Sampler by WVL Van Someren

[Gwaelodian]

  thanks.

[jim1]

1901 in Edinburgh Scotland:
Alice L Van Someren   38 Wife of Barrister at Singapore.
Daisy Van Someren   23
Robert Van Someren   20
Alexander Van Someren   18
Noël Van Someren   15
Gurner Van Someren   13
Donald Van Someren   10
Vernon Van Someren   5
Dorothy Van Someren   2
Kate Toft   15
Catherine Stewart   25
Janet Stewart   18

Doesn't really stack up as there's no WVL b.1896.

[Gwaelodian]

Wow!!!! You have found Dorothy for me!  Vernon is obviously the soldier William Vernon. I thought she said he was her  brother! I've got a photo of Dorothy that I will find in an old album and post. She was a tiny, regal lady, always addressing her GP husband as 'the doctor'. John, her husband, was still working when I first knew them, but during retirement, they spent a fair amount of time at our house. Always very formal, very correct. She always felt she looked like the Queen Mother ... and was certainly tiny like her. Now I see the Scots link, I recall that she was well into Scottish dancing, though she spoke a lot of her 'Ayah', so I assumed she lived in India. I have tears in my eyes as I read this link. I was very fond of Dorothy and John. He was broken when she died, but ultimately found happiness again.  I am so grateful to you. Norma

[Gwaelodian]

1901 Scotland Census
U.K. CENSUS COLLECTION   
NAME:    Vernon Van Someren
BIRTH:    abt 1896 - location
RESIDENCE:    city, Midlothian

Date is exactly right.

[jim1]

There must be descendants but they are probably spread all over the world as they seem that sort of family.

[Gwaelodian]

Here is a snap of Dorothy and John with a French boy we had on an exchange. I can't find the better ones of them, so this is a compromise. Again, thank you. PS. Dorothy could summersault and stand on her head almost until she died!

[Mowsehowse]

What a fascinating thread, and how marvellous so much information has been uncovered.

I have a couple of thoughts.....

I have often been transfixed by glorious needlework created by men, very often stitched whilst serving in the armed forces, and not always during a period of convalescence.  Military campaigns often involved sea voyages and periods of waiting around. 

Also, boys born in outposts of the Empire would have been educated with girls in the schoolroom, until the age of 8 or 9 after which they were often sent "home" to a boarding school in the UK.  I suggest it is possible that at times children were encouraged to sit quietly and practise needlework, to rest from the heat.

I think there was speculation that this lovely sampler was created by a seven year old?  That would fit if  he gave it to Dorothy as a parting gift when he left India.

He may have returned to needlepoint later because a sampler is wonderfully portable, and can be put aside at a moments notice.

[Gwaelodian]

  Thank you for that observation. Your research is most interesting. Roots Chat has fine researchers that amaze me and bring me close to tears. A few years back when I was writing a book about the family of a miner who lived in my cottage, a researcher found a daughter I had sought for months. It allowed me to complete the family! And now, again, things I simply cannot do to the finite as the researchers do has resulted in a wonderful link to a soldier in the First World War. I intended to see if I can find family members, but someone has suggested the museum could be interested given his status in the service. What do you think?  Norma

[jim1]

As they were in Edinburgh in 1901 would suggest it was made there.