John and Lynette Gates

John Gates, of Victoria, Australia, will be travelling to Jersey next May in the hope of tracing information about the ancestors and descendants of his mother’s parents.

Born in Kingston-on Thames, Surrey, in 1924, Mr Gates spent some time in Jersey as a youngster, staying with his grandparents whose relatives ran Helvetia House School.

The actress Lillie Langtry was a neighbour of his great grandfather and among his cousins were authors C S Forester and Maureen O’Donoghue – writing was an aspiration he had as a student at Victoria College.

However, he left to work in Lloyds Bank, in London, just before the Occupation in 1940, joining the Royal Corps of Signals two years later. After his war service, he returned to the Island where his grandfather had arranged for him to start work with Lloyds Bank.

He went back to the Far East as soon as he could, however, and later married his wife, Lynette, and the couple raised five children. Now retired and living in Melbourne, where he most recently worked in real estate, he would like to find out more about his Jersey ancestors and descendants.

‘My grandmother was Marie Messenger Joste born 21 September 1862, two weeks after her father, Capt Stephen Joste of the brig Providence, died at sea and was buried on the Isle of Wight. I have a copy of the Joste family tree.

‘Her mother remarried a Longstreeth, and they had a private hotel, Norman House, at First Tower, which in 1939 was run by the grandson, Geoffrey. Apart from his late father, Tom of Samarès, I have yet to trace details of other children who may include Gertrude A’Court of Grève d’Azette and Maude de la Mare.

‘My grandmother’s husband was Henry Broadbent Smith, son of Jonathan Smith, both of whom were born at Thirsk, Yorkshire. Jonathan came to Jersey in 1863 on transfer as a schoolmaster together with his wife, Eliza, and three children. ‘They had three more children in Jersey where Jonathan became manager of de Gruchy’s Bank. He lived in Langley, St Saviour, a farm property of several acres at the time.

‘His wife, Eliza, died in 1874. He remarried and his second wife’s surname was Le Cras, a student teacher. They had six children of whom I have no information. I am seeking details of them and the Longstreeth children, and their descendants.

‘My grandfather, Henry, and his younger brother, George (father of C S Forester the author), entered Victoria College in 1874. Henry died in 1947 and is buried at St Clement’s Church.

‘When the De Gruchy bank crashed in 1886 along with others, Jonathan left Jersey for good, after winding up of the Bank.’

Anyone who can help with the family research can contact John at Longislandlynnette@hotmail.com or write to him at:
4 Palm Court,
Long Island,
Frankston,
Victoria,
Australia, 3199.