First Generation  

——— married (name unknown).

Children from this marriage were:

+ 2 M    i. Jonas Daniel Wancke ^{1 ,2} was born on 13 Aug 1789 in Kristianstad, Kristianstads Län, Sweden ^{1 ,2} and died on 13 Feb 1872, at age 82.²

  Second Generation  

Jonas married Hedvig Elisabet Wendt in 1820. Hedvig was born on 19 Nov 1788 in Karlskrona, Blekinge Län, Sweden and died on 7 Mar 1862 in Ronneby, Blekinge Län, Sweden, at age 73.

Children from this marriage were:

   3 F    i. Marie Charlotta Wancke ^{1 ,2} was born on 20 Jun 1823 in Ronneby, Blekinge Län, Sweden ^{1 ,2} and died on 3 Mar 1878 in Karlshamn, Blekinge Län, Sweden, at age 54. ²

Marie married Håkan Larsson . ² Håkan was born on 7 Apr 1820 in Ronneby, Blekinge Län, Sweden ² and died on 28 Apr 1863 in Karlshamn, Blekinge Län, Sweden, at age 43.²

+ 4 M    ii. Johan Fredrik Wancke was born on 2 Feb 1826 in Ronneby, Blekinge Län, Sweden and died on 4 Apr 1880 in Karlshamn, Blekinge Län, Sweden, at age 54.

  Third Generation  

Johan married Maria Ulrika Karolina Widing , daughter of Rev. Sven Gabriel Widing and Ulrika Cecilia Ehrenberg Bergelin , on 16 May 1853 in Karlshamn, Blekinge Län, Sweden. ³ Maria was born on 20 May 1830 in Önnestad, Kristianstads Län, Sweden and died on 28 Dec 1889 in Karlshamn, Blekinge Län, Sweden, at age 59.

Children from this marriage were:

+ 5 M    i. Herman Fredrik Wancke ^{1 ,4} was born on 5 Mar 1854 in Karlshamn, Blekinge Län, Sweden ¹ ,^,4 died on 22 Jul 1926 in 2 The Knoll, Beckenham, Kent, at age 72 ⁴ ,^,5 and was buried on 26 Jul 1926 in Elmer's End?. ⁶

+ 6 M    ii. Elof Ulrik Wancke ^{1 ,4} was born on 17 Apr 1855 in Karlshamn, Blekinge Län, Sweden ¹ ,^,4 died on 1 Jun 1943 in Thorngrafton, Bardon Mill, Northumberland, at age 88,⁸ and was buried on 4 Jun 1943 in St Cuthbert's Churchyard, Beltingham, Northumberland. ⁹

   7 M    iii. Jonas Robert Wancke ^{1 ,4} was born on 17 Sep 1856 in Karlshamn, Blekinge Län, Sweden ¹ ,^,4 died on 20 Jan 1879 in Stockton On Tees, Co. Durham, at age 22 ¹⁰ ,^,11 and was buried in Karlshamn, Blekinge Län, Sweden.

General Notes: It is not known when Jonas came to England but it was possibly with Elof in 1873, in which case, he had been in the country about five years before his tragic death in Stockton on Tees aged 22.

He had been working for the marine engine company of G. Y. Blair for about eight months when he was killed in accident in their machine department. If he had sole control of the metal planing machine which killed him, as is reported at his inquest in to his death, then in all likelihood he had served some form of apprenticeship in another engineering company before being taken on by Blair & Co but no details about this have survived.

After the inquest, his brothers Elof and Herman took his remains back to Karlshamn for burial, his father and mother and other members of the family all being in Sweden at that time. ^{10 ,12}

Some things connected with his life:

• Inquest: 21 Jan 1879, Stockton On Tees, Co. Durham. ¹⁰ Jonas's tragic death was reported in the local newspapers and the Stockton Herald of Saturday, January 25th, 1879 gave this account:-

SHOCKING ACCIDENT FATAL
AT STOCKTON

On Tuesday evening Mr Coroner Settle held an inquest at the Mechanics' Inn, Norton-road, Stockton into the circumstances attending of the death of a young man named Jonas Robert Wancke. The deceased being a Swedish subject, Mr Charles John Zauder, of West Hartlepool, attended as the representative of Mr Horsley, the local Swedish Consul. The body of the deceased was identified by Mr Elof W. Wancke, one of the deceased's brothers, who is at present residing at West Hartlepool.

From the evidence of Mr Wm. Peplow it appeared that the deceased had been employed at Messrs G.Y. Blair and Co's marine engine works since the beginning of the month of June. Witness was engaged at the works as a store-keeper, and saw the deceased employed at a planing machine on Monday morning. At about ten o'clock the attention of witness was attracted to the machine by a squeaking noise which it made. He then observed that the deceased's head had become jammed between the cover of the machine-pump and the box in which tools are kept for the use of the machine. Witness immediately obtained assistance, and, having thrown off the strap of the machine, they proceeded to back the machine by hand. Only a few seconds elapsed before the deceased was extricated, but his head was so frightfully smashed that death must have been instantaneous. Deceased had the entire management of the machine, and witness thought that the only way in which the accident could have been caused was by deceased neglecting to put on the "catch" and setting the machine in motion unawares with his toe or knee. The machine was guarded as far as practicable; and witness knew the deceased as a steady and careful workman.

Mr George Young, foreman of the machine department at Messrs Blairs' works, gave the jury a description of the working of the machine at which deceased was working. About three minutes before the accident witness past the machine, and found that he had prepared everything ready for starting planing. The machine was a self-acting one, and travelled at the rate of sixteen feet a minute. Witness did not think the accident had been caused in the manner stated by the last witness, because the "catch" was two feet above the ground. The opinion of witness was that the deceased had become faint whilst stooping to set the machine in motion, and had then fallen into the machine. He knew the deceased had not enjoyed very good health of late, but had never known him faint whilst at work.

This was the whole of the evidence.

The jury inspected the machine at which the accident happened, and returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased was accidentally killed.

He never married.

