Frederick William Anstee (b 1861)

by Gary. M. Anstey, chief researcher of the Anstey story project.

See ‘Anstey: A Complete History From the Norman Invasion to World War One‘ for much more on the Swanbourne Anstees. In addition to biographies of various Anstey individuals who make up this sub-branch, the book contains a plethora of Anstey research and statistics, including an analysis of how the Swanbourne Anstees fit into the pedigree descendent from Hubert de Anesti, the 12th century originator of the ‘Anstey’ surname.

SW 48. Frederick William Anstee: He was born on 13 (or 25) May 1861 in Hoxton near Islington and baptised in 1869 in Swanbourne to “mother Arabella Anstee [see SW 27], a servant living in Swanbourne”. In the 1871 Census he was living at 13 Church Street, Swanbourne with his grandmother Elizabeth Anstee (SW 27). He married Emily Ada Moorman in 1889 in Islington and they had children:

• Bella Amy Anstee (b 1891 Camberwell, an unmarried “domestic” working for the Davis family at 38 Old Broad Street, City of London in the 1911 Census. She probably married Richard Tyler in 1913 in Birmingham); and
• Henry Moorman Evelyn Anstee (SW 58 – b 1895 Islington, served during World War One)

In the 1891 Census the family were living at Ingoldthorpe Grove, Camberwell where he was a “coffee house keeper“. By the 1901 Census he was a “farrier” living at 57, Albert Street, Islington and by the 1911 Census he was a “shoeing smith” living at 9 Roads Place Tollington Park N, Islington.

Despite his age, he was called up for service during World War One, joining the Royal Army Service Corps as a “shoeing smith/farrier” (Service Number: 8163). All we know of his war story is that he was demobilised on 14 March 1919 -presumably there was enormous demand for his “shoeing smith/farrier” skills during the conflict given the huge number of horses used by the Army during the war.

[Note: If anybody can elaborate on Frederick’s war story, please contact us at research@theansteystory.com.]

After the war he returned to live in Islington. By the 1939 Register, he was a “pealer” living with his wife at Sabesbury Road, Upper Holloway, Islington. He eventually died in 1947 “aged 85“, still living in Islington.

Anybody who would like to add anything to this biography, please contact us at research@theansteystory.com.