The Weald - People history and genealogy

Alfred Romary, son of John Romary and Sophia Romary [Stapley]

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

Date

Type

Information

Source

24^th Apr 1844

Born

In the Parish of Southborough, Kent; registered at Tonbridge District, Kent; ref: 1844 Q2 Vol 5 Page 504

Arthur Turk's research

5^th Dec 1865

Married

At St. John's Church in the Parish of Tunbridge Wells, Kent; registered at Tonbridge District, Kent; ref: 1865 Q4 Vol 2a Page 899

Arthur Turk's research

26^th Mar 1929

Died

Registered at Tonbridge District, Kent; ref: 1929 Q1 Vol 2a Page 1791; aged 85 years

Arthur Turk's research

30^th Mar 1929

Buried

At Borough cemetery in the Parish of Tunbridge Wells, Kent; grave B10 31

Arthur Turk's research

Oct to Dec 1866

Birth of a son

In the Parish of Tunbridge Wells, Kent; registered at Tonbridge District, Kent; ref: 1866 Q4 Vol 2a Page 508

1881 Census
Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Oct to Dec 1876

Birth of a son

In the Parish of Tunbridge Wells, Kent; registered at Tonbridge District, Kent; ref: 1876 Q4 Vol 2a Page 583

1881 Census
Tunbridge Wells, Kent

July to Sep 1868

Birth of a daughter

In the Parish of Tunbridge Wells, Kent; registered at Tonbridge District, Kent; ref: 1868 Q3 Vol 2a Page 524

1881 Census
Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Apr to June 1871

Birth of a daughter

In the Parish of Tunbridge Wells, Kent; registered at Tonbridge District, Kent; ref: 1871 Q2 Vol 2a Page 535

1881 Census
Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Apr to June 1873

Birth of a daughter

In the Parish of Tunbridge Wells, Kent; registered at Tonbridge District, Kent; ref: 1873 Q2 Vol 2a Page 511

1881 Census
Tunbridge Wells, Kent

July to Sep 1878

Birth of a daughter

In the Parish of Tunbridge Wells, Kent; registered at Tonbridge District, Kent; ref: 1878 Q3 Vol 2a Page 607

1881 Census
Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Apr to June 1881

Birth of a daughter

In the Parish of Tunbridge Wells, Kent; registered at Tonbridge District, Kent; ref: 1881 Q2 Vol 2a Page 632

Arthur Turk's research

Apr to June 1884

Birth of a daughter

In the Parish of Tunbridge Wells, Kent; registered at Tonbridge District, Kent; ref: 1884 Q2 Vol 2a Page 650

Arthur Turk's research

July to Sep 1887

Birth of a daughter

In the Parish of Tunbridge Wells, Kent; registered at Tonbridge District, Kent; ref: 1887 Q3 Vol 2a Page 670

Arthur Turk's research

3^rd Apr 1881

Census

At 26 Church Road in the Parish of Tonbridge, Kent; Alfred Romary, M, Head, married, age 36, born Southboro, Kent, employs 1 assistant; occupation Biscuit Maker

1881 Census
Tunbridge Wells, Kent

John Romary

m: 3^rd Dec 1753 Beckley, Sussex

Mary Monk

b: c 1730

Richard

Stephen

b: 1754 Beckley, Sussex
ch: 15^th Sep 1754

b: 1762 Heathfield, Sussex
ch: 21^st Jan 1762 All Saints Church

Great-
Grandfather record

2nd marriage

Stephen Romary

m: 12^th May 1804 St. John the Baptist Church, Penshurst, Kent

Mary Smale

b: 1762 Heathfield, Sussex
ch: 21^st Jan 1762 All Saints Church

b: c 1770

John

Charlotta

b: c Jun 1804 Penshurst, Kent
ch: 17^th Jun 1804 St. John the Baptist Church
d: 9^th Oct 1853

b: 1806 Penshurst, Kent
ch: 16^th Nov 1806 St. John the Baptist Church

Grandfather record

2nd marriage

John Romary

m: 21^st Apr 1835 Trinity Church, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Sophia Stapley

b: c Jun 1804 Penshurst, Kent
ch: 17^th Jun 1804 St. John the Baptist Church
d: 9^th Oct 1853

b: 1805 Rotherfield, Sussex
d: Apr to Jun 1855

Susan

John

Sophia

William

Alfred

Albert

Charlotte Elizabeth

b: 1836 Penshurst, Kent

b: 1838 Penshurst, Kent

b: Jul to Sep 1840 Southborough, Kent

b: 1843 Southborough, Kent

b: 24^th Apr 1844 Southborough, Kent
d: 26^th Mar 1929
bur: 30^th Mar 1929 Borough cemetery, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

b: Apr to Jun 1847 Southborough, Kent

b: Oct to Dec 1850 Southborough, Kent

Parental record

Alfred Romary
biscuit manufacturer

m: 5^th Dec 1865 St. John's Church, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Martha Harvey

b: 24^th Apr 1844 Southborough, Kent
d: 26^th Mar 1929
bur: 30^th Mar 1929 Borough cemetery, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

b: 1843 Ascot, Warwickshire
d: Sep 1930
bur: 19^th Sep 1930 Borough cemetery, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

William Alfred

Martha Elizabeth

Maud Alice

Frederick John Ralph

Laura Susanna

Edith Beatrice

Mabel Violet

Lily Gertrude

b: Oct to Dec 1866 Tunbridge Wells, Kent
ch: 28^th Oct 1866 St. John's Church

b: Apr to Jun 1871 Tunbridge Wells, Kent
ch: 25^th Jun 1871 St. John's Church
d: 31^st Jul 1886
bur: 5^th Aug 1886 Borough cemetery, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

b: Apr to Jun 1873 Tunbridge Wells, Kent
ch: 27^th Jun 1873 Trinity Church
d: 16^th Jun 1887
bur: 18^th Jun 1887 Borough cemetery, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

b: Oct to Dec 1876 Tunbridge Wells, Kent
ch: 20^th Oct 1876 Trinity Church

b: Jul to Sep 1878 Tunbridge Wells, Kent
ch: 31^st Jul 1878 Trinity Church

b: Apr to Jun 1881 Tunbridge Wells, Kent
ch: 17^th Jun 1881 Trinity Church

b: Apr to Jun 1884 Tunbridge Wells, Kent
ch: 11^th Jun 1884 Trinity Church

b: Jul to Sep 1887 Tunbridge Wells, Kent
ch: 20^th Jul 1887 Trinity Church

Anne Sophia

b: Jul to Sep 1868 Tunbridge Wells, Kent
ch: 26^th Jul 1868 St. John's Church

Family record