my new family.
The Tolliss name can be spelt with one S or two according to whomever was recording the event at the time. The family in the UK has included occupations ranging from Farm Labourers to Doctors. Where I have the most information is in the 19th century. The Tolliss family inhabited the East London area. Two generations worked in the Silk Industry and Brushmaking . It is in the mid 19th century, when part of the Tolliss family moved from London to Birmingham and diversified into different occupations. I believe I have found more members of the family in Norfolk, spelt with one S. The appearance of Rodwell as a first name occurs in 1749 in New Buckenham.
My Grandfather Frederick was a Grocer. He moved to Brighton from London where he met his wife Florence. They had three children and emigrated to Durban, South Africa, but returned a few years later to London and eventually separated. My Grandfather returned to Durban with his two sons Eric and Guy known as Jack and also his sister in law Emma Guy. My Grandmother and her daughter stayed in London. The daughter Lilian (my mother) was an actress, stage name Zetta Morenta and her greatest claim to fame was acting as a double for Gracie Fields in 3 of her films. Sing as you Go 1934, Look Up and Laugh 1935 and Queen of Hearts 1936. She also appeared on the stage in London and the provinces. Some photos of her appear in the gallery. I have also found online Zettas name mentioned as part of variety acts at the Alhambra, Leicester Sq and the Coliseum Theatres through the years 1925-1930
One of the reasons for them emigrating to South Africa was Ellen Louise (Fredericks sister) marriage to Harry D'Urban Holmes Crozier who was born in Durban. Ellen and Harry divorced in 1900. Harry went on to remarry twice more. Harrys father was a solicitor and grandfather a ship owner/master mariner.
My Great Grandfather James was a traveller, trading in the silk industry. His wife Louisa Sophia Clark was a fourth generation descendant of Lewis Berger the paint manufacturer. Lewis was a subject of a colourful 'biography' written by Jeffrey Farnol in the 1920s called a “Portrait of a Gentleman in Colours”. It tells of Lewis's move to London in 1760 from Frankfurt and his endeavour in making the colour Prussian Blue a marketable commodity. Originally named Louis Steigenberger he simplified his name to Lewis Berger in about 1766. Also marrying Elizabeth Alger shortly afterwards. A more detailed biography was called “A Century and a Half of Berger”, written by Lewis Berger's Gt Gt Grandson Thomas Brereton Berger. A photo of Richmond house that Thomas lived in is in the gallery.
Circa 1780 Lewis & Elizabeth moved from the Shadwell/Ratcliff area of London to nearby Homerton. There they found a house and he built his factory. He made 12 dry colour pigments by 1790, increasing them by 7 more, also selling black lead, sulphur, sealing wax and mustard. In 1785 they opened offices at Well Court in Cheapside. It is believed the Doulton factory in Lambeth also purchased some of his paints for decorating their pottery.
Link to Berger Paint employees reunion page
Thanks to John Cain for sending me the above information.
Link to Bergerpaints website www.bergerpaints.com
Lewis Berger appeared at the Old Bailey as a victim of theft on 3 occasions, below are the links to the relevant pages.1. RICHARD SHARPLIN, THOMAS RICE, theft: simple grand larceny, 03/06/1778. 2. FIDELY MILLARD, ELEANOR SANDERSON, theft: burglary, receiving stolen goods, 13/09/1780. 3. SAMUEL JACKSON, theft: burglary, 11 May 1796.
The family tree contains all the names that I know of with the Berger connection. Also some pictures of the Berger family and the houses etc are in the gallery. Also in the gallery there are pictures of the extended Berger family.
I have tried to find out more on the Guy side of the family that being my Grandmothers maiden name.
I met a 2nd cousin on that side who has furnished me with new photos of my mother, plus some of my grandmother, her siblings and her parents and their extended family. He also met my mother in the 1930s (she had 2 whippets) and backstage in London in 1948, when she was appearing in the West End in The Perfect Woman at the Haymarket theatre.
I have also met a very distant cousin with the Guy surname, our connection goes back 10 generations.
In 2005, I have extended the Clark family as Henry Clark (Gt Gt Gt Grandfather) who married firstly Louisa Berger, who died soon after the birth of her second son, married secondly Mary Stewart and had 11 more children.
I went to Newnham, Kent and found Henry Clarks grave, (picture in the gallery).
