Person Page - 126

     Catherine Greathead was born on 13 December 1831 in Girsby, Yorkshire, England.¹ She was the daughter of Francis Greathead and Margaret Thompson. She died in 1832 in High Coniscliffe, Darlington, Durham, England, aged 6 momths.^1,2 She was buried on 21 June 1832 in St Edwin Church, Coniscliffe, Durham, England.^1,2

     James Greathead was born on 3 April 1836 in High Coniscliffe, Darlington, Durham, England.¹ He was the son of Francis Greathead and Margaret Thompson. He was baptised on 3 April 1836 in High Coniscliffe, Darlington, Durham, England.^2,3 He died on 26 September 1839 in High Coniscliffe, Darlington, Durham, England, aged 3.¹ He was buried on 26 September 1839 in St Edwin Church, Coniscliffe, Durham, England.^1,4

     John Greathead was born on 17 January 1828 in Girsby, Yorkshire, England, which is close to the River Tees, about three miles from Hurworth.^1,2,3 He was the son of Francis Greathead and Margaret Thompson. He was baptised on 3 February 1828 in Girsby, Yorkshire, England.^1,2 His father had a bad accident around 1837, five of his ribs were broken and it was not expected that he would recover. John was sent to work on his Uncle Henry's farm at Atley Hill. He stayed their nine months.⁴ John arrived in British Guiana 4 Dec 1854 he stayed with the Perkins family for three years, their son died and John was sent to study theology at Richmond College. He volunteered to go to British Guiana. He was a Wesleyan Minister until after his second marriage when he converted to Church of England and became an Anglican Priest.² He married Sarah Miles in St Vincent, West Indies.^1,2 John wrote in a letter to the London Missionary Society in London from Georgetown on 24 August 1868, "Weather excessively hot – season of general sickness – many children have died – my younger/est (hard to read) little girl among them. The dear child suffered a great deal and died on Thursday 13 August. God has graciously sustained us in our new trial and mercifully spared to us the other three children all of whom have been very ill but now well again."⁵ Rev John Greathead was present at Welyan Conference held in England. Many missionaries from all over the world attended. He and his family are recorded as setting off in November for Demerara.⁶ His wife Sarah Miles died on 15 July 1881 as reported in the Argosy newspaper Saturday 16 July 1881 It read "At the Werk-en-Rust Wesleyan Mission House, yesterday 15th at 9am Sarah, the beloved wife of the Rev John Greathead; aged 47 years.^2,5 There was an article in the Argosy of Saturday 16 July 1881 reporting the death of Mary Thompson at Werk-en-Rust Weslyan Mission House on Monday 11th inst. at 11am, sister of the Rev John Greathead aged 65 years. I am unsure exactly who she was But I suspect she was his sister in law.⁵ He was a missionary Minister, the Superintendent of the Mahaica Circuit, Wesleyan Mission in British Guiana. He married Mary Playter on 10 June 1882 in St Philip's Church, Georgetown, British Guiana, by Rev H T S Castell the Incumbant and was assisted by Rev G Salmon B A.^2,5,7 Rev John and Mary applied for passports on 9 July 1884.⁸ He died on 18 January 1898 in Georgetown, British Guiana, aged 70.^9,2 He was buried in St Philip's Churchyard, La Penitence Church Cemetery, Georgetown, British Guiana.^2,5 Rev John Greathead was mentioned preaching in James Rodways book (James Rodway's Story of Georgetown)

From Rodway's Story of Georgetown:

"The Rev. John Greathead will always be remembered in connection with Georgetown Methodism. He came to the colony in 1855, and was in charge of Kingston Chapel for some years, after which, with the exception of a few years spent in St. Vincent, he was chairman of the District and lived at Trinity Mission House. He was strong in mind and body - nothing daunted him when performing his duties. By his efforts Kingston Chapel was enlarged and made what it is today. A writer in the Methodist Recorder said:

'It would have been well if he had been exempted from official work. He was an Evangelist, not an administrator, and it must be confessed that he was not altogether happy in his Chairmanship. There were some complications, and to get rid of them, he left the Wesleyan for the Episcopalian Church. With a character, on which there was not the slightest blemish, and a heart nobly unselfish, he bade farewell - a loving farewell - to his old companions. He left the Methodist Church in 1883, and died on the 18th January, 1898.⁵'" In the British Guiana Directory of 1904 there is an entry which states that on 13 March 1904 the new tubular bell put up in St Barnabas' Church was dedicated to the memory of the late Rev John Greathead.