+ 8 M    iv. Hjalmar Valfrid Wancke ^{1 ,4} was born on 27 Jul 1861 in Karlshamn, Blekinge Län, Sweden ^{1 ,4} and died on 27 Jan 1937 in White Lodge Nursing Home, Spa Road, Boscombe, Hants., at age 75.⁴

   9 F    v. Anna Elisabet Wancke ⁴ was born on 8 Jul 1863 in Karlshamn, Blekinge Län, Sweden ⁴ and died in 1941, at age 78.¹⁴

She never married.

   10 M    vi. Alfred Sigurd Wancke ⁴ was born on 24 Aug 1864 in Karlshamn, Blekinge Län, Sweden ^{4 ,15} and died on 20 Mar 1931 in Hexham, Northumberland, at age 66. ¹⁵ .^,16

General Notes: Stockbroker in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Some things connected with his life:

• Grant of Administration: 24 Apr 1931, Newcastle Upon Tyne. ¹⁷ Effects: £2285 15s 5d.

Alfred married Johanna Emilia Fogelclou ⁴ in 1906 in Hexham, Northumberland ⁴ .^,18 Nanna was born on 14 Feb 1872 in Stockholm. ⁴

+ 11 F    vii. Marie Louise Wancke ⁴ was born on 28 Jul 1866 in Karlshamn, Blekinge Län, Sweden ⁴ and died on 27 Jun 1943 in Sunderland, Co. Durham, at age 76 ⁴ .^,19

  Fourth Generation  

General Notes: Herman spent 31 years working for the Wood Agents, G. F. Neame & Co., of London, who represented certain Swedish and Finnish wood producers in the UK. He was always on the sales side of business, rising in time to become their chief traveller.

On his retirement from Neame & Co. in 1907, he became the official arbitrator of the Finnish Sawmill Owner's Association. ²³

Some things connected with his life:

• His obituary was published on 24 Jul 1926 in Beckenham, Kent. ⁶ The Beckenham Journal published in the following obituary for Herman:-

MR H. F. WANCKE

As we go to press we learn the sad news of the death of another of Beckenham's familiar figures in the person of Mr H. F. Wancke, who fell peacefully to sleep at his residence 2, The Knoll, on Thursday, at the age of 73. Although ailing in health lately, the end was hardly expected so soon. Although taking no active part in public life, Mr Wancke was deeply interested in everything concerning the welfare of Beckenham where he had spent the whole of his happy married life of 44 years, and which he so deeply loved. The greatest sympathy will be extended to Mrs. Wancke and the one remaining son in their hour of sorrow.

The funeral service will be held in the Parish Church at 2.30 on Monday.

• His obituary was published on 31 Jul 1926 in London, England. ²⁴ Herman's death was reported in one of the Timber Trade Journals:-

LONDON NOTES

Another well-known personality in the trade has passed away by the death, at the age of 73 years, of Mr. H. F. Wancke, who for many years acted as the official arbitrator for the Finnish Sawmill Owner's Association.

Formerly Mr Wancke was in the service of G. F. Neame & Co., joining their staff in 1876, and in time became their chief traveller. He represented the firm in the districts north of the Humber, including Scotland, and his many friends recollect his pleasing urbanity. He also had an influential London connection.

He retired from his position of salesmen in 1907, but his acumen and a reputation for fair dealing received the full confidence of the trade when he was appointed official arbitrator.

• Probate Granted: 22 Oct 1926, London, England. ^{1 ,4 ,25} Effects: £15261 5s 7d - Resworn £15382 10s 7d.

Herman married Sarah Ada Abbott , ⁴ daughter of John Robert Abbott and Mary Wise , on 28 Jun 1879 in Norton, Yorks..⁷ Ada was born on 17 Nov 1856 ⁴ , died on 22 Dec 1935 in 4 The Avenue, Beckenham, Kent, at age 79 ^{26 ,27} , and was buried on 24 Dec 1935 in Elmer's End. ²⁸

Some things connected with her life:

• Her obituary was published on 28 Dec 1935 in Beckenham, Kent. ²⁹ The Beckenham Journal published in the following obituary for Sarah:-

MRS WANCKE

A lady who has lived in Beckenham since 1880 has passed away after a bravely borne illness. Mrs. Sarah Ada Wancke, widow of Mr. H. F. Wancke, who lived for forty years in The Knoll, Beckenham, died on Sunday.

Mrs. S. Wancke, who was eighty years of age, had been invalid for some time and had resided at 4, The Avenue up to her death. During the whole of [her] residence in Beckenham the deceased lady had taken an active part in the work of the Parish Church and during the war she was highly commended for her work for Belgian refugees.

There is now only one member of the family surviving, Mr. Cecil Wancke, who will receive the sympathy of Beckenham friends.

Mr. and Mrs. Wancke suffered bereavement in the loss of their only daughter, the late Mrs. Craggs, and the elder son, Mr. Stanley Wancke, who died in Finland in 1924. Mr. H. F. Wancke died in 1926.

The funeral took place on Christmas Eve at the Parish Church, the internment being at Elmers End.

• Probate Granted: 7 Dec 1936, London, England. ³⁰ Effects: £2044 1s 3d. Resworn: £2056 1s 10d.

Children from this marriage were:

+ 12 M    i. Stanley Widing Wancke ⁴ was born on 25 Mar 1880 ⁴ and died on 24 Feb 1924 in Finland, at age 43. ⁴

   13 F    ii. Mary Isabel Wise Wancke was born in 1882 in Beckenham, Kent ³² and died on 23 Jul 1907 in Bromley, Kent, at age 25. ³³ .^,34

Some things connected with her life:

• Report of death: 27 Jul 1907, Beckenham, Kent. ³⁵ Mary's death was reported in the local paper:-

BECKENHAM [Local Notes]

It is painful to record the passing of another of the fair daughters of Beckenham, a bride just a year ago, Mary Isabel Wise Craggs, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Wancke, of Beckenham, and her babe, have been called away. From childhood a universal favourite among all classes, this young maiden took with her into her new home the brightest hopes and sincere goodwill of all Beckenham, and the most profound sympathy is now extended to the bereaved husband and parents in their overwhelming grief.

