I grew up with stories of my mum's family along the way of researching them I have found that some are true others partly so and a few that are completely untrue. As in all family research the stories give you a basis to start with but are not the complete story by any means. my sister Tracy wanted to know more about the older members of the family, she was born in 1964 so did not have the chance to know many of them. I did some research and passed this onto Tracy along with the names and addresses of Helsden's in Essex where I knew a couple of my aunts and uncles lived. Tracy sent letters to some of them and got back a reply from our Uncle Charlie and Aunt Margaret. Charlie and Margaret had lost touch with the family after my Granddad William Charles Helsden's death in 1963 My uncle Bill had died but his wife Eve (Eve is also Margaret's sister.) still lives in Essex. Through Tracy in February 2005 we met up with them at Tracy's house. Charlie had sent us a couple of photos that we did not have and we gave them some of our old photos. He corrected me on some of the dates and some of the stories and keeps in touch through email. A few months ago (2006) my cousin Kathy started going through her mum Joan's old photos and managed to get a lot of photos from my uncle Fred who lives next door to her. Fred was married to Ivy Louise Helsden and is my dad's younger brother .My mum was Florence Ellen Helsden. My cousin Dawn who is my mum's youngest brother Dennis's daughter also had been asking for any old photos of her dad as none seemed to exist of him. I had told her the stories of her dad who died in 1986. Dennis was 12 twelve years older than me and had lived with us at one time when I was about 12.He was like a big brother to me and he returned the favour when Chris and i got married by letting us live in his house until we got our own flat 18 months later. Kathy had found a photo of Dennis in his RAF uniform when he was doing national service in the 1950's.I restored this and sent it onto Dawn. Dawn phoned me last saturday 12th august 06 and told me that a Kerri Cogley had been in touch with her through genes reunited and said she was Aunt Kate's granddaughter. Dawn knew who Kate was but not much more phoned me and asked about Kate and her family. I contacted Kerri and over the last few days along with Dawn and Kathy we have started to piece the separate bits of information together Photos have been flying through the airwaves and stories told. Whilst looking at the genes reunited site I saw a couple of entries for South African Helsden's. One of the stories I was told as a child was that my grandfathers father Adolphus Helsden had gone to South Africa after the death of his wife Jane. He was supposed to have remarried and had another family. I never found out how my granddad knew this and over the years I have tried to find them without success. So I sent a contact note through genes reunited and told Kerri and Dawn about it .they did the same. This morning 17th Aug 06 we got a reply from Suzanne Humphries her grandmother, Millicent Saunders, married Adolphus in South Africa. We are hoping that she will share with us any information she has on Adolphus and his family there. In the meantime I will put as much information ,stories and photos that I have and will put up more as we get it. A little bit now and more later when I have time. 3rd sept 06 Suzanne's sister Jenni has been in touch over the last few weeks as well and we have bee exchanging information and photos including photos of the three daughters of Adolphus's second marriage to Millicent. Jenni has also sent a photo of Adolphus and two of his daughters Thea and Marge, taken in 1938.you can see these and more on this page. James Nelson got in touch and gave us lots of information on the family, his grandfather was my gran's younger brother. Alan 1881 census George Helsden head of family age 58 Born At sea Esther Helsden wife age 57 born Devonport Augustus Helsden son age 18 born in Deal Kent Labourer Adolphus Helsden son age 10 born in Portsea Hampshire. ( Gt granddad) All living at 74 Evelyn street Deptford. George is William’s (granddad) grandfather his Father was Adolphus. Granddad always said his name was William Charles Rodney Adolphus Helsden. This is where the story begins of Granddad and his sister Flo being left by their father . ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1891 living at 31 Evelyn st Deptford. Esther Helsden widow age 67 Dressmaker born Devonport Jane Helsden daughter in law born Old Kent road age 25 Adolphus married Jane Waller who was born in 1870 and she died in 1910 aged 40. George Helsden was born at sea in 1824 approx and died in 1884 aged 60 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1901 census Adolphus Helsden age 30 head of family address 55 Selcroft road Greenwich Labourer. Born Portsea Hampshire.Jane Helsden age 32 wife birthplace Peckham district Son William Charles Helsden age 8 born Deptford London Parish church Christchurch Flo born 1901 after the census | BMD indexes. Births William Charles Helsden born March quarter 1893 Greenwich registration district. Adolphus Rodney born Portsea June quarter 1871. Julia Helsden born Dec quarter 1892 George Helsden March 1894 quarter Richard George Helsden sept quarter Greenwich district Florence Jane Helsden June 1901 quarter Greenwich. Granddad’s sister Daisy Agnes June quarter 1903 Greenwich district Marriages Dec 1889 quarter Adolphus Rodney Helsden Greenwich registration district Deaths sept quarter 1884 George Helsden age 60 Greenwich district Esther Helsden Dec 1891 quarter Greenwich. Julia Ann Helsden age 27 Greenwich district March quarter 1894 Julia Ann the wife of Augustus Helsden (gt Granddad’s brother) George Helsden age 0 June quarter Greenwich district Jane Helsden June quarter 1910 Greenwich. Adolphus's wife | |  |  |  | | Charlie and Margaret Helsden Feb 2005 | John and Gill 1964 | John at school |  |  | 
| | George, Flo, Jenny and Rob | Kate with one of her son's | Kate Ronny and Alf |  |  | 
| | Kate (Helsden) Ruddell | John ,Nan Ruddell,Tommy and Ronny | Ronnny with Tommy (His best man) |  |  | 
| | Ronnie (Kate and Tommy's son | Tommy Ruddell (Kate's husband) holding Tommy or Johnny | Tom Ruddell |  |  |  | | Ivy and Flo (Helsden) Gagg | David Alan, Paul at back. Linda Kim and Steve at front. Alan is Flo Helsden and George Gagg's son the others are Ivy Helsden and Fred Gagg's children | Robbie and Kathy Robbie (Bob) is Flo and George's son Kathy is Joan Helsden and Sid Pointer's daughter |
| 
| Ellen Catherine(Kate) Helsden, nanny Nelson and aunt Annie (Annie became Bill Helsden's wife about a year after Kate died | Sid Joan and aunt Annie | 
| 
| | Flo, Ann and Ivy Helsden | Ivy Kim and Ann |  | 
| | Joan, Marilyn (Bill and Eve's daughter) Bill Helsden (Bill is Adolphus Helsden eldest child his mother was Jane Waller) | Kate and Nan (Ellen Catherine)Helsden |  |  | | Eve and Billy Helsden | Jenny (Flo and George's daughter) Kim and Ivy |  |  | Alethea, Marguirette and Gabrielle. .Adolphus and Millicent' Helsden's children | Gabrielle (Adolphus's daughter) Sue Ross and Keith |  | .JPG) | | Thea, Adolphus and Marge with 'aunty Mac ' | Sue ,Gabrielle's daughter | | 
| 
| | Dennis Helsden in the RAF- Bill and Kathleen's son | Charlie Helsden -Bill and kathleen's son |  |  Joan holding Kathy, 'Kate' (Nan) and Jane Helsden |  Harriet Jane Nelson | | | Family tree pages | Baptisms Marriages and Burials | Memorials | Letters-Sketches and Stories | photo pages | Census pages | Family news and old family postcards |
|
| 
Gagg /Helsden Family history
