Catherine Caroline (Berry) Way (1875 - abt. 1962)

Born 13 Nov 1875 in Modderrivier, Cape Colony, South Africa

Ancestors

Wife of Edward John Way — married 28 Dec 1893 (to 16 Jan 1909) in Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa

Died about 1962 at about age 86 in Isle of Wight, Hampshire, England [uncertain]

Katrina Carolina (Berry) Way has South African Roots Join: South African Roots Project Discuss: SOUTH_AFRICAN_ROOTS

Biography

Katrina Carolina (Berry) Way is genealogies verbind aan Suid Afrika /is genealogically connected to South Africa

Birth

Name: Catherina Carolina Berry^[1][2]

Kitty was born in her father's hotel at the junction of the Riet and Modder rivers, about 40km south of Kimberley. The family later moved to Klerksdorp where her father died when she was not quite 14 years old.

In 1893 she met and married Edward Way, a mining engineer nine years her senior. At some stage, he became a manager and they moved to Johannesburg.

Kitty Way visited England in 1905 and was lionized.

• "... this year the only lady champion will be Mrs. Kitty Way, from South Africa. In her own country her reputation is great, she being known there as a fearless horsewoman and fine shot" ^[3]
• "... and one lady shot, whose prowess is said to be marvellous. She is Mrs. Kitty Way. of Johannesburg, and is the wife of a general manager of a group of mines in the vicinity of that city." ^[4]
• "Mrs. Kitty Way, the wife of a general manager of mines in South Africa, has been demonstrating what a lady can do with the rifle ..." ^[5]

Three and a half years later, she wanted more of the same. She divorced her husband, extracting a passage to England as part of the settlement. The British press did not disappoint.

• "It is said that a very daring and smart markswoman from Johannesburg, Mrs. Kitty Way, is to visit Bisley again this year. A few years ago this lady was an interesting figure at the targets, for she shot splendidly ..."^[6]

She then embarked on a career as a singer and dancer. ^[7]

In 1911, she was living in a suburb of Brighton in England.

In 1914, she instructed her lawyer in Johannesburg to sue her ex-husband who had been reducing his alimony payments, and in 1916 a settlement seems to have been negotiated.

In 1927, a certain "Miss Kitty Way" shared a stage in Perth, Australia, with some other music-hall artists.^[8] Perhaps this was our Kitty.

After that, she left no paper trace until the death of the 87-year old Catherine Way was registered in 1962. If this Catherine was our Kitty, she had a long and eventful life.

Sources

British newspaper extracts courtesy of https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk.

1. ↑ Source:
   • "South Africa, Transvaal, Probate Records from the Master of the Supreme Court, 1869-1958," database with images, FamilySearch Death notice of father Theunis Hermanus Berry 18 Aug 1889: 14 February 2019, 007805511 > image 615 of 1029; Pietermaritzburg Archives (formerly Natal State Archives), South Africa. Seen and entered July 7 2023 by Desireé Erasmus
2. ↑ Source:
   • "South Africa, Transvaal, Probate Records from the Master of the Supreme Court, 1869-1958," database with images, FamilySearch Death notice of mother Catharina Johanna Scheepers 9 May 1914: 6 April 2020, 007805976 > image 1313 of 1541; Pietermaritzburg Archives (formerly Natal State Archives), South Africa. Seen and entered July 7 2023 by Desireé Erasmus
3. ↑ London Daily News, 10 Jul 1905
4. ↑ Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser, 12 July 1905; Preston Herald, 15 Jul 1905
5. ↑ Walsall Advertiser, 22 July 1905
6. ↑ Banbury Advertiser, 22 July 1909; Hendon & Finchley Times, 23 July 1909; and at least three other papers
7. ↑ Family tradition, supported by various brief items ("solo 'Good-bye, Mavourneen', Miss Kitty Way" etc.) in newspapers in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. These no longer refer to her as "from Johannesburg" or as the wife of a mining manager, and may therefore refer to someone else of the same name.
8. ↑ The West Australian, 17 August 1927: "EMPIRE NEW THEATRE, WEST LEEDERVILLE. TO-NIGHT. Big Charity Night In Aid of Perth Hospital. VAUDEVILLE and PICTURES. The following Artists wil! appear: — Madame Rosie Eaton, Miss Kitty Way, Mr. Fred. Gibson, Mr. Heaiy, Miss Gwen Gough, and Pipe Corp. Hector Urquhart." [1]

• Baptism register of Anglican Parish Dutoitspan, 1876, page 112, No 446. Photograph of original at https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9T71-9CHJ. Seen and entered by Dirk Laurie.

Baptised on 27th March 1876.

Catherine Caroline, born 13th November 1875,

parents Thenus and Catharine Joanna Berry,

of Junction Reit and Modder River,

trade Hotelkeeper.

Sponsors P.B.

Ceremony performed by R.E. Wright.

• Marriage in St Mary's Anglican Church, Johannesburg.[2]
• See profile of her husband.
• "England and Wales Census, 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X713-3H3 : 20 January 2015), Catherine Way, Hove, Minerva The Beach Shoreham-By-Sea, Sussex, England; from "1911 England and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
• TAB: WLD 5/294 320/1916 EX PARTE APPLICATION. EDWARD JOHN WAY AND KATRINA CAROLINA WAY (BORN BERRY).
• "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVCK-GW7J : 4 September 2014), Catherine Way, 1962; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death, Isle Of Wight, Hampshire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.

Research Notes

Some documents, especially later ones, give her name as "Katrina Carolina"; others, especially earlier ones written by church officials, as "Catherine Caroline". Her signature appears as "K.C. Way" on the Joint will of William and Anna Cartlidge (see uploaded image). In the light of this clear preference by Kitty herself, the later spelling has been preferred.