Mary married Alfred Beaumont Craggs , ³⁷ son of George Craggs , on 18 Aug 1906 in St George's Church, Beckenham ³⁶ .^,37

   14 M    iii. Herman Cecil Wancke ⁴ was born on 19 Oct 1888 in Beckenham, Kent ⁴ and died on 6 Dec 1969 in Gravesend, Kent, at age 81. ³⁸

Some things connected with his life:

• He was educated bet. Jul 1900 & Dec 1905 in Dulwich, Surrey. ³⁹ Cecil went to Dulwich College. According to the College Register he started on July 28th 1900 aged nearly 12 and left in 1905 when he was just over the age of 17. He seems to have left the College for about nine months in 1903; perhaps his family went abroad during that period. He finished up in the Upper IVth (Modern Side).

• Grant of Administration: 17 Jul 1969, London, England. ⁴⁰ Estate: £13856.

• Grant of Administration: 30 Dec 1981, Brighton, Sussex. ⁴¹ Estate: £2000

Cecil married Lilian Beatrice Wancke , daughter of Hjalmar Valfrid Wancke and Helen Gertrude Chawner . ⁴² Lily was born on 12 Sep 1893 ⁴ and died on 10 Jan 1981 in Gravesend, Kent, at age 87. ⁴¹

For more about Lily see ¹⁹ below

Some things connected with his life:

• Life's work: 1873-1930, Various Places. ^{45 ,46 ,47} Elof is reputed to have come to England in about 1873 when he was 18 years old. It is not known why he and his brothers came to England; perhaps there were few career prospects in southern Sweden at that time which encouraged them to look abroad or there may have been some previous connection with the country through their father, Johan, who was reputedly a merchant. Whatever the reason, he and his four brothers all found employment in England; three of them in the timber trade.

Elof probably came over with his elder brother, Herman, and possibly Jonas as they were all of an age to find employment. His two younger brothers, Hjalmar and Alfred, joining them later. Elof initially found employment in West Hartlepool either working for an English timber merchant or on his own account as a Timber Agent. He remained in West Hartlepool until 1879 or 1880 and then moved to Newcastle upon Tyne where he set up an office on Quayside. At that time he was working as a Timber Agent or Broker and he stayed in Newcastle until 1890 when he moved his business and home to Sunderland.

What prompted his moved to Sunderland is not known. Perhaps it was the offer of the Swedish vice consulship there or, perhaps, he needed more space for his business. The change from being an Agent or Broker to being a Timber Merchant probably necessitated premises on which to hold stock and it may be that such premises were more readily available in Sunderland. Whatever the case, E U Wancke & Co set up office in 26 West Sunniside and remained in business there until about 1930 when Elof retired.

The success of E U Wancke & Co, at least certainly in its early days, lay in Elof's ability to import Swedish timber to be used in the coal mines of Northumberland and Durham, mostly in the form of pit props. Whether or not the business ever developed other significant outlets is hard to say but it does not seem to have continued after Elof retired; perhaps by then the growing use of metal pit props and shuttering had eroded the business base.

From his early days in Sunderland, Elof was vice consul for Sweden and, for a time, Norway. He continued in this role for Sweden until he retired and was decorated by the King of Sweden with the Order of Vasa. When first appointed vice consul for Sweden, he was disappointed to find that there was no official court uniform to wear on ceremonial occasions so he designed one himself and the photograph accompanying this biography is of him in that uniform in 1891.

His daughter, Phyllis, used to quote him as saying that the first £10,000 were the most difficult to make. History does not relate how long it took him to achieve his first £10,000 but it would not be surprising if it coincided with his moved from Newcastle to Sunderland in 1890 when he was about 35 years old.

• Residences: 1873-1943, Various Places. ^{48 ,49} In all probability, Elof spent his early days in England living in lodgings. Apart from the financial aspect, he was a bachelor and a lodging house would have been a sensible place to live whilst a young man. Certainly, in 1881 he is to be found in lodgings, in Elswick, Newcastle upon Tyne, with his brothers, Hjalmar and Alfred. Later he moved down the Tyne to lodge at Wylam from where he commuted to his office in Newcastle.

It was not until he moved to Sunderland that he had his own establishment. By that time he sister, Ivis, had come to England and was able to keep house for him. They lived at 10 Woodside until she married Karl Pyhlson and then he moved to 5 Woodside where he stayed (presumably with a housekeeper until he married) until 1913 when he and Jessie moved to 20 Thornhill Gardens, otherwise known as "The Laurels".

Some time around 1900 he acquired a property called Stampen outside Karlshamn where the family used to go in the summer. It was sold after WWI and summer visits to Karlshamn were then spent staying as paying guests with a widowed family friend called Gerda Dalh who needed the money.

When Sunderland was bombed in the early part of WWII, Elof, Jessie and their daughter Chrissie, closed up The Laurels and went to live at Thorngrafton, a property which Elof had recently bought for his son, Alan, to farm. Here Elof died in 1943.

The Laurels was eventually sold in 1956 for £650.

• Report of death: 5 Jun 1943, Hexham. ⁵⁰ A local newspaper reported Elof's death as follows:-

Bardon Mill Death of
Former Swedish Consul

The death has taken place at Thorngrafton, Bardon Mill, where he had been residing since the outbreak of war, of Mr Elos (sic) U. Wancke (88), for 39 years Swedish Vice Consul at Sunderland.

He came to England when he was 18 years of age and was a timber importer at West Hartlepool and Newcastle prior to being appointed Vice Consul at Sunderland. On his retirement, the King of Sweden decorated him with the Vasa Order.

Elof married Jessie Clark , daughter of George Clark and Jessie Maude Chalmers , on 29 Jun 1907 in St Mary's Church, Harrow On The Hill. Jessie was born on 3 Mar 1869 in 14 North Bridge Street, Monkwearmouth, Co. Durham ⁵¹ , baptized on 14 Apr 1869 in St Peter's Church, Monkwearmouth, Co. Durham ⁵² , and died on 27 Dec 1970 in Tirril Lodge, Tirril, Nr Penrith, at age 101 ⁵³ .^,54

Some events in their marriage were:

• Wedding: 29 Jun 1907, Harrow, Middlesex. A local Harrow newspaper reported Jessie's wedding:-

MARRIAGE OF MISS CLARK
A WEDDING IN SUNSHINE

June favoured with an unusual brilliance the wedding that was celebrated on Saturday in the Harrow Parish Church. It was the last marriage of the month, and nothing could have been more welcome than the generous share of sunshine which welcomed all witnesses of the happy celebration. There were, therefore, many well wishes who assembled in the church at the marriage of Miss Jessie Clark, daughter of the late Mr. George Clark, of Sunderland, and Mrs. Clark of Kenton Lodge, Kenton, to Mr. Elof U. Vanck (sic).

