Family of George CHESHER and Elizabeth WHITTON

Marriage Certificate Albert HW Keetch/Rachel Cheshire, (No.475 Parish of St.Mary Newington, Surrey).

St.Peters Church Walworth 10th January 1870 after banns

Albert Henry Webster Keetch,26,Bachelor,Soldier, Grain Co.of Kent '

f.James Webster Keetch, Engine Driver

Rachel Cheshire,22,Spinster,13Henshaw Street

f.George Cheshire (deceased) Bricklayer

Wits: John Gurr & Sarah Ann Keetch

1861 Census England. RG9/326 f61 p25.

George Chesher,Head,Mar,M,39,Bricklayer,Newington, London,

Elizabeth Chesher,Wife,Mar,F,37,,Bermondsey, London,

Thomas H Chesher,Son,Unm,M,16,Butcher,Bermondsey, London,

Rachel Elizabeth Cheshire,Daughter,Unm,F,12,Servant,Bethnal Green, London,

George W Chesher,Son,Unm,M,10,Scholar,Bermondsey, London,

William R Chesher,Son,Unm,M,8,Scholar,Bethnal Green, London,

John C Chesher,Son,Unm,M,6,Scholar,Bermondsey, London,

Sarah A Chesher,Daughter,Unm,F,3,Scholar,Bermondsey, London,

Elizabeth Chesher,Daughter,Unm,F,6m,,Bermondsey, London,

Albert Henry Webster Keetch letter. held by Ken Keetch, Perth

Western Australia.

Maiƒs Sarah A Keetch

No.7 Sunderland Terrace

Westbourne Park, London, England

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No 764 Lanc Corp Drummer A.H.W.Keetch

H.M. 34th Regiment

Ranikhet

East India

31st May 1877

My Dear Sister Sarah,

I now sit down to write these few lines to you hoping

you are in good health as I am very proud to be able to tell you

that myself, wife and little son Harry are in perfect good health at

present. I was quite surprised when I received your letter as it

was some years past since I heard from you before. I wrote letters

to my father and to Polly when I first came into this country and

neither of them has answered my letters - I know they received them

because you spoke of the Sodawater machine in your letter. When

you see any of them, you can tell them that they might just find

one hour over a sheet of note to us, so that we may know if they

are living or not. I must tell you that Liz has been very ill,

she was in hospital for a very long time, and I never expected

that she would come out alive - but praise be to God she did get

out all right - she gave birth of a daughter on the 14th of last

January - it was such a sweet pretty little thing - but I am sorry

to say that she only lived 7 weeks - her name was "Mabel

Lucretia" - I’ve only just arrived at Ranikhet from Ferozipore -

We are sent up here for the good of our health - its a funny

looking place - on the top of mountains - its nearly like England

as regards the weather - we can sit at our door and see the snow

mountains about 30 miles away - plenty of wild bears prowling

about our doors at night looking for food - the other night I

was sitting smoking my pipe at the door, when a Jackall

came and put his nose into my door. Some nights I cant get

to sleep for the howling of them through the night.

Dear sister the first time you see John Gurr you

can tell him I will send him a few lines, as you have sent

me his address and I know where to write to him. I suppose

he has got a large family by this time -let me think - he

had two alive when I last saw him in 1872 - and I think

I heard from some one that they had got another before I left

Ireland to come out to India - I have buried two since I was

at home among you - my first (Little Alfred) in the Curragh

Camp in 1873 -and the little girl in Ferozepore this year -

and I have my second little boy (Henry James Webster) still

alive, he was 3 years old on the 21st of January last - please

give our kind love to father and mother when you see them, and

dont forget to send me their address so that I may send them

a few lines. Also give our love to my sister Polly and John

and we hope that all their little ones are well, and hope that

John is doing well - and remember us to all who inquire

after us - and above all I want for you to try and find out

(if you can) where Lizes sister Sarah is, for she would very

much like to hear from her - so some day you get out just

see what you can do finding out her address. If all

goes well, and we are spared to live so long - we shall

be home in England again in 5 years time - you will see

me then with a Good Conduct medal on my breast and 4 good

conduct stripes on my arm - I must now come to a close

Old Maid for this time hoping you are still in good health.

Oh! before I forget - give my kind love to Mrs Woodhouse

and if you dont mind you can send me her address.

So now I will conclude by asking of you to write as

soon as you can about everybody.

Once more good bye for the present

From your ever affectionate brother and sister

Lc Corpl Drummer A. H. W. Keetch

1891 Census England. RG12/416 f120. Cit. Date: 5 April 1891.

Albert H.W.Keetch head mar 46 Insurance Agent Somerset

Rae E.Keetch wife mar 43 London

Henry Keetch son unm 17 Clerk Dublin

Jane E Keetch dau 12 East India

Albert J.Keetch son 9 Calcutta

Arthur T Keetch son 5 London

Ernest J.B.Keetch son 2 London

1901 Census England. RG13/433 f108. Cit. Date: 31 March 1901.

Albert H W Keetch head mar 58 Insurance Agent Taunton

Rachel E Keetch wife mar 54 Counter Asst. Bermondsey

Jane E Keetch dau unm 23 Counter Asst Bengal

Albert JWD Keetch son unm 20 Shop Asst Bengal

Arthur T Keetch son unm 16 Shop Asst Walworth

Ernest JB Keetch son 13 Brixton

Elizabeth LA Reeves adopted dau unm 22 Shop Asst Brixton

Ibid.

1911 Census England. 9 Millbrook Road. Cit. Date: 2 April 1911.

Census 1911 Brixton, London

9 Millbrook Road

RG14 Lambeth district 26

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Keetch Albert HW Head Mar 67 Army Pensioner/ Assurance Agent Taunton

Keetch Rachel E Wife Mar(41yrs) 63 Bermondsey

Keetch Albert JWD Son S 29 Assistant Dum Dum, Bengal, India

Keetch Arthur T Son S 25 Clerk Account Sweets Kent Rd, London

Keetch Ernest JB Son S 22 Assistant Books and Music Brixton

Bidwell Harry J Boarder S 21 Manager provisions Kennington

Bidwell May R Boarfer S 18 Waitress Brixton

Harding Cecil F Gson 4 Brixton