St Barnabas, Bourda, was a Mission Chapel. The mission was first started in a circus tent. The present building was erected in 1884 and the first curate was the Rev. John Greathead, a man well known in the colony for many years as Superintendent of the Methodists. He was undoubtedly the best man to start a Mission, as he had long experience before he joined the Church of England.⁵

     Sarah Miles was born about 1834 in England.³ Sarah went out from England to marry John who was in St Vincent.^2,3 She married John Greathead, son of Francis Greathead and Margaret Thompson, in St Vincent, West Indies.^1,2 John wrote in a letter to the London Missionary Society in London from Georgetown on 24 August 1868, "Weather excessively hot – season of general sickness – many children have died – my younger/est (hard to read) little girl among them. The dear child suffered a great deal and died on Thursday 13 August. God has graciously sustained us in our new trial and mercifully spared to us the other three children all of whom have been very ill but now well again."³ She died on 15 July 1881 in Georgetown, British Guiana, as reported in the Argosy newspaper Saturday 16 July 1881 It read "At the Werk-en-Rust Wesleyan Mission House, yesterday 15th at 9am Sarah, the beloved wife of the Rev John Greathead; aged 47 years.^2,3

     Susannah Mary Greathead was born in 1861 in St Vincent, West Indies.^1,2 She was the daughter of John Greathead and Sarah Miles. The family returned to British Guiana when Susannah was just over a year old. Susannah Mary Greathead married Griffith Hampden Jones, son of William Jones and Elizabeth Edwards, on 8 June 1881 in Georgetown, British Guiana, by her father the Weslyan Minister when about she was about 19 years old.^1,2,3 She died in November 1914.¹

     Griffith Hampden Jones was born on 27 February 1856.¹ He was the son of William Jones and Elizabeth Edwards. Griffith was a missionary and was referred to as a Reverend.² The family returned to British Guiana when Susannah was just over a year old. Griffith Hampden Jones married Susannah Mary Greathead, daughter of John Greathead and Sarah Miles, on 8 June 1881 in Georgetown, British Guiana, by her father the Weslyan Minister when about she was about 19 years old.^1,3,2 He died on 14 September 1883 aged 27.¹

     William Stanley Jones was born on 21 June 1882.¹ He was the son of Griffith Hampden Jones and Susannah Mary Greathead. He married Emma Beatrice Bennett on 25 August 1909.¹

     Griffith Hampden Jones was born in September 1883.¹ He was the son of Griffith Hampden Jones and Susannah Mary Greathead.

     Sarah Margaret Greathead was born in December 1863 in Golden Grove, East Coast, Demerara, British Guiana, about two months after her parents had returned from St Vincent.^1,2,3 She was the daughter of John Greathead and Sarah Miles. She married Henry ... When she married Henry she was a "widow of Sockburn". Her father was a market gardener (Rev JG).²

     Ada Carter was born about 1877.³ She was the daughter of Thomas Carter.² She married Ernest Isaac Richard Greathead, son of George Greathead and Catherine Sermon, on 7 February 1904 in St Pauls Church, Aston, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, after the banns had been read. The ceremony was witnessed by Frank Cooksey and Elizabeth Eliza Greathead. Ernest was a carter both Ernest and Ada were living at 63 White Road.⁴ In the census of 2 April 1911 in No 3 Court 8 White Road, Sparkbrook, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, she was listed as the wife of Ernest Isaac Richard Greathead Ada was a dress worker in brass goods manufacture.⁵ Her husband Ernest died on 1945 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England.⁶ She died in 1946 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England.⁷

     Annie Maria Greathead was born on 23 September 1868 in Wesleyan Mission Hall, Georgetown, British Guiana, Her birth appeared in Colonist newspaper Wednesday 23 September 1868 stating this morning at the Wesleyan Mission House (Trinity) the wife of the Rev John Greathead, Superintendent of the Georgetown circuit, of a daughter.^1,2,3 She was the daughter of John Greathead and Sarah Miles. She married Terrence W C Rudder on 14 February 1895 in St Philip's Church, Georgetown, British Guiana, by Rev Humphreys M A assisted by Rev John Greathead (father of the bride). Terence was in H M Customs. Their wedding was reported in the newspaper Argosy of Saturday 16 February 1895.^4,5

     George Miles Greathead was born on 7 July 1871 in Wesleyan Mission House, High Street, Werk en Rust, Georgetown, British Guiana.^1,2 He was the son of John Greathead and Sarah Miles. He was working in the Post Office.² He married Charlotte Maude Sealy.²

     James Thompson Greathead was born on 23 January 1873 in Georgetown, British Guiana.¹ He was the son of John Greathead and Sarah Miles. He married Lillian Gertrude Gainfort, daughter of Benjamin Gainfort and Mary Yearwood, in Georgetown, British Guiana.² James and Lilian travelled with their sons John and James who were listed as Reginald and John aboard the ship Cottica. They arrived on 4 June 1932 at Plymouth from Demerara, British Guiana. James was described as an accountant and he gave their address in UK as Lillycoats Hotel, Millbay, Plymouth.³ He died in Georgetown, British Guiana.²

     Emma Isobella Greathead was born in Trinity Mission, Georgetown, British Guiana.^1,2 She was the daughter of John Greathead and Sarah Miles.

     Lillian Rebecca Greathead was born in Trinity Mission, Georgetown, British Guiana.¹ She was the daughter of John Greathead and Sarah Miles.