The pleasant drive from Kenton to Harrow was accomplished by numerous guests, and at the time for the arrival of the bride and her attendant bridesmaid there was a good company occupying the centre of the Church. Mr. A. Gurney was at the organ, and selections were paid by him through the period of waiting, the Löhengrin "Bridal March" being played immediately the bridal party arrived.

Miss Clark wore a dress [of] Brussels applique lace over white satin, and a large white crinoline hat with white feathers. Her ornaments were a diamond pendant and turquoise and diamond bracelet, the gift of the bridegroom, as was her beautiful bouquet. Miss Clark, the bride's sister, was dressed in champagne coloured striped chiffon with pink chene sash, a large brown hat with shaded feathers, brown to pink. Her pearl and turquoise brooch was the bridegroom's gift, and she also carried a pink rose bouquet. Mrs. Clark, mother of the bride, wore a brown eau-de-soie dress over pink, a pink bonnet, and carried pink roses.

The Rev. F. Wayland Joyce, Vicar of the parish, conducted the marriage service, the Rev. F. G. Harvie assisting. The choir were also in attendance, and the beautiful wedding hymn was sung at the commencement of the service. Mr. Charles Atkinson, of Lylam-on-Tyne, was the best man. The wedding service concluded, Mendlessohn's wedding music played the newly-married couple from the church, and the bells above gave out their music to the sun-lit air. The guests were received at Kenton Lodge, and numerous congratulations accorded to Mr. and Mrs. Vanck. A motor tour forms the first part of the honeymoon before Mr. and Mrs. Vanck leave for Sweden. The bride wore a travelling dress of Nattice blue taffeta, a brown hat and tussore cloak with brown leather collar.

Mr. and Mrs. Vanck received many handsome and numerous presents.



NOTE
Charles Atkinson, who was Elof's best man, actually lived at Wylam-on-Tyne and seems to have remained a bachelor because Alan Wancke remembers him visiting the Laurels (the Wancke's house in Sunderland) every year for the Wancke's New Year's Eve party and going home to Wylam by train late at night when it was over still in full evening dress. Charles was obviously a lifelong friend of Elof's and in all likelihood he was a member of the Atkinson family who ran a timber merchant's business in Newcastle.

Some things connected with her life:

• She was educated bet. Sep 1883 & <1886> in Cheltenham. ⁵⁵ Jessie admitted to Cheltenham Ladies' College in its early days when Miss Beale was Headmistress. Boarded at Roderic House, one of the first boarding houses which was then under the supervision of Miss Elizabeth Draper and her two sisters Susan and Catherine who were joint heads of Roderics from 1883 to 1911.

• She was confirmed on 24 Mar 1885 in St Matthew's, Cheltenham.

• 100th Birthday: 3 Mar 1969, Tirril Lodge, Tirril, Nr Penrith. ^{56 ,57} The Herald, a local          Penrith paper, reported Jessie's 100th birthday in its March 8th edition as follows: -
                                                                                                                                                       

AT 100, TIRRIL LADY STILL KNITS, ENJOYS T.V.

With a family gathering which included eight grandchildren, four great grandchildren and relatives from Canada and Italy, Mrs Jessie Wancke on Monday celebrated her 100th birthday at the home of her daughter, Mrs R V Green, Tirril Lodge, Tirril, where she has been living for two years.

Born in Sunderland, she is the daughter of the late Mr George Clark, head of the firm of Marine Engineers, George Clark Limited, Southwick, Sunderland. One of a family of eight, she has one surviving brother who lives in Canada.

Mrs Wancke was educated at Cheltenham Ladies College, under the headship of the famous Miss Dorothea Beale, and afterwards at a finishing school in France.

She married Mr Elof Wancke who was Swedish and Finnish consul in Sunderland for over 30 years. While she lived there she took an interest in church activities and was a presiding member of the Mother's Union for years.

When her husband died, Mrs Wancke went to live with her son, Mr Alan Wancke, who farms at Bardon Mill, Northumberland, and later at the Crown Hotel, Wetheral. Mrs Wancke has good health and can still knit and read and enjoys watching television.

She has twin daughters - Mrs Green and Mrs John Bowden, Wydon Eals, Haltwhistle - and her son, Mr Alan Wancke and eight grandchildren, and four great grandchildren, all of who were at the family celebration.

She received many congratulatory cards and greetings, as well as flowers and other gifts.

The Cumberland Evening News and Star also featured Jessie's birthday on their front page under the headline "JESSIE, 100, KEEPS BUSY ON HER BIRTHDAY " in their edition on Monday, March 3, 1969

—————————————————————————————

The Eldon column of The Evening Chronicle of March 3rd 1969 wrote* of Jessie's 100th birthday as follows:-

 MRS JESSIE WANCKE

Music-loving Mrs Jessie Wancke could never overlook an anniversary of the birth of Sir Henry Wood, founder of the Proms.

She was also born on the same day as the man who ultimately brought a new dimension to British music and today there are 100 candles on her birthday cake.

This spry centenarian now lives at Tirril Lodge, near Penrith, but her early life was spent in the North-East and she's proud of the contribution her family made to its prosperity.

She is the granddaughter of George Clark, the founder of the world-famous Wearside marine engineering company; the man who launched be first iron ship the Wear ever built.

The Clark's house, Ashcroft Towers, in fact, was the centre of Sunderland social life at the turn of the century and it was there that Jessie Clark, as she was then, met the tall, bearded Elof Wancke, a Swedish timber merchant who was importing pit props for the Durham coalfield.

HONOURED

Elof was obviously very much taken with the young Miss Clark for, after meeting again several times, he followed her to the South of France where she was on holiday, proposed to her and was accepted.

He was the Swedish vice-consul in Sunderland for more than 30 years and during that time was honoured by the King of Sweden with the Order of the Vasa (the old Swedish dynasty).

Mrs Wancke has been a widow now for 26 years, but she has a close-knit family of twin daughters, a son, eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren, all of who are helping her to celebrate her 100th birthday today.

