Catherine Mellena Lowder, Margaret Amy Lowder, Julia May Lowder

[FAfromC]

Hello -

I'm Frank and I am a photography-historian in Cologne/Germany.

I have some experience in family history but not in the UK area. A very nice lady gave me the tip to ask here. I have looked at many explanations and links that are posted in the pinned messages; however, before I start a formal search of the archives and websites, I would like to try my luck and hope that someone else may already have some information about the following people. Possibly a somewhat desperate request but I'll give it a try.

I'm looking for the descendants of the sisters:

Catherine Mellena Lowder (1894-? - born in China),
Margaret Amy Lowder (1899-? - born in China) and
Julia May Lowder (1904-? born in Woking, Surrey).

The father of the three -Edward G Lowder- died in January 1943 in Taunton, Somerset.

The three were the granddaughters of John Frederick Lowder (who was -at least in 1860- a language student at the British Legation in Japan) and John's wife Julia Maria (née Brown) who has the distinction of being the first recorded female photographer in Japan.

Does anyone have the names or one of the names already in their own family tree or knows something about possible spouses, children, grandchildren (...) and their whereabouts?

If there are any leads on present-day descendants who could be contacted or any other concrete leads, I would be very grateful.

Greetings from Cologne (and of course ready to help in return if anyone needs a hint)

Frank

[rosie99]

Welcome to rootschat

Julia May Lowder was baptised at Christ Church, Woking on 31st July 1903 -parents Edward Gordon and Catherine Lucretia Lowder.  Their address was 'Pendennis', York Road.  Edwards occupation is given as 'Assistant Chinese Customs'

ADDED Julias birth from the GRO register

LOWDER, JULIA  MAY     Mothers maiden surname DUNSTER 
GRO Reference: 1903  Sept Quarter in GUILDFORD registration district Volume 02A  Page 78

[rosie99]

In 1911 the family can be found at Warren Road, Guildford, Surrey
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XW84-514

You may need to register with familysearch to see that record, registration is free

[rosie99]

Do you have the will of Edward as that could name his daughters with their possible married names.

It would appear that his wife Catherine Lucretia Lowder of Quernmore, Belle Vue Park Road, Parkstone, Dorset died on 16th August 1940.  Her will is also available on the Probate website for a small charge

Rootschat does not allow us to post the details of anyone who is possibly living so we have to be careful with any information we are posting on here.

[rosie99]

It would appear that they had a son in 1888 according to online newspapers.  No other info given.

Possible marriage in France for Julia

Julia M
Lowder
1926-30 - Bordeaux, France
MCON
Gro Consular Marriages

Julia M Lowder married one of these people
Geoffrey E Rees, Albert Lane
The other female mentioned was Eveline M Maclachlan,

[rosie99]

Using freebmd index there is a birth registration in 1931 for a Rees/ Lowder female - Poole registration district. which may suggest Julia married Geoffrey Rees.

Possible death. 
Death Dec qtr 1981 
REES,  JULIA MAY L(owder) L(loyd)   
(Birth date 1 July 1903)
CHELTENHAM reg district  22   1565
There is a will available to purchase

The Dorset birth registration in 1931 gives an alternative surname as Lloyd-Rees

ADDED
Link to Probate website
https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/#wills

[rosie99]

That Geoffrey and Julia can be found in Esher, Surrey, England as Lloyd-Rees in the 1939 pre war register with a further entry redacted.  Redacted entries generally suggest that the person is still possibly living.

Electoral registers for the 1960's have the couple in West Sussex

An electoral register for Chestnut Avenue Esher has the couple listed as Geoffrey Elwyn Lloyd-Rees and Julia May Lowder Lloyd-Rees.  There are lots of electoral registers showing this couple on Ancestry

[Neale1961]

There is a tree on Family Search for the family, and includes some marriage information.
You may also be able to contact a descendant of the family through this avenue.
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/pedigree/landscape/L4Y5-WMV

[rosie99]

I will stop posting for now and see what Frank has to say about our findings Neale