Consul of Austria-Hungary

[sue2white]

I have found reference to a Henry Montague Blyth in 1897 in the London Gazette, stating that the Queen had approved him as Consul of Austria-Hungary at Port Loius Mauritius.

I can find no more information about him. Any pointers would be great please.

[Elwyn Soutter]

It seems slightly strange. You would expect the Austro-Hungarian authorities to have appointed him as their Consul, not Queen Victoria. Perhaps as he was a British Subject she had to give her consent to him being a Consul for another country.

Where countries have significant diplomatic and commercial interests in a place they usually open an Embassy or Consulate with salaried staff from their own diplomatic service. However where the interests are not so significant, they sometimes appoint an Honorary Consul, authorised to carry out certain lower level diplomatic functions eg registering births or issuing emergency passports, but with instructions to refer more complex matters to the nearest Embassy. Usually Honorary Consuls are local businessmen, they need not be a national of the country they represent, and all they get is an annual payment (an Honorarium) plus expenses, and a brass plaque to put on their office door. Could Mr Blyth have been an Honorary Consul like this?

I assume any record of his work for the Austro-Hungarian Empire would be in their diplomatic records if they still exist given that the empire was dismantled at the end of the 1st world war. You could ask the Austrian or Hungarian Embassies, I suppose.

[Jan1954]

This is probably his birth:
March quarter 1868, Kensington District, volume 1a, page 12, Henry Montague BLYTH

[Coromandel]

If you search Google Books for "Henry Montague Blyth", he pops up (in snippet view only) in a publication by the Österreichischen Staatsarchivs.

Column 1: Henry Montague BLYTH
Column 2: [blank]
Column 3: HK 27, Mai 1897-13, August 1914

Unfortunately none of the rest of the page is visible, nor can I see the bit where the abbreviations are explained.

Google Books also finds a mention of him in a book about the history of Mauritius: Maurice, une île et son passé. This time none of the text at all is visible.:(

[Kerrywood]

According to incoming passenger lists, Henry M BLYTH returned to the UK from Natal on the "Dover Castle" arriving Plymouth on 3 Jan 1915, described as a Merchant, aged 47, with wife Minnie aged 35, and children Norcen? E. aged 7 and Henry E. aged 4. Last place of residence was Mauritius.

According to the probate calendar, he was of 57 Westbourne-terrace Middlesex and died 8 January 1917. Probate 28 February to Henry Wilfred Currie and Frederick Charles Calvert gentlemen.
Effects £35,607 6s. 2d.

Deaths
Mar Qtr 1917
BLYTH Henry _ aged 49
Paddington 1a 55

[Coromandel]

From England Births & Christenings on FamilySearch:

Henry Monteque Blyth, son of Henry David Blyth and Elizabeth, bapt. 20 Jan. 1868, Paddington Holy Trinity.

(N.B. in the transcript, his middle name is spelled with a Q not a G)

You may be able to find an image of the original parish register on London Parish Registers on Ancestry.

[sue2white]

Thank you for all this.
I do not have a sub to Ancestry at the moment.
I would be interested to find out what his father's occupation was.

[Kerrywood]

I would be interested to find out what his father's occupation was.
Engineer, of 46 Porchester Square.

[Coromandel]

A possibility for his parents' marriage:

Henry David Blyth married in the first quarter of 1867, Kensington district: spouse either Elizabeth BARRON or Emma BROOKS.

[Coromandel]

Engineer, of 46 Porchester Square.

Perhaps this is a reference to him?

Re. the Sun Iron Works (or Sun Engine Works) and Cassell's Patent Lava Stone Works in Tooke Town, Northern Millwall:

'A few years later [i.e. a few years after 1869-70] both works were acquired by Alfred Blyth, junior, and Henry David Blyth of J. & A. Blyth Ltd, of Limehouse, engineers, ship repairers and boiler makers. With the winding-up of the company in 1878– 82, the main site entered upon another phase of industrial pioneering, carried out by the Electrical Power Storage Company Ltd....'

From 'Northern Millwall: Tooke Town', Survey of London: volumes 43 and 44: Poplar, Blackwall and Isle of Dogs (1994)
online at http://www.
british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=46514

[Kerrywood]

According to the baptism record for Henry Montague BLYTH, Henry David BLYTH's wife was Elizabeth, but like many Kensington marriages this 1867 one is not on Ancestry.

There are candidates in the census in Paddington, but care is needed because there are two different families ...

Henry David Philip BLYTH, son of James BLYTH, merchant, and Euphemia BLYTH, baptised 7 Sep 1842 St John Hackney

Henry David BLYTH, son of Alfred BLYTH, Gentleman, and Catherine Smith BLYTH, born 8 June 1843, baptised 5 July 1843 St Anne Limehouse.

Sorry I have to log off until later, but perhaps someone else can continue?

