Edgar Harvie (buried 1910)

At a glance

At a glance
Surname: 
Harvie
First name: 
Edgar
Other Christian names: 
Christmas
Gender: 
Male
Children: 
Yes
Burial number: 
619
Born: 
31/7/1841
Died: 
28/10/1910
Buried: 
01/11/1910
Occupation: 
Lawyer
Distinction: 
Son killed in action WW1
Heene Hallmark: 
No
Commonwealth War Grave: 
No

The Grave

The grave
Edgar Harvie (buried 1910) headstone
Cemetery area: 
NES
Cemetery row: 
1
Cemetery plot: 
15
what3words location: 
https://what3words.com/error.files.oppose
Burial remains: 
Unknown
The headstone
Endowed grave: 
Yes
Headstone description: 
EndowedGrave: Cut grass and keep tidy. Supply spring and autumn flowering plants
Headstone inscription: 
In loving memory of Edgar Christmas Harvie who died 28th October 1910 aged 69 years "In home of eternal life" Also of Caroline Mary his wife who died 2nd November 1936 aged 82 years "With Christ which is far better" Also of his Eldest daughter Elizabeth Adams Harvie who passed away on 13th May 1930 aged 54 years "The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him" Also of his youngest son Edward Alexander Gordon Harvie sub. lieut. Royal Naval Division who fell in action near Beaumont Hamel on 19th November 1916 aged 29 years "Greater love hath no man than this that he may lay down his life for his friends"

Life story

Life story

Edgar Christmas Harvie was born on 31st July in Bideford, Devon, to parents, Harry Arthur Harvie, Solicitor, 1806 -1861 and Maria Marsh Harvie nee Smith, 1805 -1877. He had 4 older siblings, Arthur, 9, Georgina, 7, Montague, 5, and Louisa, 1.

Edgar followed his father into the law and was an articled clerk at the age of nineteen when his father died. He continued to live with his widowed mother in Bideford until his marriage in 1874 to Caroline Mary Lewis on 12th December at St. Stephen's Church, Paddington. Her father was Professor Thomas Hayter Lewis, Architect and Emeritus Professor at University College London.

Edgar and Caroline lived in Paddington for the next 20 years, they had 5 children, Elizabeth Adams b. 1875, Marion Christmas b. 1876, Hayter Montague b. 1879, Francis Graham b. 1880, and Edward Alexander Gordon b. 1887. Their youngest son, Edward Alexander Gordon Harvie sub. lieut. Royal Naval Division, fell in action near Beaumont Hamel on 19th November 1916 aged 29 years.

Edgar was a partner in the law firm, Minet, Harvie and Smith, at 4, King William Street, City of London. He appears to have specialised in Wills and Probate, having numerous mentions in the Illustrated London News as executor of many wealthy clients. After he retired, Edgar and Caroline moved to Worthing, Sussex, where they lived at Norfolk Lodge, Mill Road. Edgar died there, aged 69yrs, on 28th October 1910. Probate was granted to his widow, effects £43577 14s 5d. Value 2019 - £5m.

Burial researcher: 
Maggi Martin

Further information

Birth
Date born: 
31/07/1841
Marriage
Marriage 1
Spouse one first names: 
Caroline Mary
Spouse one last name: 
Lewis
Marriage one date: 
12/12/1874
Marriage one address: 
Paddington, London, England

Death

Death (details)
Date of death: 
28/10/1910
Age (at time of death): 
69
Cause of death: 
Unknown
Address at time of death: 
Norfolk Lodge, Mill Road, Worthing, Sussex, England
Personal effects
Executors: 
Caroline Mary Harvie status: Widow
Probate pounds: 
£43,577

Census and miscellaneous information

Census information
1851 census: 

Living at 55, Church Yard, Bideford, Devon. Harry A. Harvie, 45yrs, wife, Maria Marsh, 45yrs, 4 children, Georgina 16, Maria Louisa 11, Edgar C. 9, Arthur 1, plus 3 domestic servants.

1861 census: 

Living at 55, Church Yard, Bideford, Devon. Maria Marsh Harvie, widow, 55yrs, Proprietor of Lands, Maria Louisa 21yrs, Edgar C., 19yrs, Articled Clerk, plus 2 domestic servants.

1881 census: 

Living at 29, Warwick Street, Paddington. Edgar C., 39yrs, Solicitor, wife, Caroline, 26yrs, 4 children, Elizabeth Adams, 5, Marion Christmas, 4, Hayter Montague, 1, and Francis Graham, 11 months plus 4 domestic servants.

1891 census: 

Living at 45, Princes Square, Paddington. Edgar C., 49yrs, Solicitor, wife, Caroline, 36yrs, 5 children, Elizabeth Adams, 15, Marion Christmas, 14, Hayter Montague, 12, and Francis Graham,11, and Edward Alexander Gordon, 3, plus 4 domestic servants.

1901 census: 

Manor House Hotel, Leamington Priors, Warwickshire. Edgar C., Harvie, 55yrs, Caroline Harvie, 46yrs, Visitors.

Edward Alexander Gordon Harvie, 13 yrs was a boarder at Southgate House School, Winchester.

Miscellaneous information

Background to the name of "Christmas"

This name came from his mother’s family whose surname was Smith. His maternal grandfather, William Smith, Esquire, was a gentleman of wealth who lived in Bideford, Devon, 1761 – 1845. He had 5 children and they were all given unusual names, maybe to identify them from millions of other Smiths?  The first son, born 1808, was Christmas Smith, baptised May 5th, followed by Prothers Smith and William Castle Smith and 2 daughters, Georgina Honeycomb Smith and Maria Marsh Smith who became Edgar’s mother. Christmas Smith who was a surgeon, died in 1841 aged 33 years shortly before Edgar was born and I suspect his unusual name was passed to Edgar in memory of his Uncle.  Edgar later passed the name to his daughter, Marion Christmas Harvie born 1877.