RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => Other Countries => Topic started by: Hopwood72 on Saturday 18 July 15 16:59 BST (UK)
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Hello
We would be very grateful for any information in relation to the Keeton family from the UK who spent the majority of their lives in Mombasa.
John Edward Keeton
B: 21 Dec 1909 - Derbyshire
D: 1974 - Barnstaple, Devon
According to passenger lists, John Edward's occupations: civil servant, boiler inspector, E.A.R. & H Inspector (whatever that is?) and Railway Inspector.
Ellen Irene Tandy (Wife of John Edward Keeton)
B: 8 Feb 1914 - Derbyshire
D: 2008 - Barnstaple, Devon
Daughter: Removed and Son: John Michael Keeton both born in the UK.
According to passenger lists, they first travelled to Mombasa in 1947 and travelled back to the UK now and again, for a few months and then returned. This happened up until 1958 and we can no longer find any records of their return to the UK, but they obviously did so. It looks as though John Edward travelled to Mombasa first (although we cannot find him on any passenger lists to prove this), possibly for his job and to get established and Ellen and the children arrived on their own (as John Edward is not listed on earliest passenger list we can find).
We really like to try and go into detail and paint a picture of the lives our ancestors lived for generations to come. We like to include pictures of our ancestors, residences/streets, occupations, pictures of the ships they travelled on, general information of what life was like at the time and major local events. Any information, or suggestions on where to look would be gratefully received. We are always willing to assist in return if anyone else is looking. So please do get in touch with us!
Many thanks
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Can't help with much on this.
E A R & H = East Africa Railways and Harbours - the company or Govt dept which ran the railway system from Mombassa through Nairobi to Uganda.
I beleive that employees were taken on on long contracts with allowances for home leave - we had friends whose husband if I remember correctly was on a 25 year contract. This was back in 1952
If you know the names of the ships you might try "Photoships" web site for pictures.
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Thank you so much! You have helped us a lot more than you realise. Especially with E A R & H, that gives us a lot to go on. Will definitely look on the photoships profile as well.
Many thanks :)
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The publication of ships lists ceased in the 1960's as air travel become more affordable and popular
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/passengers/
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Are the children still alive? We have a 'no living people' policy here and their names should be removed if they are.
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Hello,
Can't help much on the family, sorry.
There is a Kenya National Archives and a Kenya Bureau of Statistics.
There is also a census in Kenya but maybe that is only since 1963
On major events and what life was like at the time, try googling Mombasa 1947- there are details of a national strike in Mombasa. looking at images there are old pictures of Mombasa harbour and streets
Anne
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John Edward Keeton died 10 Aug.1974
Ellen Irene Keeton died 8 Dec.2008
Looks like son-
John Michael Keeton
born 8 April 1941
died 1 Nov.2006
https://www.gov.uk/wills-probate-inheritance/searching-for-probate-records
There's also a possible marriage for daughter but since I haven't looked for a possible death I won't post details.
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Thank you aghadowey and emmanne for the information. Truly appreciated.
In relation to deaths the answer is YES! I didn't put that information on as it wasn't relevant to the post.
Thank you both for your POLITE replies. Politeness costs nothing and it is such a shame that others cannot follow the same example. Especially when you are supposed to be an ambassador for the site.
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Sorry dawnsh! I thought I included you. Thank you for your reply and the information. It again all helps us immensely! :)
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I'm a bit puzzled by your reply but you did say in your original post "We would be very grateful for any information in relation to the Keeton family from the UK who spent the majority of their lives in Mombasa." which is why I posted details you apparently already had found.
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I recently found a very interesting site called "Nostalgia East Africa" with a section on Mombassa and one on Nairobi with a wealth of photos from around the time you are interested in.
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Google Books has a mention for Mr & Mrs J E Keeton in "East Africa and Rhodesia, Volumes 42-43" from 1966. Possibly a passenger list. http://tinyurl.com/q8wpvx7
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J E Keeton living in Nairobi in 1964 per this telephone directory http://tinyurl.com/nlat4jn
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Try www.kenyasociety.org. There's a magazine which is all about life in Kenya. Try looking at the Union Castle Shipping line, especially "The Kenya Castle", they ran mail ships around Africa. There is also film footage of Nairobi Airport being built, www.colonialfilm.org.uk. There is a railway museum in Nairobi, although they never answered any of my emails. Carolmc
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Ancestry has fourteen of them. If you have access search under "Last Name" Keeton
"Country" Kenya.
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Railway Museum in Nairobi struggles for money; worth a visit if you're a railway buff. I'm not all that surprised that they don't respond to emails, but if you were able to drop in at some stage, things might be different! My latest local advice is that the area isn't quite as safe as it used to be, but the usual care is always needed.
Worth searching Google Books as the Kenya Gazette (similar function to the London Gazette) has been digitised. The East African Standard - the most likely newspaper to give you mentions - is held by the British Library but is neither digitised nor indexed, so unless you're sure of a target date to investigate, it's probably a forlorn hope.
I'd agree that the Kenya Society might be a fruitful source of information. For background, The Lunatic Express by Charles Miller is entertaining in describing the establishment of the Uganda Railway which later became the EAR.