Contributed Oct. 2009

My branch of the Seabrooks lived in Wheathampstead for three generations and there are now no members of the family there. The Seabrooks appear to have originated in Redbourn, at least that is the earliest connected reference I can find, dating back to 1624, though it's a little tenuous. The clearest connection is John Seabrook, born Redbourn 1705. They were farmers and apparently quite prosperous. The family practice appears to be that the sons were put out to other farms as they grew up, leaving the youngest son to take over the family farm on the death of his father.

George Seabrook (1766-1827) farmed Dane Farm, Harpenden (though nearer Kimpton) and his grandson William Seabrook (born 1842, my great-grandfather) came to Wheathampstead first as landlord of the Railway Hotel and proprietor of a coal business based at Wheathampstead Station, with coal trucks emblazoned with the family name. He also took over Lamer Farm. He was the first of the Seabrooks to marry outside the traditional local farming background, his wife being Anna Maria Maddy, who was proprietress of a young ladies' academy in Sloane Street Chelsea.

The influence of Anna Maria meant that their first child, Robert William Hawes Seabrook (born 1870) was not put into farming, but trained as a schoolteacher. Lamer Farm eventually passed to his younger brother George and remained in that side of the family until fairly recent times.

Robert became well-known in Wheathampstead. He was Clerk to the Parish Council and Assistant Overseer. He also trained musically and for many years was Organist at St Helen's Parish Church. The family lived in various houses at Marford and in Wheathampstead High Street, eventually settling opposite the church at the old Ship Inn, which they re-named St Helen's. His wife was Maude Godseff, daughter of a noted plant expert who managed the orchid nurseries at The Camp, St Albans. They had nine children between 1902 and 1919, two of whom are still alive.

Unfortunately, it was said, Robert had another side to his character and had numerous liaisons with local ladies, much to the distress of his wife, who died young in 1936. Robert remarried two years later but died in 1941 and was buried at Harpenden. His first wife and their two daughters who died in infancy are buried in St Helen's Churchyard.

The picture shows Robert William Hawes Seabrook wearing his familiar straw boater, about 1935-36.

All the Seabrook children but one moved away from Wheathampstead. His oldest son, Robert William Eric Seabrook (born 1903) married and lived in Harpenden and was my father. The only one of his siblings to remain in Wheathampstead was Gerald George Seabrook (born 1904) who lived with his family at Church Street for many years. He married Gladys Rolph and their two children Robin and Jane spent their youth in the village until they married and moved away.

I have an extensive family history of the Seabrooks and would be happy to share it with anybody who is looking for information.

John Seabrook       email:john.seabrook-at-talktalk.net

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Contributed Jan 2009

My great grandfather was Michael Seabrook born 1837.  He was killed by a train (6 Oct. 1882, aged 45).  He worked on the Great Northern Railway, and lived in the GNR Cottages in Whitewash Alley, Hatfield, Hertford.  He was a Station Inspector. He is buried in the United Reformed churchyard Wheathampstead, along with his wife Eliza (who died 3 April 1897 aged 59) and son Francis (who died 15 Mar. 1889 aged 17).

His son, my grandfather, Herbert John Seabrook, Coach Painter, immigrated to Australia, after marrying Susie May Yarrow in London (Paddington district).  His son, my father, Ronald Herbert Seabrook was born in Victoria. He eventually moved to NSW. I now live in Valentine, NSW, Australia. 1half hours north of Sydney. Amazing how people move across the world.

I have traced my mothers side back to the UK as well, Ireland and Scotland.  My husband's side goes back to the First Fleet*. His g,g,g,g, grandmother/grandfather were convicts on the ships Alexander and Friendship respectively.  Everyone wants a convict in their ancestry over here .  My mother's side is supposed to go back to Belton House but I haven't found the link yet. I am trying to trace Edward Augustus Blount and Eliza Fraser. Edward was born in Bermondsey Surrey, so I'll keep looking there.

JENNIFER BROOKS   email:jenpup40-at-hotmail.com

*The First Fleet is the name given to the 11 ships which sailed from Great Britain on 13 May 1787 to establish the first European colony in New South Wales. It was a convict settlement, marking the beginnings of transportation to Australia.