Herbert QUY
When Herbert QUY was born on 24 February 1875 in Little Totham, Essex, his father, Alfred Edward, was 27 and his mother, Mary Ann Quy neé Robinson, was 24. He had seven brothers and one sister. He died in Q1-1942 in Surrey at the age of 66, and was buried at Horton Cemetery, Epsom, Surrey, in grave 2401b, on 14th February 1942.
Herbert’s Parents and Siblings
Herbert’s father, Alfred Edward grew up in Little Totham, as an agricultural worker from his early years, following in his pauper father’s footsteps. But he had other ambitions of going to London.
On 20th May 1874, aged 26, Alfred Edward had travelled to London, and married London born, Mary Ann Robinson. They returned to Little Totham to give birth to their first born child, Herbert, our subject, on 24th February 1875.
Following Herbert’s birth, they returned to Hammersmith, Where Alfred became a [railway] Carriage Examiner, which he continued to do until old age.
Once settled in Fulham, the family begun to grow, with some sad circumstances.
- Frederic Thomas Quy was b. Q2-1876, but died within a few months.
- Charles Quy, b. Q3-1877, but died before the year was out.
- Henry Arthur Quy, b.1879, and went on to have a full life as a foundry man. d.1943
- Albert Quy, b.22nd Jan 1881, but had died by Q4-1881.
The 1881 census has the family living at 74 Overstone Road, Hammersmith, Edward A., Mary-Ann, Herbet, Henny A., and Albert.
After losing three children before their 1st birthday, the family continued to grow, with much more success.
- Ernest William QUY (1883–1912)
- Edward George QUY (1885–1956)
- Walter John Quy (1887–1957)
The 1885 Electoral Register, shows that the family had moved to 34 Fulham Palace Road, in Hammersmith & Fulham. This likely happened in 1884 as the register they often started to create the register in the year before publishing.
5-yrs later they welcomed their first daughter in to the family.
- Elizabeth Ann Quy (1890–1919)
In 1901, the family had moved again, just down the road, to 77 Yeldham Road, Fulham. Albert had switched careers to a Bricklayer.
However, by 1902, they had moved again to a home at 15 Chancellors Road, again not far from their previous abode.
Alfred Edward, the father of the household, died 23rd December 1908. The day before Christmas Eve. His probate shows he left £179 to his wife Mary -Ann, which today (2026) would be worth a modest, £19,000.
Herbert’s Adult Life
Following the birth of his sister, Herbert began a career at age 16 in 1899. He is an apprentice Coach builder, following his father’s occupation on the railways.
In 1901, aged 26, when his father briefly switched career to a Bricklayer, Herbert is a Mason’s Assistant, so I therefore believe that Herbert was always working with his father in whatever career he took.
Things took a turn on 19th April 1906, when Herbert, listed as a Builder, was picked up by the Police, and sent to the Workhouse as an alleged Lunatic.
He was released on the 27th April 1906, by J.P. to his mother. [J.P. = Justice of the Peace]
Herbert next shows up in the UK, Lunacy Patients Admission Registers, as being admitted to Ewell Epileptic Colony, on 4th January 1907.
The 1911 census for the Epileptic Colony shows that he was still resident here, listed as a patient, aged 36, Single, and a Carriage Builder. Crucially, it lists that he was a ‘lunatic’ since age 18, which may explain his father’s keenness to keep him close whilst working. They had recorded his birth place incorrectly, instead of Little Totham in Essex, they have recorded Little Topsham, in Devon, clearly misheard.
The early months of Herbert’s stay at the Colony, appear to have been very lonely, but we do have the Ewell Colony address book for Herbert, listing crucial family connections and visitation dates, which helped track the right family.
Between 1907 and 1909, each of his surviving brothers visited at least once. His youngest siblings, Walter John, at the time aged 20, and Elizabeth Ann at the time aged 17, did not ever visit.
- 28th July 1907 | Visitor: Henny/Henry Arthur Quy
- 26th August 1907 | Visitor: Edward George Quy
- 24th May 1908 | Visitor: Ernest William Quy
- 1st June 1908 | Visitor: Edward George Quy
On 23rd December 1908, Herbert’s father passed away, aged 59. It was at this point, Herbert’s mother began to visit him.
- 8th March 1909 | Visitor: Brothers Ernest & Henry Quy
- 18th April 1909 | The Colony received a letter from Ernest’s mother to the Medical Supervisor.
- 26th April 1909 | Visitor: Mrs. Quy (Mother)
- 3rd January 1910 | Visitor: Mrs. Quy (Mother) with Edward (Brother)
- 24th June 1910 | Visitor: Mother Mrs. Quy
- 8th April 1912 | Visitor: Mother
- 3rd June 1912 | Visitor: Ernest W. Quy
This visit by Ernest is significant, because Ernest dies very shortly afterwards. This may have been his final goodbye to Herbert.
- 8th December 1912 | Visitor: Mother
- 23rd January 1913 | Correspondence form Mrs Quy to Medical Supervisor.
- 25th August 1914 | Visitor: Mother
- 5th April 1915 | Visitor: Mother
There are no other visitations listed after this date. Herbert’s mother passed away in 1917, and his youngest sibling, and only sister, passed away in 1919, aged just 29.
Herbert himself, as mentioned in the opening statement, died in Q1-1943, and was subsequently buried in Horton Cemetery, grave 2401b, on 14th February 1942, aged 66.
A Mystery:
In Q1-1916 there is a marriage registration of Mary A. Quy to a Samuel Knott. The 1921 census shows them living together, Samuel Knott, a plasterer aged 64, and Mary Ann Knott, aged 70. This age exactly matches Mary Ann Quy. But she was buried in 1917, right??? The 1917 Burial is taken from a simple registration entry, so could be incorrect. Did Herbert’s mother remarry in her twilight years? I could venture into this Rabbit Hole, but this story is about Herbert.
What of the siblings?
Here is a brief summary of the siblings life;
- Henry Arthur Quy, married Ellen Thomas on 21st May 1902, they filed for divorce in 1918. He then married Annie Adlington, in 1919. He became a Foundryman / Foundry Labourer, until his death in 1943, aged 63.
- Ernest William Quy, married Maud Louisa HATCH, on Dec 26th 1909. He because a Railway Guard. They had a daughter, Bessie May in 1911, when he was 28, however he passed the following year.
- Edward George Quy, married Catherine Rose O’Brien, on June 4th, 1911. They had four children, and he died in 1956, aged 70.
- Walter John Quy, married Elizabeth Charlotte Davies in 1891, they had 5 children between 1895-1905. He had a career in the Army, from 1914-1920, then returned, before passing away in October 1957, the last remaining Quy siblings.
- Elizabeth Ann Quy, following the death of her father, became a Parlour maid. Her life was cut short, and she passed Q1-1919, aged just 28.