HENRY FREDERICK SEAGRAM 1838 – 1883
Lieut.-Colonel 1st Battalion 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Henry Frederick Seagram was baptised on 20 April 1838 at St Denys, Warminster, he was the son of John Seagram, a solicitor and his wife Louisa Flowers. He joined the Ist Battalion
23rd Royal Welch Fusiliers, his army records have these details. Ensign in 23rd Foot – Jun 1858 without purchase. Purchases; promotion to Lieutenant 1860. 1870 Lieutenant to Captain without purchase. 23rd Foot throughout. India 1859-1865, 1866-1867, Feb -Nov 1869.
Where he was after then isn`t known, but on 10 July 1871 he married Mary Elizabeth Williams in Rhayder Church, this was her birthplace. He was a Captain of 23rd foot infantry RWF, father John Seagram, solicitor. Mary Elizabeth`s father was Evan Williams, also a solicitor.
There were many family notices in the papers which help trace their movements.
- On the 17th June at Pembroke Dock, the wife of Captain Henry Seagram, 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers, of a daughter. ( Mary Seagram)
By 1877 they are in Wrexham and there is an announcement of a death on the 14th November at Wrexham, Cecil Harry Frowd, son of Captain H. F. Seagram, 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers. The burial entry is at St Giles, his abode was Grove Park and he was buried in Wrexham Cemetery aged 11 months.
In July 1878 there was an auction in Wrexham and for sale were two modern and substantially built, comfortable and convenient semi-detached villa residences, called “Tai-Llwyn,” each containing drawing and dining-rooms, scullery, plate closet, larder, and W.C. on ground floor. Five good bedrooms, dressing room, and attics and well-ventilated cellaring: ornamental grounds and greenhouse enclosed yards and out- offices, complete with all necessary fixtures, and supplied with water and gas. The premises are situated at the town entrance to Grove Park, Wrexham, with excellent frontages’ to Grove Park Road, and adjoin the pleasure grounds of Roseneath, and now or late in the occupations of Captain Seagram, and Mr Barnes.
Birth announcement. On 13 September 1878 – the wife of Capt. H. F. Seagram, 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers, of a daughter. (Hilda Winifred Seagram)
On 30 April 1879, the Gazette published that Henry Frederick was to have the honorary rank of Major on retiring on a pension.
The next time the family are found is in 1881 when they are in Burton Villas, Gresford.
Mary who was born at Pembroke Dock is 7 and Hilda Winifred aged 2 are there. They have a cook and three servants. They later moved to Thornton Lodge, Gresford.
Henry Frederick died on 2 January 1883 and was buried on the 5 January, his daughter Olive Frederika died soon after , the St Giles burial register entry is dated 22 January, there is no age, she is “an infant. Wrexham cemetery registers have her as 7months.
There is an obituary in the Wrexham Advertiser. Edited.
Lieut.-Colonel H. F. Seagram, late 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers, expired at his residence, Thornton Lodge, Gresford, after a brief but severe illness, the deceased officer was only ill about a week, finally succumbing to an acute attack of inflammation of the lungs. On the 30th April 1871, after twenty-one years service, he retired with the honorary rank of Major, and ultimately became Lieut.-Colonel under the provisions of the Royal Warrant of 11th of March, 1882. It will no doubt be remembered that the deceased officer was in charge of the detachment of troops who arrived at Wrexham in August, 1878, and formed the Brigade Depot, Wrexham.
A few months after Henry`s death there were notices in the papers, some of his property was up for auction, it was to be removed from his house and brought to Wrexham for convenience, which items were his isn’t known.
- AUCTION in the Public Hall, Wrexham. on Monday, July 9th, at 1 o’clock, a large assortment of Household Furniture etc the property of the late Col. Seagram and of a lady who is giving up housekeeping in Wrexham, consisting of Drawing, Dining, and Bed-room Furniture, chiffonnier whatnot with glass back, handsome easy chairs, gipsy tables, carved oak hall-seat, oak hat stand, dining table, hair seated chairs, footstools, cornices, Brussels and Kidderminster carpets, wood and iron bedsteads, chests of drawers, toilet tables, glass and china, kitchen tables, hastener and jack, and a variety of other kitchen utensils, a strong hand-cart for luggage, perambulator, saddle, bridle, horse clothing, &c.
Mary Elizabeth must have been distraught at losing her husband and child in such a short time, but she must have been really shocked to discover later she was pregnant. She and her two young daughters must have moved away as in 1883 this announcement was posted in the Pembrokeshire Herald.
BIRTH; September 8, at 21, Lingfield-road, Wimbledon, the widow of Lieut. Colonel H. F. Seagram, late 1st Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, of a son.
The child was named Henry Frederick after his father; The GRO registration has the mother’s maiden name as Williams, which is correct.
Mary E isn`t found again until 1901 when she is in Stony Stratford, Buckinghamshire. Her daughter Hilda Winifred is with her.
On 18 January 1893 her eldest daughter Mary had married. The newspapers confirm Henry’s rank. “At Bradford, Mary, eldest daughter of the late Lieutenant-Colonel Seagram, 1st Battalion 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers, to Verdi Fawcett.” Verdi was a violinist and a “professor of music” They were living in West Kensington in 1911.
Also in 1911 – Mary E and her daughter Hilda Winifred who is still unmarried are living in a very nice area in Hampton on Thames.
Her son Henry Frederick had married Cicely Gertrude Booth in 1904 and was a motor engineer, they were living in Gerrards Cross.
Mary Elizabeth Seagram, who was known as Bessie died at 32 Philbeach Gardens, Earls Court, and was buried on 24 March 1924 in the West London and Westminster Cemetery in Earls Court. She was 77. She left effects of £892 7s 5d,
Henry Frederick Seagram jnr died in Kensington in 1947, he was 65.
Hilda Winifred Seagram never married, she lived till she was 74 and died in Middlesex in 1953, she was listed in Hammersmith electoral rolls and was living with her sister Mary Fawcett who died in 1956.
Researched by Annette Edwards. November 2018. Gravestone photographs by Graham Lloyd.
Many thanks to MaxD for Military Records, and to Judy Roberts of Chirk.
Grave ref: Wrexham Cemetery J-02501