George Robert Welby Wheeler was born on 20 November 1845 in Bermondsey, Surrey (now Greater London), the eldest of the six children of George Charles Wheeler (1820-1886) and Charlotte Wheeler née Welby (1820-1915). His birth was registered as George Robert Wheeler in the 4th quarter of 1845 in the Bermondsey Registration District. On 26 November 1845 he was baptised in St James's Church, Bermondsey, where in the baptismal register he was again shown as George Robert Wheeler, that his family lived at 19 Jamaica Row, Bermondsey and that his father was a wharfinger.
On 19 September 1852 he was baptised for the second time, on this occasion jointly with his two siblings: John Alfred Wheeler (1847-1914) and Charlotte Florence Wheeler (1852-1854), at St Thomas's Church, Stepney, Middlesex (now Greater London), where in the baptismal register he is still recorded as George Robert Wheeler. The register confirms his date of birth and shows that his family were now residing at 22 King Street, Stepney and that his father was a merchant's clerk.
He was shown on the 1861 census as George R. Wheeler, aged 15 years and a sugar merchant's clerk, living at 22 Park Street, Mile End Old Town, Stepney, with his parents and his four surviving siblings: John Alfred Wheeler - a wharf clerk; Charles Percy Wheeler (1854-1932); Florence Elizabeth Wheeler (1857-1906) and Frederick William Wheeler (1860-1911), together with a female general domestic servant, His father was again listed as a wharfinger.
When the 1871 census was undertaken he was recorded as George R. Wheeler, aged 24 years and a surveyor, living at 234 Mile End Road, Mile End Old Town, with his parents and his four siblings: John Alfred Wheeler - a clerk; Charles Percy Wheeler - a clerk; Florence Elizabeth Wheeler and Frederick William Wheeler, together with a female general domestic servant. His father was listed as a Post Office clerk.
On 27 December 1877 he married Mabel Ada Buck (1858-1937) at St Peter's Church, Croydon, Surrey (now Greater London). In the marriage register he is shown as George Robert Welby Wheeler, aged 31 years, a bachelor and surveyor, residing in Peckham, Surrey (now Greater London), whilst his wife was described as aged 20 years and spinster, living in Croydon, the daughter of George Buck, a commercial traveller.
Their only child, Mabel Ellen Burgess Wheeler (1881-1942), was born in Shepherds Bush, Middlesex (now Greater London) and in the 1881 census he is shown as aged 34 years and a surveyor living at 1 St Stephen's Villas, Thornfield Road, Shepherds Bush, together with his wife and their daughter, together with a female domestic servant.
On 10 March 1883, giving his business address as 25 Great Smith Street, Westminster, Middlesex (now Greater London), he was admitted as an Associate Member of the Institute of Civil Engineers (AMICE).
Having been admitted to the Freedom of the Worshipful Company of Glovers by redemption, giving his home address as The Chestnut, The Avenue, Kew Gardens, Surrey (now Greater London), he subsequently applied to be admitted to the Freedom of the City of London by redemption and this was granted on 15 February 1887.
He was described as aged 44 years and the surveyor of the parish in the 1891 census, living at 55 Grosvenor Road, Westminster, London, with his wife, their daughter, his brother-in-law, George Buck aged 37 years and who was living on his own means, together with a female domestic servant.
He was still at the same address when the 1901 census was taken and he was described as aged 54 years, the surveyor to the vestry and an employer. Also at the address was his wife, their daughter, his nephew, George G. H. Wheeler, aged 18 years and who was an electrician, together with a female domestic servant.
When he completed his 1911 census return form he listed himself as George Robert Welby Wheeler, aged 64 years and a pensioned surveyor, living in an eight roomed property at 8 Lyndhurst Avenue, Cliftonville, Margate, Kent, with his wife, their daughter and a female servant.
He died, aged 75 years, on 24 December 1920, his death being registered in the 4th quarter of 1920 in the Thanet, Registration District, Kent. Probate records confirm that he had lived at 8 Lyndhurst Avenue, Cliftonville, Margate and that when probate was granted to his widow on 20 July 1921, his effects totalled £2,125-3s-9d.
He is shown as 'G.W.R.WHEELER. A.M.I.C.E. ARCHITECT AND SURVEYOR TO THE VESTRY' on the foundation stone at the Westminster Coroner's Court, 65 Horseferry Road, London, SW1.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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