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Name: SEAR, Henry William
Birth Date: 24 Apr 1891 Faringdon
Death Date: 6 Nov 1937 Oxford
First Date: 1912
Profession: BEA Wagon Works - Manufacturer of Wagons, Carts etc.
Area: Nairobi, Limuru
Married: In Nairobi 1915 Constance Mary Lord b. 21 Jan 1892 Norwich, d. 1976 Brighton
Children: Henry Boniface (28 June 1915 Nairobi-1991 Grantham); Paul Sherwood (20 Aug 1917 Nairobi, d. S. Africa); Oliver (7 Feb 1921 Nairobi-1978 Wayland, Norfolk); Elizabeth Suzanne (MacInnes) (26 Dec 1923 Nairobi-3 May 1998 Russell, N. Zealand); Judith Mary (19 Aug 1925 Nairobi-18 Nov 2007 Washington, DC)
Book Reference: KAD, Red 25, Red 31, Macmillan, Red 22, Land, Gazette, Harmony, Campling, Leader14, Red Book 1912, Web
General Information:
Gazette 28 June 1938 probate
Macmillan - 1930 - H.W. Sear Ltd., BEA Wagon Works, Agricultural Machinery - started business at Nairobi in 1912 under the style of the B.E.A. Wagon Works in the district known as the Factory Sites, and turned out vehicles of every description
Land - 1911 - H.W. Sear - Buildings, 4.8 acres - Nairobi - 20/7/10 - Leasehold for 99 years from 1/8/10 - Registered 1/7/11
Gazette - 1/1/14 - Notice - H.W. Sear admitted a partner of BEA Wagon Works as Manager; signed A. Brinck, General Manager BEA Sawmills & BEA Wagon Works.
Member of Lodge Harmony - Initiated 16/4/23, age 31, Merchant, Nairobi, died November 1937 - Henry William Sears
Campling - 1933 - Kenya's first air force unit as a unit of the KDF - Pilot Officer - H.W. Sear
Red Book 1912 - H.W. Sear - Nairobi
Web - From Roderick MacInnes - My grandfather was H.W. Sear, Henry William Sear. I believe that he died about 1936 in England, having left his farm at Limuru just prior to that as he was suffering from a form of cancer. I know that he had 6 children, and that his wife (Constance Mary) left Africa when he passed away. I believe that one of his sons (Paul, Henry or Oliver) may have stayed on to look after his business after he passed away.
My mother was born just outside Nairobi in 1923, and told me a number of stories about her father including that he imported John Deere tractors into Kenya. I'm also aware that he was an avid pilot and flew a Gypsy Moth into and around that area.
Web - Flight Archive - granted Aviator's certificate 1930 - Phillips & Powis Fl. School
Gazette 2/4/1919 - Dissolution of partnership between Thomas Jarman Morson, Samuel Morson and Henry William Sear carrying on business as Wagon builders and Blacksmiths at Nairobi under the style or firm of the BEA Wagon Works dissolved by mutual consent. Business will be carried on by Henry William Sear.
Gazette 9/3/1921 - Dissolution of Partnership between Henry William Sear, Robert Stephen and Archibald MacGregor carrying on business as Sear and Stephen dissolved by mutual consent. Business continues as Sear and Stephen under Robert Stephen and Archibald MacGregor.
Red 31 has H.W. Sear, Box 678, Nairobi