[sue2white]

Thank you. I just found that marriage. :wink5:
I have a Henry David Blyth already on my family tree b1798 and died 1864. He married a Charlotte Pixley.
They are likely related, as my one had dealings in Mauritius. That is why I am interested in Henry Montague - but I cannot find the link.

[olliecat]

According to the baptism record for Henry Montague BLYTH, Henry David BLYTH's wife was Elizabeth, but like many Kensington marriages this 1867 one is not on Ancestry.


Luckily it's on family search..


groom's name: Henry David Blyth
groom's birth date: 1844
groom's age: 23
bride's name: Elizabette Barron
bride's birth date: 1845
bride's age: 22
marriage date: 19 Feb 1867
marriage place: Paddington, Middlesex, England
groom's father's name: Alfred Blyth
bride's father's name: Charles Barron
groom's marital status: Single
bride's marital status: Single

[sue2white]

Wow! Thanks Olliecat.
If I can link Alfred to my Henry David Blyth, who died in 1864 - perhaps they were brothers??
Henry David Blyth b 11/6/1798 Saint George In The East, Stepney d 9/12/1864 Brighton

[olliecat]

I have a Henry David Blyth already on my family tree b1798 and died 1864. He married a Charlotte Pixley. They are likely related, as my one had dealings in Mauritius. That is why I am interested in Henry Montague - but I cannot find the link.

Who were Henry David Blyth's parents?

After checking out Alfred in the census, looks like this was his marriage, although according to the census he was born abt 1810 in Hackney/Homerton.

Possible marriage and baptism for Alfred...

groom's name: Alfred Blyth
groom's birth date: 1815
groom's age: 21
bride's name: Catharine Smith Greene
bride's birth date: 1815
bride's age: 21
marriage date: 28 Sep 1836
marriage place: Saint Mary, Bury Saint Edmunds, Suffolk, England

name: Alfred Blyth
gender: Male
baptism/christening date: 23 May 1810
baptism/christening place: St. John's, Hackney, Middlesex, England
father's name: Thomas Blyth
mother's name: Isabella

Do Alfred's parents tie into your Blyth family?

[sue2white]

You've got it Olliecat!! You're a star!
My Henry David was another son of Thomas & Isabella.

[olliecat]

You've got it Olliecat!! You're a star!
My Henry David was another son of Thomas & Isabella.

From family search, it looks like Thomas and Isabell Blyth had a number of children. Also, just found a tree that has Thomas dying in 1839.

Have you checked out the will of Thomas Blyth (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=312092&queryType=1&resultcount=19), Merchant and Ship Owner of Saint Ann Limehouse, proved on 04 November 1839.

[Coromandel]

Some bits and pieces from the newspapers about Alfred Blyth:

The Champion, 9 Oct 1836
(Marriage)
'At St Mary's Church, Bury, Alfred Blyth, Esq., of Limehouse, London, to Catherine, eldest daughter of Benjamin Greene, Esq., of Bury St. Edmunds.' [date of marriage not stated, though it is noted that another of B. Greene's daughters married at the same church on the same day.]

The Bury & Norwich Post of 14 June 1843 announced this birth:
'On Thursday, the 10th, inst., at Langley Place, East India Road, London, the lady of Alfred Blyth, Esq., of a son.'

(in the same paper you can find announcements of the births of a daughter at Limehouse in Oct 1838; another son at Langley Place, East India Road, in April 1840, and another son there in May 1847)

Death announced in The Bury and Norwich Post, 1 May 1883:
'BLYTH.--17th ult., at Bayswater-terrace, London, Catherine, the dearly-loved wife of Alfred Blyth, and eldest daughter of the late Benjamin Greene, of Bury St Edmund's.'

[olliecat]

Looking through the generations leading from Thomas Blyth to Henry Montague Blyth.

It seems Thomas's son Alfred Blyth died in 1886 and from the National Probate Calender, he left a will which was proved on 15 Feb 1888.

It seems that Alfred's son Henry David Blyth died in 1923 and he also left a will which was proved on 2 Feb 1924.

So including Henry Montague Blyth, it appears that you have a will for every generation.

[Coromandel]

Column 1: Henry Montague BLYTH
Column 2:
Column 3: [B]HK 27, Mai 1897-13, August 1914

Having belatedly read Elwyn's post (#2) I would guess that HK is the abbreviation for whatever the German is for Honorary Consul.

[sue2white]

I am overwhelmed by all this!!
Thank you so much.

[Kerrywood]

A belated contribution ...

Henry David BLYTH
Buried on 16 Dec 1864 at Highgate Cemetery, aged 66 years, from 7 Hamilton Place, Piccadilly.

Thomas BLYTH
Buried 17 Apr 1839 at St Anne Limehouse, aged 75 years, from Bethnal Green.

[olliecat]

This could be Thomas Blyth in the newspaper...

