👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The Hollebone Family

Complete Family Tree & Manuscript Connections

From wealthy London merchants (1851) through professional book dealing in Essex (1881) to the manuscript sale (1911) — the complete documented Hollebone family story

🌳 Hollebone Family Tree

WILLIAM HOLLEBONE
Father / Head of Household
1851: London (Wealthy)
↓
Daughter
MARGARET
Age 20 (1851)
Daughter
ADELAIDE
Age 23 (1851)
⭐ WILLIAM J.
HOLLEBONE
Born ~1842
Wine Merchant
🔥 HENRY E.
HOLLEBONE
Born ~1843
Book Dealer
Son
ERNEST
Age 7 (1851)
↓
HENRY E. HOLLEBONE
Professional Bookseller
1881: ESSEX ⭐
1891: London
?
HENRY S. HOLLEBONE?
Manuscript Seller
1911: Sold to Voynich
CONNECTION UNKNOWN

❓ RESEARCH QUESTION: How do Henry E. and Henry S. connect?

Same person? Father-son? Uncle-nephew? Brothers? This is the critical missing link!

👔 GENERATION 1: The Patriarch (1850s)

WILLIAM HOLLEBONE

Father / Head of Household

Status: Wealthy merchant family

Location: Lambeth, London

Social Class: Upper-middle class

📋 1851 Census Evidence:

• Household in Camberwell/Battersea, London
• 5 servants (including international staff)
• Multiple children
• Wealthy residential area

Children:

  • Margaret (age 20)
  • Adelaide (age 23)
  • William J. (~age 9-10)
  • Henry E. (age 8) ⭐
  • Ernest (age 7)

Legacy: Established both sons in professional careers (wine trade & book trade)

↓

👥 GENERATION 2: The Professional Brothers (1880s-1900s)

WILLIAM J. HOLLEBONE

Born ~1842, Lambeth, London
Died: Unknown
🍷 WINE MERCHANT

Career: International wine trade

Location: Paddington, London

📋 1901 Census (Age 59):

• Occupation: Wine Merchant (employee)
• Location: Paddington, London
• Born: Lambeth, London
• Wife: Mary H.
• Children: Mille M. (35), Florence S. (25), others

Significance:

  • Confirms professional merchant family
  • International commercial connections
  • Same birth place as Henry (proves brothers)
  • Shows family pattern: trade/commerce

HENRY E. HOLLEBONE

Born ~1843, Lambeth, London
Died: Unknown (NEED TO FIND!)
📚 PROFESSIONAL BOOKSELLER
📖 BOOK DEALER

⭐ KEY FIGURE IN MANUSCRIPT PROVENANCE

1851

Age 8, London (wealthy family)

1881 🔥

PROFESSIONAL BOOKSELLER IN ESSEX

EXACTLY WHERE & WHEN MANUSCRIPT WAS AT GIDEA HALL!

1891

Age 50, London Book Dealer

Wife: Frances H., 4 children

1901

❌ NOT YET FOUND IN CENSUS

WHERE WAS HE? STILL BOOK DEALER?

🔥 Why Henry Is Critical:

  • Geographic Access: In Essex near Gidea Hall (1881)
  • Professional Expertise: Career in rare books/manuscripts
  • Temporal Access: 30 years before 1911 sale
  • Victorian Pattern: Book dealers traveled to estates
  • Family Resources: Wealthy background, connections

Family:

  • Wife: Frances H. (born London)
  • Daughter: Elizabeth F.
  • Three other children
  • All born London (family based there)

👥 Proof They Are Brothers:

Evidence Points:

  • ✓ Both born Lambeth, London
  • ✓ Born 1 year apart (1842 & 1843)
  • ✓ Same father: William Hollebone
  • ✓ Same 1851 household
  • ✓ Different wives (Mary vs Frances)
  • ✓ Different children (no overlap)
  • ✓ Different careers (Wine vs Books)

Family Pattern:

Two professional sons from established London merchant family pursuing different commercial trades:

  • William J: International wine trade (imports/exports)
  • Henry E: Rare books & manuscript trade

Both reflect family's commercial connections and resources

↓

🏛️ GENERATION 3: The Next Generation (1870s-1900s)

CLIFFORD FREDERICK HOLLEBONE

Born 1875 - Died 1926

Father: Henry Hollebone (stockbroker)

Born: Hampstead, London

1903 🔥

RESIDENT AT GIDEA HALL, ESSEX

Electoral register confirms!

