Frederick Geen (1858 - 1915)

Born 1858 in Audlem, Cheshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Jane Austin — married 1882 in Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, England

Died 28 Jan 1915 at about age 57 in Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, England

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Biography

Frederick's birth registration was in the September quarter of 1858 at Nantwich, Cheshire. ^[1]

In 1861, the family are living at Elliott Street, Newcastle under Lyme, Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England. The family comprises William and Elizabeth, the parents and their children Arthur, John, Emily, Frederick and William. William is a Gardener by profession. ^[2]

In 1871, the family are living at North Street, Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire, England. The household comprises of parents William Henry a Gardner and Elizabeth (their surname has been transcribed as Green) and their children Emily a Bookbinder's Sewer, Frederick, William Henry, Elizabeth, Annie Maria and Alfred. ^[3]

In 1881, the family are living at 30, Richmond Street, Stoke upon Trent, Staffordshire, England. The family comprises parents William and Elizabeth and their children Emily, Frederick, William, Elizabeth, Annie and Alfred. William is a Gardener (N.D.), Emily is a Book Binder Sewer unemployed, Frederick is a Commercial Clerk. William, Elizabeth and Annie are School Teachers and Alfred is described as Invalid for occupation. ^[4]

Alderman Frederick Geen was appointed as mayor of Stoke on Trent on 3 occasions 1897, 1899 and 1903, the link says there is a plaque in his honour in the council chambers and that he also died in the council chamber and was one of the city's founding fathers.^[5].

Frederick married Jane Austin in the September quarter of 1882 at Stoke on Trent. ^[6]

In 1891, Frederick is living with his wife Jane and their children Winifred, Gladys and Dorothy at Bath Street, Stoke on Trent. Frederick is an accountant by profession, they also have a servant named Emily Booth. ^[7]

In 1901, Frederick is living at Llandrillo Yn Rhos (Denbigh), Caernarvonshire, Wales. Also in the household are his daughters Dorothy and Marjorie and a servant named Alice J Sale. Frederick is a Chartered Account, he is a widow. ^[8]

Cliffeville House

Deltabus on Flicker states that this house was sold in 1921 to the Dominican Order of Nuns.^[9]. This was the families home from approximately 1901 to 1911.

In 1911, Frederick was staying at King's Road Brighton, he was a Chartered Accountant by profession. This census also says he is a widower, was married 19 years and has 4 children all of whom are still living ^[10]

The Potteries website states that "In 1913 King George V and Queen Mary formally opened the Kings Hall. Geen (who had now become Mayor) entertained them to lunch at his home Cliff Ville (on Hartshill Road)." ^[11]

Frederick died quite tragically on 28th January 1915, while making a speech in the local council chambers. His death was reported in many papers, one of which was the Aberdeen Journal, dated 29th January 1915, which said "Death of an ex-Mayor while making a speech Alderman Frederick Geen ex-mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, died with dramatic suddenness yesterday morning at the Stoke town hall. He was making a speech, when he fell forward, and on being carried to an ante-room life was found extinct. Alderman Geen was formerly Mayor of the old borough of Stoke, and took a prominent part in the movement which resulted in the federation of the six potteries towns, of which he became the second Mayor." ^[12]

Frederick's death registration is in the March quarter of 1915 at Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, he was 56 years old. ^[13]

Frederick left a will - GEEN Frederick of Cliff Ville Stoke on Trent Staffordshire died 28 January 1915 Probate London 20 July 1915 to Annie Maria Geen spinster and George Hawley Greatbach mining engineer Effects £22,483 5s 10d. Annie Maria was his sister, George Hawley Greatbach was born Fenton, Staffs in 1857 so was a similar age and from the same location as Frederick. ^[14]

The Stoke sentinel wrote an article about Alderman Frederick Geen in 2016 on the 101st anniversary of his death, this article also says Frederick was a justice of the peace as well as a chartered accountant and that his company Geen accountancy is still within the town. ^[15]

Sources

1. ↑ Birth registration - www.freebmd.org.uk - Births Sep 1858, Geen Frederick, Nantwich, volume 8a, page 285
2. ↑ 1861 UK census - www.findmypast.co.uk - Archive reference RG09, Piece number 1917, Folio number 116, Page number 13
3. ↑ 1871 UK census - www.findmypast.co.uk - Archive reference RG10, Piece number 2832, Folio 19, Page 29
4. ↑ 1881 UK census - www.findmypast.co.uk - Archive reference RG11, Piece number 2728, Folio 130, Page 12
5. ↑ Stoke Council - http://www.moderngov.stoke.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=7725&T=1
6. ↑ Marriage - www.freebmd.org.uk - Marriages Sep 1882, Austin Jane, Stoke T. volume 6b, page 332. Geen Frederick, Stoke T, volume 6b, page 332
7. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1891," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WSWB-DW2 : 15 October 2015), Frederick Geen, No Description Available, Staffordshire, England; from "1891 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 12, Staffordshire county, subdistrict, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
8. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1901," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9BZ-NYB : 29 August 2015), Fredrick Geen, Llandrillo Yn Rhos (Denbigh), Caernarvonshire, Wales; from "1901 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing Creuddyn subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
9. ↑ https://www.flickr.com/photos/27302738@N06/4438215244
10. ↑ 1911 UK census - www.findmypast.co.uk - Census reference RG14PN5151 RD79 SD2 ED34 SN9999
11. ↑ The Potteries websiet - http://www.thepotteries.org/federation/050_geen.htm
12. ↑ (http://search.findmypast.co.uk/bna/viewarticle?id=bl%2f0000576%2f19150129%2f013) The British Newspaper Archives on Findmypast
13. ↑ Death - www.freebmd.org.uk - Deaths Mar 1915, Geen Frederick, 56, Stoke T. volume 6b, page 277
14. ↑ Wills - www.ancestry.co.uk
15. ↑ Stoke Sentinal - http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk - 2016 article about Frederick Geen , This article was called honour city 8217 s founding fathers - story 28618588 - but has recently been archived (checked14th March 2021

• Researched by Paula Dea

Further Information

• http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/ - previously shown in accountant-breath-fresh-air - story-12486142
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federation_of_Stoke-on-Trent
• http://www.thepotteries.org/federation/WR002.htm
• http://www.thepotteries.org/federation/050_geen.htm