HADFIELD William James 1865-1907 and Lydia Martha Ellis JEFFRIES, died 1942, married 1882

03. August 2017 6 images Share: , , Album RSS
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The son of William and Eliza Hadfield, William James, Jr. was born on the 3rd April 1852. He is known to have been an organ builder in Cape Town in 1877, and between then and 1899 he erected at least three or four organs by Hill (one of the most famous British builders) and thirteen by Conacher of Huddersfield in Yorkshire. In other words, he acted as a sort of agent, who could put together and finish an imported organ in South Africa without the builders having to send their own staff on a world tour by steamship

William was married to Lydia Martha Ellis Jeffries and they had three children, two daughters and a son. Details of Hadfield’s son, William and/or descendants are unknown. The second daughter Cecilia never married and became a hospital matron.

The eldest daughter married John Henry Thomas and they had four children including a daughter, Gladys (still residing in Cape Town). Gladys married Norman Kent and they had three children, Denzil (who now lives in Australia), Mervyn and Norma (who both live in South Africa).

Hadfield returned to the UK and died in Leyton, Essex on the 7th November 1903. He was buried in London's Highgate Cemetery in the same grave as his parents. Alaine Kent, December 2007.

Surnames mentioned: HADFIELD - JEFFRIES - THOMAS - KENT - HAWKER - YORKE
Organised and photographed by: Alaine Kent
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