Her health is excellent and she spends much of her time reading, knitting and watching television. She is particularly fond of sport and during Wimbledon fortnight you'll find her conversing expertly and interestingly about tennis players.

Up to three years go she favoured a long morning walk, and this, with a placid outlook and not smoking, she says is her recipe for longevity."

*The actual author of the piece was her grandson, Charles Bowden, then a journalist with the Newcastle Journal.

• Cremation: 31 Dec 1970, Carlisle Crematorium. ⁴²

Children from this marriage were:

+ 15 F    i. Phyllis Hildegarde Wancke ⁴² was born on 14 Nov 1908 in 5 Woodside, Sunderland, Co. Durham, ⁵⁸ was baptized on 15 Nov 1908 in Christ Church, Bishopwearmouth, Co. Durham, ⁵⁹ and died on 4 Jan 1994 in Penrith, Cumberland, at age 85. ⁴² (Twin)

+ 16 F    ii. Jessie Christine Wancke was born on 14 Nov 1908 in 5 Woodside, Sunderland, Co. Durham and died on 20 Jun 1992 in Hexham General Hospital, Hexham, at age 83. (Twin)

+ 17 M    iii. Alan Hamilton Wancke was born on 29 May 1914 in 20 Thornhill Gardens, Sunderland, Co. Durham, ⁴ died on 18 Jan 2003 in Haltwhistle Hospital, Haltwhistle, at age 88, ⁶¹ and was buried on 24 Jan 2003 in St Cuthbert's Churchyard, Beltingham, Northumberland. ⁶²

General Notes: Businessman.

Some things connected with his life:

• Probate Granted: 12 Apr 1937, Birmingham. ⁶³ Effects: £31426 7s 5d.

Hjalmar married Helen Gertrude Chawner , ⁴ daughter of John Wilcox Chawner and Julia Ann ——— , in Jul 1891 in Solihull, Warwickshire.¹³ Nellie was born on 8 Feb 1868 in Handsworth, Staffordshire ^{4 ,64} and died on 12 Apr 1952 in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, at age 84. ⁶⁵

Some things connected with her life:

• Probate Granted: 14 Jul 1952, Birmingham. ⁶⁶ Effects: £2607-19s-6d.

Children from this marriage were:

   18 F    i. May Gertrude Wancke ⁴ was born on 12 Apr 1892 ⁴ and died <1980> in Spain.

May married Gonsalo Miguel ⁴ in 1917 in London, England.⁶⁷ Gonsalo was born on 25 Feb 1888.⁴

   19 F    ii. Lilian Beatrice Wancke was born on 12 Sep 1893 ⁴ and died on 10 Jan 1981 in Gravesend, Kent, at age 87. ⁴¹

Some things connected with her life:

• Probate Granted: 10 Jan 1981, Brighton, Sussex. ⁴³ Estate: £54812

Lily married Herman Cecil Wancke , ⁴ son of Herman Fredrik Wancke and Sarah Ada Abbott . ⁴² Cecil was born on 19 Oct 1888 in Beckenham, Kent ⁴ and died on 6 Dec 1969 in Gravesend, Kent, at age 81. ³⁸

For more about Cecil see ¹⁴ above

+ 20 F    iii. Helen Marguerite Wancke ⁴ was born on 10 Nov 1895 ⁶⁹ and died on 1 Aug 1992 in Hampshire, at age 96 ⁷⁰ .^,71

+ 21 F    iv. Iris Marie Wancke ⁴ was born on 10 Dec 1900 ⁴ and died on 10 Jan 1962 in The General Hospital, Middlesbrough, at age 61. ⁷³

Some things connected with her life:

• Probate Granted: Durham. ⁷⁴ Effects: £11710 6s 7d

Ivis married Karl Isak Pyhlson , son of Jacob Albert Pyhlson , on 30 Dec 1896 in Christ Church, Bishopwearmouth, Co. Durham ^{20 ,21} .^,22 Karl was born on 20 Apr 1860 in Sweden ⁴ and died on 6 Aug 1933 in 3 West Lawn, Sunderland, Co. Durham, at age 73. ⁷⁵

Some events in their marriage were:

• Wedding: 30 Dec 1896, Sunderland. The following day a Sunderland newspaper had this to say of Karl's and Ivis's wedding:-

MARRIED AT CHRIST CHURCH

A wedding of considerable local interest in was celebrated yesterday at Christ Church, Sunderland, when Miss Ivis Wancke was married to Mr Karl Pyhlson, Consul for the Netherlands at Sunderland. The service was choral, and the ceremony was performed by the Rev. C. G. Hopkinson, vicar of the parish. The bride, who was given away by her brother, Mr Elof U. Wancke, Consul for Sweden and Norway at Sunderland, was charmingly attired in a handsome dress of ivory duchesse satin, with chiffon bodice trimmed with pearl passementerie and real Brussels lace. She wore a diamond crescent, and carried a lovely shower bouquet of exotics, both the gifts of the bridegroom. The bride was followed by three bridesmaids, Miss May Wancke, her little niece, and Miss Marie Bell and Miss Lucy Price. Miss May Wancke wore a pretty dress of bengaline silk and a cream felt hat, with feather trimming to match, and carried a basket of white flowers. Miss Marie Bell and Miss Lucy Price wore cream alpaca dresses, with chiffon bodices, caught at the waist with a pleated ceinture of eau de nil satin and black velvet picture hats trimmed with ostrich feathers, and carried bouquets of pink roses and autumn tinted leaves. All the bridesmaids wore pretty pearl heart brooches, the gift of the bridegroom. The bridegroom was accompanied by Mr Charles McKenzie, as best man. After the ceremony Mr Wancke received the numerous guests at Ellesmere House, Woodside. Later in the afternoon Mr and Mrs Pyhlson left en route for the Continent. The bride's going-away costume was a smart tailor-made coat and skirt of blue and grey striped cloth, with green velvet revers edged with white cloth, with which was worn a pretty picture hat of green straw trimmed with black ostrich feather and plume, and cream lace fastened with jewelled buckle. The wedding presents were beautiful and numerous.