     Thomas Henry Greathead was born on 12 March 1870 in Trinity Mission, Georgetown, British Guiana.^1,2 He was the son of John Greathead and Sarah Miles. He married Alice Louisa Thalia Gainfort, daughter of Benjamin Gainfort and Mary Yearwood, in St Philips Church, Georgetown, British Guiana, The ceremony was performed on Thursday 14 May 1896 by Reverend Canon F P L Josa of Christ Church, assisted by Rev Charles Foskett and was reported in the newspaper Argosy of Saturday 16 May 1896.^1,2,3,4
Thomas Henry was given as the next of kin living at 73 High Street, Kingston in 1923 when his son Lyndon Henry visited his sister Stella Yearwood.⁵ Thomas and Alice sailed from Bridgetown, Barbados on the Lady Hawkins arriving in Boston, Massachusetts on 25 May 1936.⁶ He died in November 1949 in Barbados, West Indies, aged 79.¹

     Alice Louisa Thalia Gainfort was baptised on 13 August 1875 Alice was their eldest daughter.¹ She was the daughter of Benjamin Gainfort and Mary Yearwood. She married Thomas Henry Greathead, son of John Greathead and Sarah Miles, in St Philips Church, Georgetown, British Guiana, The ceremony was performed on Thursday 14 May 1896 by Reverend Canon F P L Josa of Christ Church, assisted by Rev Charles Foskett and was reported in the newspaper Argosy of Saturday 16 May 1896.^1,2,3,4
Thomas and Alice sailed from Bridgetown, Barbados on the Lady Hawkins arriving in Boston, Massachusetts on 25 May 1936.⁵ Her husband Thomas died on November 1949 in Barbados, West Indies, aged 79.¹ Alice went to visit her son in British Guiana in May 1950 after her husband died, hoping to be with him for the birth of youngest granddaughter (June) however she returned before the birth and died on board ship called Lady Rodney not many days out of Bermuda.^1,6 She was buried in Episcopolian Cemetery, Bermuda.¹

     Muriel Greathead was born on 14 April 1897 in Georgetown, British Guiana.^1,2,3 She was the daughter of Thomas Henry Greathead and Alice Louisa Thalia Gainfort. She was found on a passenger list in 1923 she left Georgetown, Demerara, British Guiana and arrived on Ellis Island on 4 June 1923. She travelled on the ship "Matura" leaving Georgetown, Demerara, British Guiana on 21 May 1923. The ship's manifest stated she was single and visiting Mrs H O Yearwood (her sister Stella) 173 Lynwood Street, Brooklyn, USA. She was five foot one inch tall, with fresh complexion, brown hair and grey eyes. Her occupation was a civil servant. The trip to USA was a permanent emigration. Her mother was listed as her next of kin living at 73 High Street.⁴ Muriel was a lady full of life and very attractive. She lived in New York.⁵ Muriel sailed on Lady Hawkins from Barbados arriving on 28 March 1932 in Boston, Massachusetts.⁶ She married Eric Rygburg in 1937.⁷ Eric worked for the AMF Bowling supply manufacturer. He and Muriel lived in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn New York. They had no children.⁸ She died on 4 October 1996 in New Jersey, USA, aged 99.^1,2,3

     Stella Greathead was born on 8 July 1898 in Georgetown, British Guiana.^1,2,3 She was the daughter of Thomas Henry Greathead and Alice Louisa Thalia Gainfort. She emigrated in 1920 she left Georgetown, Demerara, British Guiana and arrived on Ellis Island on 18 August 1820. She travelled on the ship "Maraval" leaving Georgetown, Demerara, British Guiana. The ship's manifest stated she was single and visiting her uncle H F Gainfort # 9597 in Brooklyn together with other relatives. She was five foot four inches tall, with fair complexion, brown hair and blue eyes. Her occupation was a civil servant. Her father was listed as her next of kin living at 111 Commercial Street. The visit must have gone well as she stayed and married having her first daughter in December 1921.⁴



Huberts niece Stella Greathead arrived for a visit on 18 August 1920 and the visit must have gone well as she stayed, married and had her family in Brooklyn.⁴ She married Howard Yearwood about 1921.⁵ In the census of 2 April 1930 in 12 Vanderover Avenue, Howards Beach, Queens, New York, USA, she was listed as the wife of Howard Yearwood.⁶ She married Tom King.⁷ She died in January 1978 aged 79 She is buried in the United States.^1,3

     Daphne Alma Viola Greathead was born on 23 October 1899 in Georgetown, British Guiana.^1,2,4 She was the daughter of Thomas Henry Greathead and Alice Louisa Thalia Gainfort. She married Herbert Goulburn Fletcher Sadly this was not a very happy marriage.⁵ Daphne arrived in about 1924 or '25, to join her husband Herbert bringing her her son Leslie and her sister Gwen Greathead. Gwen was apparently remanded in custody at Ellis Island for 24 hours, (according to legend) for being rude to the official. She went to Barbados in 1927 for 17 months, and returned to New York in 1929 with Leslie and her daughter Mazie.⁴ Her husband Herbert died on 1950 in Trindad and Tobago.⁴ She died in December 1973 in Christ Church, Barbados, West Indies, aged 74.⁴