Alfred Romary was born 24th April 1844 at Southborough the fifth child of John and Sophia Romary
Alfred Romary set up in business in 1862 at 26 Church Road, Tunbridge Wells. Initially he was classified as a 'Water cake maker', but it was his wafers that made his name famous around the globe as they sold at Macy's of New York; Harrods, Fortnum and Mason and many others in London; as well as food stores in Belgium and Paris. A Romary advertisement describe the wafers 'As thin as lace, of a flavour so delicate as to be indefinable. The clubs serve them with port, but they are also excellent with ices or at afternoon tea. Many people prefer them to sweets and chocolate. In two flavours, Sweet and Ginger.'
Queen Victoria visited Alfred Romary's shop on 23rd December 1876 and liked the wafers so much that she awarded him a Royal Warrant as Biscuit Manufacturer on 31st July 1884. The warrant was renewed by King Edward VII on 9th August 1901 and subsequently through the years until awarded by Queen Elizabeth II on 1st August 1963. In 1926 A. Romary & Co. became a limited compnay when W.A.P. Lane bought it and then in 1935 Romary and Co. was acquired by British Biscuits a subsidiary of Rowntree and Co. (now part of Nestle).
Alfred married Martha Harvey on 5th December 1865 and together they had a family of nine children, all at Tunbridge Wells. Alfred died on 30th March 1929 at the age of 85
| Generation No. 1 | |||
| 1. Alfred Romary, biscuit manufacturer was the son of John Romary and Sophia Romary [Stapley]. He was born 24th Apr 1844 at Southborough, Kent, registered at Tonbridge District, Kent, ref: 1844 Q2 Vol 5 Page 504; died 26th Mar 1929, registered at Tonbridge District, Kent, ref: 1929 Q1 Vol 2a Page 1791, aged 85 years; buried 30th Mar 1929 at Borough cemetery, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, grave B10 31 | |||
| He married Martha Harvey on 5th Dec 1865 at St. John's Church, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, registered at Tonbridge District, Kent, ref: 1865 Q4 Vol 2a Page 899. She was born 1843 at Ascot, Warwickshire; died Sep 1930, registered at Tonbridge District, Kent, ref: 1930 Q3 Vol 2a Page 877, aged 88 years; buried 19th Sep 1930 at Borough cemetery, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, grave B10 35. They had the following children: | |||
| 2 | i | William Alfred who was born Oct to Dec 1866 at Tunbridge Wells, Kent, registered at Tonbridge District, Kent, ref: 1866 Q4 Vol 2a Page 508; christened 28th Oct 1866 St. John's Church, Tunbridge Wells, Kent | |
| ii | Anne Sophia who was born July to Sep 1868 at Tunbridge Wells, Kent, registered at Tonbridge District, Kent, ref: 1868 Q3 Vol 2a Page 524; christened 26th Jul 1868 St. John's Church, Tunbridge Wells, Kent | ||
| iii | Martha Elizabeth who was born Apr to June 1871 at Tunbridge Wells, Kent, registered at Tonbridge District, Kent, ref: 1871 Q2 Vol 2a Page 535; christened 25th Jun 1871 St. John's Church, Tunbridge Wells, Kent; died 31st Jul 1886, aged 15 years; buried 5th Aug 1886 Tunbridge Wells, Kent, grave B10 32 | ||
| iv | Maud Alice who was born Apr to June 1873 at Tunbridge Wells, Kent, registered at Tonbridge District, Kent, ref: 1873 Q2 Vol 2a Page 511; christened 27th Jun 1873 Trinity Church, Tunbridge Wells, Kent; died 16th Jun 1887, aged 14 years; buried 18th Jun 1887 Tunbridge Wells, Kent, grave B10 32 | ||
| 3 | v | Frederick John Ralph who was born Oct to Dec 1876 at Tunbridge Wells, Kent, registered at Tonbridge District, Kent, ref: 1876 Q4 Vol 2a Page 583; christened 20th Oct 1876 Trinity Church, Tunbridge Wells, Kent | |
| vi | Laura Susanna who was born July to Sep 1878 at Tunbridge Wells, Kent, registered at Tonbridge District, Kent, ref: 1878 Q3 Vol 2a Page 607; christened 31st Jul 1878 Trinity Church, Tunbridge Wells, Kent | ||
| vii | Edith Beatrice who was born Apr to June 1881 at Tunbridge Wells, Kent, registered at Tonbridge District, Kent, ref: 1881 Q2 Vol 2a Page 632; christened 17th Jun 1881 Trinity Church, Tunbridge Wells, Kent | ||
| viii | Mabel Violet who was born Apr to June 1884 at Tunbridge Wells, Kent, registered at Tonbridge District, Kent, ref: 1884 Q2 Vol 2a Page 650; christened 11th Jun 1884 Trinity Church, Tunbridge Wells, Kent | ||
| ix | Lily Gertrude who was born July to Sep 1887 at Tunbridge Wells, Kent, registered at Tonbridge District, Kent, ref: 1887 Q3 Vol 2a Page 670; christened 20th Jul 1887 Trinity Church, Tunbridge Wells, Kent | ||
| Generation No. 2 | |||
| 2. William Alfred Romary was the son of Alfred Romary, biscuit manufacturer and Martha Romary [Harvey]. He was born Oct to Dec 1866 at Tunbridge Wells, Kent, registered at Tonbridge District, Kent, ref: 1866 Q4 Vol 2a Page 508; christened 28th Oct 1866 at St. John's Church, Tunbridge Wells, Kent | |||
| He married Isabel Mercy King on 2nd Jun 1892 at St. Stephen's Church, Tonbridge, Kent, registered at Tonbridge District, Kent, ref: 1892 Q2 Vol 2a Page 1143. She was born 1863 at Tonbridge, Kent; christened 30th Oct 1863 at St. Peter and St. Paul Parish Church, Tonbridge, Kent | |||
| 3. Frederick John Ralph Romary was the son of Alfred Romary, biscuit manufacturer and Martha Romary [Harvey]. He was born Oct to Dec 1876 at Tunbridge Wells, Kent, registered at Tonbridge District, Kent, ref: 1876 Q4 Vol 2a Page 583; christened 20th Oct 1876 at Trinity Church, Tunbridge Wells, Kent | |||
| He married Amy Manwaring on July to Sep 1903, registered at Camberwell District, London, ref: 1903 Q3 Vol 1d Page 1629. She was born 1876 at Peckham, London. They had the following children: | |||
| i | Rita Amy who was born 1908 at Dulwich, London | ||
| ii | Joane who was born 1911 at Dulwich, London | ||
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