Hello and Hi everyone ….. so what is my connection to the Dexter family?

Although my father George was a Whitestone, my mother was a Dexter. Grace Edith Dexter 1911 -1983. She married my father as a Rye, having married Edwin Rye in 1938. Sadly he passed away that same year.

I have been researching my family tree for a number of years now but have focused mainly on my Whitestone background. My direct line goes back to Dublin Ireland.  The Whitestone’s  had various occupations, from farming, shop-keeping, religion, legal, medical and more. My direct descendant was a  Cabinet Maker/Carpenter who I believe came to Manchester/England around 1862 to provide his expertise into the building of the wooden railway carriages.  Perhaps the transport revolution of the era. Eventually the family moved south to London and then to South West London, where George met Grace. I do recall they often joked with each other, that, ‘it must have been a foggy night’! They married in Brentford in 1938.  So, five or so years later and well into WW2, on Valentines day 1943?  Yes you’ve guessed it … and here I am.

Roughly a year or so ago whilst searching Ancestry for Dexter’s, I ‘met’ Connie, which opened a whole new chapter of research. Thank you Connie for being so welcoming, helpful and patient. Although not closely related, there is I believe, a cousin link somewhere which has encouraged me to look more closely into the Staines and Egham Dexters.

My future plan is to create and post a number of, hopefully interesting and informative items, from the research (i.e. bits of paper/photographs and the like, I have to hand.

Best wishes to all, stay safe and summer is nigh!

Terry