Charlotte Elsie (Dennis) Selfridge, born September 24, 1897, in Harwell, Greater London, England, to her parents, Pierce John Dennis, London solicitor (attorney) and former Vice Admiral in the Royal Navy, and Bertha “Bertie” Alice (Williams) Dennis, was the first of ten children in her family.
She worked in the toy department at Selfridge’s Department Store, London, England, where she met Harry Gordon Selfridge, Jr., son of the owner of the store. They were secretly married about 1924 in England and were parents of four children. The family resided at Friars Lawn, a home purchased in 1935, before leaving England in 1939.
Charlotte first immigrated to Canada in 1939, before arriving in the United States in June, 1940. Their children also immigrated through Canada in 1939, and were later brought to the United States in July 1940 by their “Nanny.” During this period, London was being bombed by Germany in World War II.
After his father’s family lost control of the store by 1939 during the Great Depression, Harry Gordon, Jr. decided to return to the United States in 1940. He married Charlotte Elsie Dennis in Libertyville, Lake County, IL, near Waukegan, IL on June 10, 1940, in the office of a justice of the peace, which helped with the immigration process for Charlotte and their children. The Milwaukee Sentinel published an account of the sixteen-year secret marriage on January 11, 1941. Apparently, many of his close family members and cousins were not aware of the secret marriage or even knew the couple had four children.
Harry Gordon, Jr. continued to work as an executive in retail sales for Sears, Roebuck Company, following his move to the United States. They resided in several states over several years, including Darien, Connecticut and Red Bank, NJ. From those states, he could commute to the New York, NY area, if needed.
Charlotte moved from Red Bank, NJ to Juneau, Alaska after the death of her husband in 1976. Apparently her son, Martin, and grandchildren loved skiing, and she wanted to be part of their experience. She died March 12, 1978 in Juneau, Alaska at age 79. Martin Gordon Selfridge, died in a tragic skiing accident in Juneau, Alaska, at age 52, on March 17, 1985.
Sons, Dr. Oliver Gordon Selfridge, Dr. Ralph Gordon Selfridge, both experts in computer science and mathematics, and Martin Gordon Selfridge, daughter, Dr. Jennifer Ann (Selfridge) McLeod, ten grandchildren, seven brothers, Pierce James Dennis, Lawrence Bertie Dennis, John Dennis, Hugh Northmore Dennis, Derek Bruchell Dennis, and Kenneth Morgan Dennis, three sisters, Kathleen Violet Dennis, Una Alice Dennis, and Nina May Dennis, many nieces and nephews, and cousins survived her.
Her parents, Pierce John Dennis and Bertha “Bertie” Alice (Williams) Dennis, her husband, Harry Gordon Selfridge, Jr., father-in-law, Harry Gordon Selfridge, Sr., and mother-in-law, Rosalie Amelia (Buckingham) Selfridge, predeceased her.
Paternal grandparents: Vice Admiral James Samuel Akid Dennis, a Commander in the Royal Navy, and Charlotte Catherine (Parson) Dennis
Paternal great grandfather: James Samuel Dennis
Maternal grandparents: William Llewellyn Morgan Williams and Bertha (Fry) Williams
Her daughter, Jennifer, shared her story of their home in England, at Friars Lawn, before the family had to flee to Canada and the United States from Liverpool to avoid the bombing raids in 1939, in a documentary about the Selfridge family heritage, which was shared on PBS. She mentioned that since her parents’ marriage was “secret” to avoid the wrath of her grandfather, Harry Gordon Selfridge, Sr., she and her brothers never met their grandfather.
Sources:
“Skier Killed,” The Daily Sitka Sentinel, Sitka, Alaska, Tuesday, March 19, 1985, p. 3.
“Marriage, a Secret 16 years, Revealed,” Milwaukee Sentinel, January 11, 1941, p. 5.
A Fleeting Peace - Golden Age Aviation in the British Empire
Aviators - Harry Gordon Selfridge, Jr.
www.afleetingpeace.org/index.php/aviators/s
Various genealogical, family tree, and timeline websites
She worked in the toy department at Selfridge’s Department Store, London, England, where she met Harry Gordon Selfridge, Jr., son of the owner of the store. They were secretly married about 1924 in England and were parents of four children. The family resided at Friars Lawn, a home purchased in 1935, before leaving England in 1939.
Charlotte first immigrated to Canada in 1939, before arriving in the United States in June, 1940. Their children also immigrated through Canada in 1939, and were later brought to the United States in July 1940 by their “Nanny.” During this period, London was being bombed by Germany in World War II.
After his father’s family lost control of the store by 1939 during the Great Depression, Harry Gordon, Jr. decided to return to the United States in 1940. He married Charlotte Elsie Dennis in Libertyville, Lake County, IL, near Waukegan, IL on June 10, 1940, in the office of a justice of the peace, which helped with the immigration process for Charlotte and their children. The Milwaukee Sentinel published an account of the sixteen-year secret marriage on January 11, 1941. Apparently, many of his close family members and cousins were not aware of the secret marriage or even knew the couple had four children.
Harry Gordon, Jr. continued to work as an executive in retail sales for Sears, Roebuck Company, following his move to the United States. They resided in several states over several years, including Darien, Connecticut and Red Bank, NJ. From those states, he could commute to the New York, NY area, if needed.
Charlotte moved from Red Bank, NJ to Juneau, Alaska after the death of her husband in 1976. Apparently her son, Martin, and grandchildren loved skiing, and she wanted to be part of their experience. She died March 12, 1978 in Juneau, Alaska at age 79. Martin Gordon Selfridge, died in a tragic skiing accident in Juneau, Alaska, at age 52, on March 17, 1985.
Sons, Dr. Oliver Gordon Selfridge, Dr. Ralph Gordon Selfridge, both experts in computer science and mathematics, and Martin Gordon Selfridge, daughter, Dr. Jennifer Ann (Selfridge) McLeod, ten grandchildren, seven brothers, Pierce James Dennis, Lawrence Bertie Dennis, John Dennis, Hugh Northmore Dennis, Derek Bruchell Dennis, and Kenneth Morgan Dennis, three sisters, Kathleen Violet Dennis, Una Alice Dennis, and Nina May Dennis, many nieces and nephews, and cousins survived her.
Her parents, Pierce John Dennis and Bertha “Bertie” Alice (Williams) