Genealogy Chat

Anyone with a knowledge of the origins of the Greest families of Spalding and Lincolnshire generally are welcome to answer my enquiry. In fact they are implored on bended knee to help me with my search of their possible roots in the Netherlands. This was my paternal grandmother's family, and she was born in Spalding in 1886, and Christened Marian Greest, to John Greest, a carpenter by trade and his wife. There is a famous family of Geest (ie without the 'r') who were highly successful daffodil and tulip cultivators and a parade is held to this day (yearly) celebrating the early pioneering growing of such 'crops'. I don't think they are related, but John and Leonard Geest came over from Holland in about 1923. I have a feeling that my Greest family came over before that time from either Belgium or Holland. Ronald Jones

This seems to be your Greest family in 1891 but I can't find the father in 1881 to see if his parents were born in Holland or Belgium. (It's been transcribed Griest but original is Greest) 1891 census Back Lane, Fordham Lordship, Cheshire John Greest, head, 36, carpenter's labourer, born London, Highgate Sarah Greest, wife, 31, born Cambridgeshire, Fordsham Marian Greest, dau, 4, born Lincolnshire, Spalding George Turner Greest, son, 1, born Spalding George Albert Greest, nephew, 9, scholar, born London, Islington

On the 1881 census John Greet, age 25, born Highgate, Middlesex, is a Lodger in Spalding, Lincolnshire. His occupation then was railway porter.

1861 census Southwoods Lane, Registry Office for Servants, Hornsey, Highgate, Middlesex Ann Greest, head, married, 44, chapel keeper, born Wanford, Winchester Elizabeth, dau, 12, scholar, born Mortlake, Surrey Henry, son, 10, scholar, born Marylebone, Middlesex Mary Ann, dau, 6, scholar, born Marylebone John, son, 4, scholar, born Highgate, middlesex George, son, 3, scholar, born Highgate

Now I'm stuck, can't find them in 1851 to see if John's father was from Holland or Belgium. Margaret

Thank you, Margaret, for your kind interest in my query. I shall copy and paste this for further study. You have given me a lot to think about there. I'll let you know how I get on , and whether I can find their origins in the Netherlands. Ron Jones