General Notes: Businessman. Co-founder of the firm of Mackenzie & Pyhlson Ltd, Coal Exporters, with offices in Newcastle and Sunderland. Also Consul for Netherlands in Sunderland for 33 years. ⁷⁶

Some things connected with his life:

• Report of death: 7 Aug 1933, Sunderland, Co. Durham. ⁷⁷ A local newspaper reported Karl's death as follows:-

DEATH OF MR KARL PYHLSON
PROMINENT SUNDERLAND
COAL EXPORTER

The death occurred at his home, 3 West Lawn, Sunderland, yesterday, of Mr Karl Pyhlson. He was 73.

Mr Pyhlson, who was a born in Sweden in 1860, spent a few years in London before coming to Sunderland, where he had lived for the past 45 years.

He was one of the founders of the firm of Mackenzie and Pyhlson, Ltd., coal exporters, of Sunderland and Newcastle, and he was Dutch Consul in Sunderland for 33 years. When he retired from that position, the Queen of Holland awarded him the Order of Oranje-Nassau.

Failing health caused his retirement from business in 1929, and Mr Pyhlson devoted much time to philately.

Mr Pyhlson leaves a widow and one daughter, who is married to the Italian playwright, Mario Ghisalberti.

The internment will take [place] at Sunderland Cemetery on Wednesday, and will be preceded by a service at Christ Church at noon.

• Probate Granted: 29 Nov 1933. ⁷⁸ Effects: £38296 11s 3d.

Children from this marriage were:

   22 F    i. Ivis Marguerite Pyhlson, O.B.E. ⁴ was born on 11 Feb 1898 in West Lawn, Sunderland, Co. Durham, ⁴ was baptized on 9 Mar 1898 in Christ Church, Bishopwearmouth, Co. Durham, ⁷⁹ and died in 1986 in Milan, Italy, at age 88.

Some things connected with her life:

• Honoured: Jul 1975, Buckingham Palace, London. Marguerite was invested with the Order of the British Empire in July 1975.

Marguerite married Mario L Ghisalberti in 1926 in Sunderland, Co. Durham.⁸⁰ Mario was born on 11 Nov 1902 and died on 22 Aug 1980 in Venice, Italy, at age 77.

General Notes: Author, librettist¹, playwright and theatre producer². In later life (until retirement) Editor of the Italian edition of the "Readers Digest".

¹ Operas:-
"La Vedova Scaltra" from the play of the same name by Carlo Goldoni, opened 5th March 1931,Teatro Reale dell'Opera, Rome, music by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari
"Il Campiello", December 1941, music by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari
"Il Dottor Antonio", April 1949, music by Franco Alfano

² Productions:-
"La Traviata", "Aida", "La Gioconda" and "Lohengrin" at the "Stagione Lirica Carnevale" of 1932/1933.
"Nerone" (Pietro Mascagni) in 1936 at the Teatro Carlo Felicey in Genoa and the Opera House in Zurich. ^{42 ,81}

Medical Notes: In later life suffered from emphysema.

Some things connected with his life:

• Postscript: 5 Nov 1980, Milan, Italy. ⁸² His wife, Marguerite, writing to John Green in reply to the latter's letter of condolence on Mario's death, wrote:-
"What I liked so much about him was his objectivity & lack of prejudices - the only one really was towards the priests! It seems incredible but until his health broke down badly about 2 yrs ago, he was still good company at home - but never a socialite."

  Fifth Generation  

General Notes: British vice Consul in Turku (Åbo) from 1902-12 and later at Helingsfors. Businessman (wood products and granite agent), officer at the British Embassy in Stockholm 1918-19. ^{83 ,84}

Some things connected with his life:

• He was educated bet. 1894 &1896 in Tonbridge. ⁸⁵ Stanley went to Tonbridge School when he was 14 years old in the Easter term of 1894 and was in Judde House. The School Register makes no mention of his time there except to record that he left in 1896 when he was 16.

Stanley married Ingrid Alina Charlotta Rydman , ⁴ daughter of Axel Valfred Rydman and Hilda Charlotta Munch Af Fulkila , on 5 Aug 1908 in Turku Cathedral, Turku, Finland. ³¹ Inni was born on 21 May 1885 ⁴ and died on 23 May 1978, at age 93.¹⁴

General Notes: Studied physiotherapy in Stockholm 1903-05. Physiotherapist at different locations in western Finland 1905-07. ⁸⁴

Children from this marriage were:

+ 23 M    i. Harold Abbott Wancke ⁴ was born on 9 May 1909 in Turku (Åbo), Finland ⁴ and died on 3 Sep 1993 in London, England, at age 84. ⁸⁶

+ 24 M    ii. Sven Widing Wancke was born on 16 Jun 1911 in Turku (Åbo), Finland ⁴ and died on 24 Sep 1980 in Dorking, Surrey, at age 69. ⁸⁷

   25 F    iii. Ester Dorrit Charlotta Wancke (Still Living.)

Some things connected with her life:

• Cremation: Carlisle Crematorium.

Phyllis married Richard Vidal Green , ⁹⁰ son of Richard James Green and Madeline Vidal , on 4 Jun 1932 in Christ Church, Bishopwearmouth, Co. Durham. ⁶⁰ Dick was born on 21 Feb 1906 in 9 Roker Park Road, Sunderland, Co. Durham ⁹¹ and died on 1 Jan 1988 in Smithy Cottage, Tirril, Penrith, at age 81. ⁹²

Some events in their marriage were:

• Wedding: 4 Jul 1932, Sunderland. Phyllis' and Dick's wedding was reported in a local newspaper:-

SUNDERLAND BRIDE
HONEYMOON TO BE SPENT IN PARIS

The wedding took place at Christ Church, Sunderland, on Saturday, of Miss Phyllis Hildegarde Wancke, twin daughter of Mr and Mrs E U Wancke of The Laurels, Sunderland, and Mr Richard Vidal Green, son of Mr and Mrs R J Green of Grange Terrace, Sunderland and Winshields, Bardon Mill.

Given way by her father, the bride wore a dress of old Brussels lace over satin, with a veil lent by the mother of the bridegroom. Her flowers were pink roses.

She was attended by Miss Christine Wancke (twin sister), Miss Du Pre, of Heathfield, Sussex; Miss Barbara Hett, of Darlington; and Miss Emily Smith of Stockholm, who all wore apple-green lace dresses and green floral headdresses and carried bouquets of sweet peas.

