Frances Ursula Makepeace (Greswolde-Williams) Billyard-Leake (1906)

Born 1906 in Bromyard, Herefordshire, England

Ancestors

Wife of Charles Robert Billyard-Leake MC — married 1924 in St George Hanover Square, Middlesex, England

Died [date unknown] in Eastern Cape, South Africa

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Dave Roberts [send private message]

Biography

Frances Ursula Makepeace Greswolde-Williams was born in 1906 at Bromyard, Hereford, England. She was the daughter of Francis William Greswolde-Williams and Anna Louis Ross.^[1]

Frances Ursula Makepeace Greswolde-Williams married Charles Robert Billyard-Leake in 1924 at St George Hanover Square, London, England.^[2]

Frances and Charles Billyard-Leake had 2 daughters.

1. Sarah E Ann Billyard-Leake b. 1925
2. Letitia Louise Billyard-Leake b. 1929

Early in her life Frances emigrated with her parents and siblings to Kenya. Her father F.W. Greswolde-Williams built up a large property in the Rift Valley region where a number of colonial pioneers settled. Frances became a well known big game hunter, having shot her first lion at the age of 12.

After her marriage to Charles, and with both daughters in tow, they made their way to Australia to live on and manage the property called "Kenyu" near Boorowa, New South Wales, Australia, which was owned by Charles' father. Seven months later, they emigrated yet again, but this time, it was back to her father's property in Kenya where the family settled.^{[3] [4]}

Frances and Charles established a good life in Kenya, but still maintained their strong links with the establishment back home; "The Telegraph", Brisbane, Wednesday 28th December 1938.

Host to the Duke

In the course of their visit to Kenya, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester have been staying with Mr. and Mrs. Charles Billyard-Leake at their house, Escarpment, which has one of the finest views in Kenya (says the London "Evening Standard"). Mr. Billyard-Leake belongs to a wealthy Australian sheep farming family. He is the brother of Commander E. W. Billyard-Leake, one of the heroes of Zeebrugge, who attended the Prince of Wales during his world tour in the Renown. He married, the daughter of the late Mr. Frank Greswolde-Wiliiams, a pioneer among Kenya settlers, and together they run one of the largest training stables in the colony.

Caged Guests

Mrs- Billyard-Leake has spent most of her life in Kenya, where she shot her first buffalo at the age of nine. Her home adjoins that of her father, who reversed the normal zoological process by building a large cage from which his guests at night could watch lions and other wild animals prowling in the bush.^[5]

Reference Notes

Before the merge, one profile had her birth place as Bredenbury Court, Bredenbury, presumably based on a known place of residence of the parents. The birth registration is at nearby Bromyard, Herefordshire so I have gone with this.

Sources

1. ↑ UK FreeBMD Births Mar qtr 1906 Bromyard, Frances Ursula Makepiece Greswolde-Williams Vol 6a Page 529; [1] Accessed 17 Mar 2020.
2. ↑ "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch [2] 8 October 2014, Frances U M Greswolde-Williams and null, 1924; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005," database, findmypast [3] 2012; citing 1924, quarter 1, vol. 1A, p. 648, St. George Hanover Square, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England. Accessed 14 Mar 2020.
3. ↑ "The Sydney Morning Herald" (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Fri 30 Aug 1929 Page 10 Captain Billyard-Leake [4] Accessed 10 Mar 2020.
4. ↑ " Sunday Times" (Sydney, NSW : 1895 - 1930) Sun 2 Mar 1930 Page 15; NLA trove newspapers [5] Accessed 13 Mar 2020.
5. ↑ "The Telegraph" (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947) Wed 28 Dec 1938 Page 7 Host to the Duke; NLA trove newspapers [6] Accessed 14 Mar 2020.