Military Service:

  • 1900-01: Anglo-Boer War (Sergeant)
  • 1914-18: WWI (Lieutenant)

Marriage: 1903, Elizabeth Alice Wood

🏰 Gidea Hall Connection:

• Same location as John Dee's 1579 visit
• Historic Cook family estate
• Just 8 years before manuscript sale (1911)
• Links Hollebone surname to estate location

↓

🌐 THE EXTENDED HOLLEBONE FAMILY NETWORK (1868-1911)

New census discoveries reveal a larger professional family spread across Southeast England

LUCY E. HOLLEBONE

Born 1868, London

🏨 BOARDING HOUSE PROPRIETOR

📍 Margate, Kent (1901)

1901 Census Evidence:

  • Age: 33
  • Address: 8 Belmont Road, St Peter, Thanet, Kent
  • Status: HEAD of Household
  • Occupation: Proprietor of Ordinary House
  • Born: London

Significance:

  • ✅ Female entrepreneur running independent business
  • ✅ Boarding house in seaside resort town
  • ✅ Head of household (unusual for Victorian women)
  • ✅ Shows family business diversity

CAROLINE E H HOLLEBONE

Born 1871, London

📍 Margate, Kent (1901)

1901 Census Evidence:

  • Age: 30
  • Address: 8 Belmont Road, St Peter, Thanet (with Lucy)
  • Born: London
  • Only 3-year age gap with Lucy

Relationship:

Living with Lucy Hollebone - likely sisters based on:

  • ✅ Both Hollebone surname
  • ✅ Both born London (3 years apart)
  • ✅ Living together, running business
  • ✅ Small age gap typical of siblings

HAROLD HOLLEBONE

Born 1877

📍 Portsmouth, Hampshire (1901)

1901 Census Evidence:

  • Age: 24
  • Address: 2 Brandon Road, Portsmouth
  • Wife: Evelyn Hollebone
  • Status: Married, establishing own household

Significance:

  • ✅ Youngest of this generation
  • ✅ Portsmouth = naval town (career connections?)
  • ✅ Shows family geographic spread
  • ✅ Same London birth pattern

📊 "STOCK BROKER HENRY" - Full Census Details

Likely Clifford Frederick's father - living at "Gidea Hall/Hill" area 1891-1911

HENRY HOLLEBONE (Stock Broker)

Born ~1847-1848, London Holborn

📈 STOCK BROKER

1891 Census

Age 44 - Stock Broker

Address: Gidea Hall, Romford, Essex

Wife: Emelia/Emilia (age 42)

Sons: William H.T., Leslie M.

Servants: Multiple (including Stock Broker's Clerk)

1911 Census

Age 63 - Stock Broker (Employer)

Address: Gidea Hill, Romford, Essex

Property: 16 ROOMS (substantial wealth!)

Wife: Emilia (age 61+)

Daughter: Eliza (32, married)

Grandson: John Helles (13)

Servants: 2 (housemaid, kitchen maid)

Connection to Clifford:

Clifford Frederick Hollebone's father listed as "Henry Hollebone (stockbroker)" - this Stock Broker Henry has matching dates and occupation. Likely Clifford's father!

IMPORTANT NOTE:

This is a DIFFERENT Henry from Henry E. (Book Dealer):

  • ❌ Different birth year (1847-48 vs 1843)
  • ❌ Different wife (Emilia vs Frances)
  • ❌ Different occupation (Stock Broker vs Book Dealer)
  • ❌ Different property (possibly new "Gidea Hall" named after original)

🗺️ Geographic Network - 1901

Hollebone family spread across Southeast England:

📍 LONDON

Original family base

• All family members born here

• Henry E. operating as Book Dealer (1891)

• William J. as Wine Merchant (1901)

📍 ESSEX (Romford/Gidea Hall)

Manuscript location!

• Henry E. as Bookseller (1881) 🔥

• Stock Broker Henry (1891-1911)

• Clifford at Gidea Hall (1903)

📍 KENT (Margate)

Business venture

• Lucy (boarding house proprietor)

• Caroline (with Lucy)

• Seaside resort town

📍 HAMPSHIRE (Portsmouth)

Naval town

• Harold Hollebone (married)

• Wife Evelyn

• Establishing household

All within ~100 miles - professional middle-class family network!

💼 Family Business Diversity

Shows entrepreneurial professional family across multiple industries:

🍷

Wine Merchant

William J. Hollebone

International trade

📚

Book Dealer

Henry E. Hollebone

Rare manuscripts

🏨

Boarding House

Lucy E. Hollebone

Female entrepreneur!

📈

Stock Broker

Henry (Clifford's father)

Wealthy investor

❓ NEW RELATIONSHIP QUESTIONS

How do Lucy, Caroline, and Harold connect to Henry E. and William J.?

THEORY A: All Siblings

William J. (1842), Henry E. (1843), [25-year gap], Lucy (1868), Caroline (1871), Harold (1877)

  • Father William Hollebone had children over 35+ years
  • Second marriage explaining large age gap?
  • All born in London
  • Different careers reflecting family resources

Evidence Needed: William Hollebone's marriage records, death/burial records for first wife, birth certificates for all children

THEORY B: Lucy/Caroline/Harold are Henry E.'s Children

Henry E. (born 1843) → Lucy (1868), Caroline (1871), Harold (1877)

  • Ages fit: Henry E. age 25-34 when they were born
  • But Henry E.'s 1891 census shows different children (Elizabeth F., etc.)
  • Wife Frances doesn't match
  • Less likely unless children from different marriage

Problem: Henry E.'s documented children in 1891 are different names/ages

THEORY C: Cousins (Different Branch)

Separate Hollebone families, same London origin

  • Professional middle-class family network
  • William Hollebone may have had brothers
  • Lucy/Caroline/Harold could be children of William's brother
  • Explains same surname, London birth, professional pattern

Evidence Needed: William Hollebone's siblings, family tree expansion

THEORY D: Connected Through Stock Broker Henry

Stock Broker Henry (1847-48) → Lucy (1868), Caroline (1871), Harold (1877)

  • Stock Broker Henry born 1847-48
  • Lucy/Caroline/Harold born 1868-1877 (when he was 20-30)
  • Ages fit perfectly for father-child relationship!
  • But Stock Broker Henry's known children are William, Leslie, Eliza, Clifford
  • Could there be MORE children not yet documented?