Mr H V Green (brother of the bridegroom) was best man, and Mr Alan Wancke (brother of the bride), Mr Ralph Powell (cousin of the bride), and Dr Frank Hubbersty were ushers. After a reception at the home of the bride's parents, the bride and bridegroom left for a honeymoon in Paris.

Some things connected with his life:

• He was educated bet. Sep 1919 & Dec 1923 in Oxfordshire. ⁹³ Dick was in Stone's Tutors (boarding house) at St. Peter's College, Radley; the Rev. Francis Stone was his mother's first cousin. 

• He worked bet. Feb 1924 & c. 1925 in Canada. ⁴² More are less immediately after he left Radley, Dick was sent out to Canada to get some experience of farming. At first, he  went to stay with his mother's cousin Guy Stone who had a fruit farm at Beamsville, Ontario.  By all accounts, the stay  was not a great success, amongst other things Mrs Stone was a strict lady and Dick's dalliances with her maids may not have have gone down well with her. Whatever the case, Dick left the Stones and joined a thrashing gang for a season in which he gained little experience in farming but much in the ways of men.

To the disappointment of his father, who had been hoping that he might settle in Canada, Dick returned to England some time in 1925.  He always seemed to look back on his experiences in Canada with affection; his trip there was, as things turned out, his only real adventure.

• He farmed bet. c.1926 &1955.  Initially on his return from Canada, Dick became a pupil on a farm in North Yorkshire and then in 1929 his father bought Winshields, a farm near Bardon Mill in Northumberland, here Dick carried on mixed farming until 1955.

• Political Activity: 1946-1952, Haltwhistle, Northumberland. ⁹⁴ Dick was elected to the Haltwhistle Rural District Council as a Progressive member for Henshaw ward in the first postwar RDC elections in April 1946.

In a 75% poll, Dick beat the Socialist contender by 205 votes to 139 and started a seven year stint in local politics. As Henshaw was mainly a mining community, Dick did well to be elected there as the tide was running strongly for the Socialists after the war; he was successful because he was well-known to the electorate, having spent much time over the years in the local pubs, and stood, despite the "Progressive" label, as an independent (ie one without affiliations to the Conservative or Labour parties).

In 1949 Dick was voted Chairman of the RDC, ousting, to everyone's surprise, the previous Labour Chairman of some years standing by one vote. The latter, Miss Margaret Fleming, was the leading light in the local Labour Party, having been at one time the local secretary and also being then the district's member of the County Council. Dick and Miss Fleming had many disagreements on council policy but Dick was good at chairing meetings and reconciling opposing factions and, as a result, he was re-elected Chairman each year until he stood down from the Council in June 1952.

Ironically, on becoming Chairman, Dick found himself an ex officio member of the local Bench which two years earlier had fined him £5 for killing a pig without the necessary licence which the food regulations after the war required.

• Cremation: 8 Jan 1988, Carlisle Crematorium.

Children from this marriage were:

   26 F    i. Rosemary Margaret Green (Still Living.)

Rosemary married Jeremy Crispin Roland Marston , ⁴² son of J Patrick Marston and Perdita Williams . Jeremy was born on 25 Oct 1937 in Oxford? and died on 26 Jun 1988 in Newcastle Upon Tyne, at age 50.⁴²

   27 M    ii. John Richard Ulrich Green (Still Living.)

John married Linda Graham-Young , daughter of Col. Iain Alistair Graham-Young and Grace Robertson Howie .

   28 M    iii. Michael William Green (Still Living.)

Michael married Diana Hicks , daughter of Richard Hicks and Jane ——— .

Some things connected with her life:

• Cremation: 24 Jun 1992, Carlisle Crematorium. ⁴²

Chrissie married John Ferguson Bowden , son of Thomas George Bowden and Ada Elizabeth Jarvis .

Children from this marriage were:

   29 M    i. Ian Lewis Bowden (Still Living.)

Ian married Caroline Mary Kynaston Williams , daughter of J G Kynaston Williams .

   30 M    ii. Charles Edward Bowden (Still Living.)

Charles married Elspeth Southern , daughter of A E Southern and Catherine ——— .

Some things connected with his life:

• He was educated bet. 1927 & 1931 in Edinburgh. ⁹⁷ Alan was at Fettes College. He went there in 1927 and left in July 1931 when he was in Va mods.

• He was educated bet. 1936 &1937 in Newcastle Upon Tyne. ⁹⁷ Alan spent some time as a farm pupil and then took an Diploma in Agriculture from Durham University at Armstrong College, Newcastle. 

• He farmed bet. 1937 & c.1980. ⁹⁸ Alan initially farmed in Yorkshire growing potatoes but in 1939 his father bought Thorngrafton, a farm near Bardon Mill in Northumberland, where Alan carried on mixed farming for many years before concentrating on milk production in the 1960s.

For many years Alan took a keen and active interest in the NFU and was chairman of the local (Haltwhistle) branch several times and was also, for a time, an executive delegate to the NFU for the local farming community.

• His obituary was published on 31 Jan 2003 in Hexham. ⁹⁹ A local newspaper published this obituary for Alan:-

Farmer and union delegate joined the Home Guard

A FARMER who was described by those who knew him as “a gentleman” has died peacefully at the age of 88.
Alan Wancke, of Thorngrafton House, was a highly respected member of the Tynedale community and served as an executive delegate for the National Farmers' Union.
He died, following a short illness, at Hexham Hospital last Saturday.
Alan was born in Sunderland in 1914, the son of the then Swedish vice-consul Elof and his wife Jessie, of the world-famous Clark engineering family.
He was educated at Fettes College, Edinburgh, until he was 17 and spent many of his school holidays working on farms.
Upon leaving school, Alan worked first on a farm in East Lothian, before doing a pre-college year at Hardriding Farm in Bardon Mill.
In 1933 he went to Armstrong College and in his summer breaks he worked in Sweden at the famous Alfa Laval farm.
His father bought Thorngrafton, a dairy farm, in 1939 for £4,300 and Alan took up residence there the following year.
He immediately become involved with the National Farmers'Union and the Bardon Mill platoon of the Home Guard, where he trained recruits and cadets.
In 1945 Alan was appointed chairman of the Haltwhistle branch of the NFU and later became a regular delegate to the county executive.
Four years later he met Cynthia Liddell, daughter of John Liddell, the largest agricultural engineers in the Haltwhistle area, and shortly afterwards the couple were married.
Alan was a keen rugby fan and, as well as playing for Tynedale, he made regular trips to Murrayfield to watch the Scotland team's matches.
He and Cynthia also loved sailing and were among the founder members of the Bassenthwaite Sailing Club in the Lake District.
Alan leaves his wife, three children and seven grand-children.