DEATHS
April 22, at his residence, Park House, Grove-road, Mile End, Thomas Blyth, Esq., age 74.
The Standard (London, England), Thursday, April 25, 1839

NOTE: if you look on a map, you'll see that Grove Road is near Limehouse.

Also, looking at burial registers, Thomas Blyth was buried at Limehouse St Anne on 27 Apr 1839. Age 75.

We haven't gone off-topic have we?

[Kerrywood]

Thomas BLYTH
Buried 17 Apr 1839

My typo, sorry. 27 April (as posted by olliecat) is correct.

[Kerrywood]

Thomas Blyth was buried at Limehouse St Anne on 27 Apr 1839. Age 75.

Possible baptism ...

St John the Baptist Walbrook, City of London
Thomas Henry Blythe, Son of Henry Blythe, and Ann his Wife, Baptized, Mar 24, 1765


We haven't gone off-topic have we?

Sue2white can say if she would like the thread moved. :smile5:

[sue2white]

It doesn't matter if you have - they are all related to me!!
Just wish they were my direct line. I could be a millionaire!

[Coromandel]

We could go back to Mauritius, by way of Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives.

Their document ref. B/MIS/12/1 is an assignment of debt and securities to 'Thomas and Henry David Blyth of Limehouse, and James Blyth of Mauritius, merchants trading (as Thomas Blyth Sons & Co) in Mauritius', dated 23 Jan 1836 (from A2A (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=092-bmis&cid=-1#-1)).

[sue2white]

Kerrywood, if you think it would be more appropriate on a different board now, I am happy for you to move it.

[Kerrywood]

Let's leave it for the moment. :smile5:

[olliecat]

It doesn't matter if you have - they are all related to me!!
Just wish they were my direct line. I could be a millionaire!

Here's a little more for you then. :smile5:


Isabella Blyth died on 17 Aug 1860 and left a will which was proved on 29 Jan 1861. Executors were sons Henry David, Alfred and James Blyth. Also, from the newspapers...

DEATHS
BLYTH. -- On the 17th inst.., at her residence, St. John's-wood, Isabella, relict of the late Thomas Blyth, Esq., in the 92d year of her age.
The Morning Chronicle (London, England), Tuesday, August 21, 1860

So, an estimated birth date for her is abt 1768.

[Kerrywood]

merchants trading (as Thomas Blyth Sons & Co) in Mauritius'

This company, or its successor, was still in business in 1968.

The Times of 12 March 1968 carries a large ad for Blyth Brothers & Co. Ltd of Port Louis, Mauritius, established 1830. An illustration dated 1842 shows a
"View of Port Louis with the barques Isabella Blyth arriving and Thomas Blyth departing".
Import and Export Merchants
Investors in new local industries with special interests in the Fishing Industry
Subsidiary Company of Blyth, Greene, Jourdain & Co, Ltd., Merchant Bankers, Plantation House, Fenchurch Street, London E.C.3

[Coromandel]

A book was produced, apparently for the company's 150th birthday: Blyth Brothers and Company Limited, 1830-1980, by Marcelle Lagesse. Snippets are available on Google Books. The real book seems to be pretty hard to come by, with only 500 copies having been printed.

P.S. but according to ABE Books, there's a copy available from a Johannesburg dealer at the moment.

[sue2white]

This thread has turned out to be amazing!! Thanks.

[Kerrywood]

DEATHS
April 22, at his residence, Park House, Grove-road, Mile End, Thomas Blyth, Esq., age 74.

Isabella BLYTHE is still at this address in 1851, with 3 servants.

She is aged 82, widowed, a Lady, born Durham Gateshead.

HO107/1540 folio 208 page 33 (record held by TNA, Crown copyright)

[olliecat]

Isabella BLYTHE is still at this address in 1851, with 3 servants.

She is aged 82, widowed, a Lady, born Durham Gateshead.

HO107/1540 folio 208 page 33 (record held by TNA, Crown copyright)

Yes, saw that and have been looking for Isabella christenings in Durham. :smile: There are a couple of possibilities on family search.

NOTE: There was a marriage between Thomas Blyth married Isabella Forster on 02 Apr 1793 at St George in the East (by license). Both of the parish. One of the witnesses was Elizabeth Forster.

[Kerrywood]

Possibilities ...

Name: Isabel Forster
Gender: Female
Baptism/Christening Date: 27 Feb 1769
Baptism/Christening Place: Gateshead, Durham, England
Father's Name: Henry Forster
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: P00059-2
Source Film Number: 252785

Name: Elisabeth Forster
Gender: Female
Baptism/Christening Date: 14 Jul 1766
Baptism/Christening Place: Gateshead, Durham, England
Father's Name: Henry Forster
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: P00059-2
Source Film Number: 252785

Unfortunately the images of the Durham BTs for Gateshead on FamilySearch start from March 1769. The earliest ones there don't record the mothers and have no more information than above.