Evidence Needed: Stock Broker Henry's full family records, all children's birth certificates

↓

❓ THE MANUSCRIPT SELLER (1911)

HENRY S. HOLLEBONE

Birth/Death: UNKNOWN
📜 ANTIQUARIAN BOOKSELLER

SOLD VOYNICH MANUSCRIPT IN 1911

1911

Sold manuscript to Wilfrid Voynich

London antiquarian book dealer

What We Know:

  • Middle initial: S
  • Profession: Antiquarian bookseller
  • Location: London
  • Sold manuscript 1911

What We DON'T Know:

  • ❌ Birth date/place
  • ❌ Death date
  • ❌ Exact relationship to Henry E.
  • ❌ Where manuscript came from

🔥 THE CRITICAL QUESTION

How do HENRY E. HOLLEBONE (1881 Essex bookseller) and HENRY S. HOLLEBONE (1911 manuscript seller) connect?

Possible Scenarios:

THEORY 1: Same Person

Henry E. = Henry S.

  • Middle initial difference (E vs S) could be error
  • Same profession (bookseller)
  • Same location (London base, Essex work)
  • Timeline fits (1881→1911 = 30 years)
  • If Henry E. age 50 in 1891 = age 70 in 1911 (plausible to still be working)

Evidence Needed: Death certificate for Henry E., birth certificate for Henry S., trade directories

THEORY 2: Father-Son

Henry E. (father, born 1843) → Henry S. (son, born 1870s-1880s?)

  • Son follows father into book trade
  • Different middle initials (Edward → Samuel/Stephen?)
  • Father established Essex connections (1881)
  • Son inherited business/connections
  • Henry E. could have passed manuscript knowledge to son

Evidence Needed: Birth certificate for Henry S. showing father Henry E.

THEORY 3: Uncle-Nephew

Henry E. (uncle) → Henry S. (nephew, son of William J.?)

  • William J. names son after brother Henry
  • Nephew enters uncle's trade
  • Family business connections

Evidence Needed: William J.'s children's birth certificates

THEORY 4: Brothers

Henry E. & Henry S. both sons of William Hollebone

  • Two sons named Henry with different middle names
  • Both enter book trade
  • Less common Victorian pattern

Evidence Needed: William's full family tree, all children's birth certificates

THEORY 5: Cousins

Henry E. → Henry S. through Clifford's line?

  • Clifford's father "Henry Hollebone (stockbroker)"
  • Could this be Henry E.?
  • Clifford at Gidea Hall 1903 = family connection
  • Henry S. could be Clifford's brother?

Evidence Needed: Clifford's birth certificate showing father's occupation

🔬 Research Priority:

Finding the connection between Henry E. and Henry S. would be a BREAKTHROUGH discovery! It would prove a direct documented link between:

  • Professional bookseller in Essex (1881)
  • Geographic access to Gidea Hall
  • Manuscript seller (1911)
  • Complete provenance chain!

→ Help us find this connection! See Research Opportunities

📅 Hollebone Family Timeline

1842-1843

William J. & Henry E. born in Lambeth, London

Sons of wealthy merchant William Hollebone

1851

Census: Wealthy London household

Father William, 5 servants, international staff, children including Henry (age 8)

1868-1877

Lucy, Caroline, Harold born in London

Expands documented Hollebone family - three more members discovered!

1881 🔥

HENRY E. IN ESSEX AS PROFESSIONAL BOOKSELLER

EXACTLY WHERE MANUSCRIPT WAS AT GIDEA HALL!

1891

Henry E. back in London as Book Dealer

Wife Frances, 4 children, Charles Street, Newington

1891

Stock Broker Henry at "Gidea Hall"

Age 44, wife Emilia, 16-room property - wealthy Stock Broker family

1901

Extended family documented across Southeast England

• William J. confirmed as Wine Merchant (Paddington, London)

• Lucy & Caroline running boarding house (Margate, Kent)

• Harold married to Evelyn (Portsmouth, Hampshire)

Family network spans 4 locations - professional middle-class pattern!

1903

Clifford Frederick Hollebone at Gidea Hall

Electoral register confirms residence at historic estate

1911

Stock Broker Henry still at "Gidea Hill"

Age 63, 16 rooms, wealthy establishment - shows long-term Hollebone presence in area

1911

HENRY S. HOLLEBONE SELLS MANUSCRIPT TO VOYNICH

Connection to Henry E. unknown!

Explore More:

🌳 Gidea Hall Network 🔬 Research Opportunities 📅 Timeline 🏰 Gidea Hall Research