I am also working on the Stokes side of the family that married into the Pamphilon and Guenigault family, making new contacts with both Pamphilon and Guenigault members. There is a photo of Adolphus Stokes grave in the gallery. I have also had a great amount of information supplied by the Sharp side of the Berger family.
In 2009 I flew to Australia to meet my first cousin and his wife there. I went back in 2015 and saw them again. They have been pleased that I have contacted them and added information about our family. I also met and stayed with more distant cousins on the Tolliss side.
It has been a rewarding and pleasurable experience that all the new family members I have met are friendly and helpful. A big thank you to all the family, near and extended that have helped the tree to grow.
Acknowledgments
Grateful thanks to the following members of the Berger, Tolliss, Clark, Guy and related families in helping me with my research
Robert Tolliss, Anthony Tolliss, Dawn Pinfield, Tessa King (SA),Perry Miles, Olive P Sharp, Ian Herbert, Pat Barnes, Margaret Kyle, Deryck Skinner, Chrissie Gee, Philippa Wilks, Penny Morgan, Laraine Hake, Ruth Taylor, Sue Donlea, Derek Lemarchand, John Ablitt and Margaret Scott.
John K Clark, David K Ballance, Peter Guy, Richard Lloyd, Alan Edwards, Jane Hughes, Garry Williams, James Couzens, Richard Pailthorpe, Kimberly McDonnell, Fiona Shaw, Mike Spence, Shirley Rowe, Christopher Thomson, Alastair Honeybun, Charlie Mackie, Adrian Wright, Margaret Castell, Mark Stevens, Margaret Parkes, Jan Ward, David Eustace, Robert Tompsett, Tony Kirkman, Ann Peters, Amanda Kilmister, Robin Griffiths, Valerie Ward, Martin Mitchell, Rob Trulock and Garth Houltham.
51.4%
48.6%
Most common surnames
Record | NAME | Date | DATE | ANNIV | Event | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marjorie Frances QUILTER | QUILTER,Marjorie Frances | 17 February 2002 | 0 | 17 | 17 | Death |
Richard Chamberlain GATES | GATES,Richard Chamberlain | 17 February 1988 | 1 | 31 | 31 | Death |
Edith TIPPER | TIPPER,Edith | 17 February 1984 | 2 | 35 | 35 | Death |
Amelia Eleanor ‘Minnie’ HILDERSLEY | HILDERSLEY,Amelia Eleanor | 17 February 1984 | 3 | 35 | 35 | Death |
Mary Blanche FREND | FREND,Mary Blanche | 17 February 1975 | 4 | 44 | 44 | Death |
Kathleen HOLE | HOLE,Kathleen | 17 February 1975 | 5 | 44 | 44 | Death |
Eric Barry HARRISON | HARRISON,Eric Barry | 17 February 1963 | 6 | 56 | 56 | Death |
Mary Caroline EDMESTON | EDMESTON,Mary Caroline | 17 February 1962 | 7 | 57 | 57 | Death |
John Bruce BALLARD | BALLARD,John Bruce | 17 February 1961 | 8 | 58 | 58 | Death |
Rita Mary CROZIER | CROZIER,Rita Mary | 17 February 1960 | 9 | 59 | 59 | Death |
Richard Marriott DODINGTON | DODINGTON,Richard Marriott | 17 February 1949 | 10 | 70 | 70 | Death |
Thomas Fraser Homer DIXON | DIXON,Thomas Fraser Homer | 17 February 1948 | 11 | 71 | 71 | Death |
Jessie Ann TOLLISS | TOLLISS,Jessie Ann | 17 February 1948 | 12 | 71 | 71 | Death |
Editha Caroline (Edythe) SAUNDERS | SAUNDERS,Editha Caroline (Edythe) | 17 February 1942 | 13 | 77 | 77 | Death |
Amy Ethel NORRIS-JONES | NORRIS-JONES,Amy Ethel | 17 February 1941 | 14 | 78 | 78 | Death |