NOTE: There are two errors in the above obituary which were corrected in the following edition. First, Alan died at Haltwhistle Hospital and secondly, Cynthia's father was R. Thompson Liddell.

Alan married Anne Cynthia Liddell , daughter of R Thompson Liddell and Cynthia Skelton .

Children from this marriage were:

+ 31 M    i. Christopher John Hamilton Wancke (Still Living.)

+ 32 F    ii. Virginia Luise Hamilton Wancke (Still Living.)

   33 F    iii. Angela Fay Wancke (Still Living.)

Daisy married Charles Espin Hardwick ⁴ in 1919 in Tamworth.⁷² Charles was born on 14 Dec 1893 in Birmingham ⁴ and died on 30 Apr 1960 in Lincoln, at age 66. ¹⁰¹

General Notes: Stockbroker and glider enthusiast.

Children from this marriage were:

   34 M    i. Sub-Lieutenant William Espin Hardwick, R.N.V.R. ¹⁴ was born in 1920 ¹⁴ and died on 12 Dec 1942 at sea, In Action, at age 22. ¹⁰²

He never married.

+ 35 F    ii. Helen Patricia Hardwick (Still Living.)

   36 M    iii. David Espin Hardwick (Still Living.)

David married Margaret Kingser . ¹⁴ Margaret was born in 1927 and died in Mar 2003, at age 76.

Some things connected with her life:

• Probate Granted: 10 May 1962, York. ¹⁰⁴

Iris married Harry Pitt Dean .⁴ Harry was born on 12 Oct 1896 and died in Feb 1991 in Middlesbrough.⁴

General Notes: Engineer.

Children from this marriage were:

   37 M    i. Charles Harry Dean ¹⁴ born 10 Jun 1925 in Birmingham and died Dec 1996 in Middlesbrough.

   38 M    ii. Joyce M Dean (Still Living.)

   39 F    iii. Donald W Dean (Still Living.)

  Sixth Generation  

General Notes: Businessman. Sometime Chief Executive of Scannews (London) Limited, the British subsidiary of a Scandinavian paper group.

Some things connected with his life:

• Honoured: <1966>, London, England. Was presented with the Knighthood of the Royal Order of St. Olav by the Norgegian Ambassador, Mr Arne Skang, acting on behalf of King Olav V.

Harold married Ingrid Margareta Stålhammar . ⁴

Children from this marriage were:

+ 40 M    i. Clive Robert Abbott Wancke (Still Living.)

Harold married Elsa Birgit Ek .¹⁴ Pian was born on 21 Jan 1917 in Finland ¹⁴ and died on 13 Oct 1994 in London, England, at age 77. ¹⁰⁵

Children from this marriage were:

+ 41 M    i. Henry Brian Abbott Wancke (Still Living.)

   42 F    ii. Barbara Wancke (Still Living.)

Sven married Mary Agnes Garton , ¹⁴ daughter of Harry Garton and Alice Duffy .  Maureen, as she was known, was born on 16 May 1915 in Wandsworth, Surrey and died on 6 Dec 2004 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Dec 2004 addition)

Children from this marriage were:

+ 43 M    i. Patrick Stanley Widing Wilding (Still Living.)

+ 44 F    ii. Anita Wancke (Still Living.)

Christopher married Yvonne Bernadette Marshall , daughter of John Marshall and Audrey Knight

Children from this marriage were:

   45 M    i. Daniel Alexander Hamilton Wancke (Still Living.)

   46 F    ii. Natasha Emily Wancke (Still Living.)

   47 F    iii. Anya Victoria Hamilton Wancke (Still Living.)

   48 M    iv. Oliver Zac Hamilton Wancke (Still Living.)

Virginia married Richard Miles Davis , son of Colonel Peter Davis .

Children from this marriage were:

   49 F    i. Charlotte Luise Davis (Still Living.)

   50 F    ii. Annabelle Sarah Davis (Still Living.)

   51 M    iii. Harry Miles Davis (Still Living.)

Helen married Geoffrey Reginald Maxwell Bowder . ¹⁴ Geoffrey Reginald Maxwell Bowder died in Jan 2002.

Children from this marriage were:

   52 M    i. Reginald William Maxwell Bowder (Still Living.)

Bill married Caroline Sackville West .

  Seventh Generation

Robbie married Maileena Majakari . ¹⁴

Children from this marriage were:

   53 M    i. Tom Henry Abbott Wancke (Still Living.)

   54 M    ii. Peter Charles Robert Wancke (Still Living.)

   55 M    iii. Nicholas Michael Wancke (Still Living.)

Henry married Rosalind Louise Wansbrough-Jones , ¹⁴ daughter of William Alexander Wansbrough-Jones and Doris M Harding .

Children from this marriage were:

   56 F    i. Juliette Ingrid Vankay (Still Living.)

   57 M    ii. Kristian Andrew Abbott Vankay (Still Living.)

Patrick married Fay Dorothy Barker ¹⁴ ,^,108 daughter of Roy Barker and Dorothy Calderwood . Fifi was born on 23 Feb 1940 in Cape Town, South Africa ^{89 ,108} and died on 30 May 1986 in Sevenoaks, Kent, at age 46 ⁸⁹ .^,108

Children from this marriage were:

   58 M    i. Dominic Sven Roy Wilding (Still Living.)

   59 F    ii. Suzanne Mary Wilding (Still Living.)

Suzanne married Robin S Conway-Lusted .

Anita married Patrick Jocylyn Cunningham . ¹⁴

Children from this marriage were:

   60 M    i. Simon Cunningham (Still Living.)

   61 M    ii. James Cunningham (Still Living.)

   62 F    iii. Amanda Cunningham (Still Living.)

   63 F    iv. Belinda Cunningham (Still Living.)

   64 M    v. Edward Cunningham (Still Living.)