Michael's Family

Compared to what we have for Sheila, there is not much here. Michael was not on great terms with his parents, and completely lost touch with his father for many years, during which time his father remarried, and had a daughter, Thalia. Thalia got in contact with Michael, but this was when she had her own family, so a long time later.

I also have no photos of this side of the family at all besides some of her parents with Michael.

Dora Edgington was born in 1904. She had three siblings (or half-siblings?); William (1906), Winifred (1908) and John (1911). William worked at Selfridges in London, I think as manager of the toy department, and always had great gifts at Christmas. John emigrated to Canada, but I do recall him and his family visiting the UK at least once.

She married Edward on the 12 March 1925 in Richmond. Michael was born 15 July 1933 in Ealing, and I think she family lived in West London from then on.

Michael was evacuated during the war, and then went back to Chorleywood in 1948; I think Dora and Edward had already divorced by that time.

Dora's father was William George Edgington, but we know no more about him than that. I suspect there was some money in the family, as I was contacted by Hoopers about a sizeable inheritance they hoped to be able to obtain. Nothing ever came of it, and they keep their data to themselves, but they must have believed it was worth their time.

Edward was born in 1901, into a Jewish family (did the mix of religion put a strain on the family?). He was the son of Samuel Joel (1874-?) and Nancy Joseph (1874-?). Samuel was the son of Solomon Joel (c1838-?) and Hannah Jacobs. I wonder if Solomon Joel was the brother of Joel Joel (1836-1893), whose three sons, Jack, Woolf and Solomon, made a fortune in gold and diamond mining in South Africa (they have a Wiki entry; but see also this page on Joel Joel which gives him a brother Solomon who died at age 9, though it does say it is based on personal recollection). If that is the case, then Solomon's father is Isaac Joel (c1800-1847) and Rebecca Solomon (c1800-1842). They were all in the Spitalfields area of London, and I am sure I have seen a Joel Joel in our family tree.

The side of the family not engaged in gold and diamond mining were fruit wholesalers.