Isabella Louisa DANIELL | DANIELL,Isabella Louisa | 17 February 1937 | 15 | 82 | 82 | Death |
Frank Watts PAICE | PAICE,Frank Watts | 17 February 1932 | 16 | 87 | 87 | Death |
Charles Ross HALL | HALL,Charles Ross | 17 February 1923 | 17 | 96 | 96 | Death |
Walter Osborne GACE | GACE,Walter Osborne | 17 February 1918 | 18 | 101 | 101 | Death |
Canon John Hugh WAY | WAY,John Hugh | 17 February 1912 | 19 | 107 | 107 | Death |
Ulysses LATREILLE | LATREILLE,Ulysses | 17 February 1911 | 20 | 108 | 108 | Death |
Mary Ann HORTON | HORTON,Mary Ann | 17 February 1910 | 21 | 109 | 109 | Death |
Winifred Grace CARR | CARR,Winifred Grace | 17 February 1906 | 22 | 113 | 113 | Birth |
Culliford BARROW | BARROW,Culliford | 17 February 1906 | 23 | 113 | 113 | Death |
Col Lawrence HEYWORTH | HEYWORTH,Lawrence | 17 February 1903 | 24 | 116 | 116 | Death |
Donal O'Sullivan CONNOLLY | CONNOLLY,Donal O'Sullivan | 17 February 1902 | 25 | 117 | 117 | Birth |
Alice Maud GUENIGAULT | GUENIGAULT,Alice Maud | 17 February 1901 | 26 | 118 | 118 | Birth |
Gilbert Janes RAY | RAY,Gilbert Janes | 17 February 1900 | 27 | 119 | 119 | Birth |
Frederick Randall ORAM | ORAM,Frederick Randall | 17 February 1894 | 28 | 125 | 125 | Death |
Annie Catherine HALL | HALL,Annie Catherine | 17 February 1892 | 29 | 127 | 127 | Birth |
Evelyn Hall WELD | WELD,Evelyn Hall | 17 February 1889 | 30 | 130 | 130 | Birth |
Charles Loyd NORMAN | NORMAN,Charles Loyd | 17 February 1889 | 31 | 130 | 130 | Death |
Janet McPhail MUNDELL | MUNDELL,Janet McPhail | 17 February 1886 | 32 | 133 | 133 | Birth |
Hannah BEAVEN | BEAVEN,Hannah | 17 February 1882 | 33 | 137 | 137 | Death |
Arthur Leon MILLS | MILLS,Arthur Leon | 17 February 1882 | 34 | 137 | 137 | Birth |
Frances RIVERS | RIVERS,Frances | 17 February 1877 | 35 | 142 | 142 | Death |
Walter Lionel BLACKMAN | BLACKMAN,Walter Lionel | 17 February 1876 | 36 | 143 | 143 | Birth |
Frederick Hugo FLAMANK | FLAMANK,Frederick Hugo | 17 February 1873 | 37 | 146 | 146 | Birth |
Rev George Dempster MUDIE | MUDIE,George Dempster | 17 February 1871 | 38 | 148 | 148 | Death |
Sylvanus GRIMES | GRIMES,Sylvanus | 17 February 1863 | 39 | 156 | 156 | Death |
Florence Caroline Frances LONG | LONG,Florence Caroline Frances | 17 February 1862 | 40 | 157 | 157 | Birth |
James Harrington NOEL | NOEL,James Harrington | 17 February 1861 | 41 | 158 | 158 | Birth |
Eliza VOKINS | VOKINS,Eliza | 17 February 1849 | 42 | 170 | 170 | Birth |
Irving Frederick DE ROUGEMONT | ROUGEMONT,Irving Frederick | 17 February 1828 | 43 | 191 | 191 | Birth |
George HEUDEBOURCK | HEUDEBOURCK,George | 17 February 1818 | 44 | 201 | 201 | Birth |
Alice CLARKE | CLARKE,Alice | 17 February 1807 | 45 | 212 | 212 | Birth |
William Campbell ONSLOW | ONSLOW,William Campbell | 17 February 1806 | 46 | 213 | 213 | Birth |
John Irvine GLENNIE | GLENNIE,John Irvine | 17 February 1796 | 47 | 223 | 223 | Birth |
John EDMESTON | EDMESTON,John | 17 February 1793 | 48 | 226 | 226 | Birth |
Sarah TOLLISS | TOLLISS,Sarah | 17 February 1787 | 49 | 232 | 232 | Birth |
Henry MILES | MILES,Henry | 17 February 1787 | 50 | 232 | 232 | Birth |
Isabella RAYNER | RAYNER,Isabella | 17 February 1770 | 51 | 249 | 249 | Birth |
William Allan Tristram GETHIN + Nancy Ruth MACGEORGE | GETHIN,William Allan Tristram + MACGEORGE,Nancy Ruth | 17 February 1937 | 52 | 82 | 82 | Marriage |
Harvey St John Oscar THOMPSON + Lilian Mary STEINMETZ | THOMPSON,Harvey St John Oscar + STEINMETZ,Lilian Mary | 17 February 1887 | 53 | 132 | 132 | Marriage |
Thomas APPLEYARD + Selina GREEN | APPLEYARD,Thomas + GREEN,Selina | 17 February 1874 | 54 | 145 | 145 | Marriage |
Robert NELSON + Harriet MULLINEUX | NELSON,Robert + MULLINEUX,Harriet | 17 February 1868 | 55 | 151 | 151 | Marriage |
Thomas Fraser SANDEMAN + Laura WAKEFIELD | SANDEMAN,Thomas Fraser + WAKEFIELD,Laura | 17 February 1855 | 56 | 164 | 164 | Marriage |
Sir Claudius Stephen Paul HUNTER + Constance BOSANQUET | HUNTER,Claudius Stephen Paul + BOSANQUET,Constance | 17 February 1852 | 57 | 167 | 167 | Marriage |
John Myrie HOLL + Mary SMART | HOLL,John Myrie + SMART,Mary | 17 February 1816 | 58 | 203 | 203 | Marriage |
Edward MARSH + Mary COOK | MARSH,Edward + COOK,Mary | 17 February 1734 | 59 | 285 | 285 | Marriage |
Record | Last change | by | DATE | SORTNAME | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laura Crichton MARCH | 17 February 2019 - 14:16:54 | jackie | 1550413014 | MARCH,Laura Crichton | |
Ella Margaret MARCH | 17 February 2019 - 14:12:49 | jackie | 1550412769 | MARCH,Ella Margaret | |
Arthur John ROWE-THORNETT | 17 February 2019 - 14:11:26 | jackie | 1550412686 | ROWE-THORNETT,Arthur John | |
Arthur John ROWE-THORNETT + Christian … | 17 February 2019 - 14:07:51 | jackie | 1550412471 | ROWE-THORNETT,Arthur John + @N.N.,Christian | |
Christian … | 17 February 2019 - 14:07:33 | jackie | 1550412453 | @N.N.,Christian | |
Arthur John ROWE-THORNETT + Ella Margaret MARCH | 17 February 2019 - 13:57:51 | jackie | 1550411871 | ROWE-THORNETT,Arthur John + MARCH,Ella Margaret | |
Emilie Jane MOLLWO | 17 February 2019 - 13:51:39 | jackie | 1550411499 | MOLLWO,Emilie Jane | |
Eliza Josephine MARCH | 17 February 2019 - 13:48:48 | jackie | 1550411328 | MARCH,Eliza Josephine | |
Guy Cecil BURNAND | 17 February 2019 - 13:36:07 | jackie | 1550410567 | BURNAND,Guy Cecil | |
Guy Cecil BURNAND + Victoria Wicks CADWELL | 17 February 2019 - 13:35:53 | jackie | 1550410553 | BURNAND,Guy Cecil + CADWELL,Victoria Wicks | |
Victoria Wicks CADWELL | 17 February 2019 - 13:34:10 | jackie | 1550410450 | CADWELL,Victoria Wicks | |
Donald Alfred BURNAND | 17 February 2019 - 13:20:04 | jackie | 1550409604 | BURNAND,Donald Alfred | |
Etheldreda Clara BURNAND | 17 February 2019 - 12:27:14 | jackie | 1550406434 | BURNAND,Etheldreda Clara | |
Philip Victor BURNAND | 17 February 2019 - 12:26:06 | jackie | 1550406366 | BURNAND,Philip Victor | |
Sir Francis Cowley BURNAND + Dame Rosina RANOR | 17 February 2019 - 12:22:16 | jackie | 1550406136 | BURNAND,Francis Cowley + RANOR,Rosina | |
Mary Julitta BURNAND | 17 February 2019 - 12:22:16 | jackie | 1550406136 | BURNAND,Mary Julitta | |
Cuthbert Cowley BURNAND | 17 February 2019 - 12:16:15 | jackie | 1550405775 | BURNAND,Cuthbert Cowley | |
Henry SMART | 14 February 2019 - 16:35:14 | jackie | 1550162114 | SMART,Henry | |
John BECKTON | 14 February 2019 - 10:56:28 | jackie | 1550141788 | BECKTON,John |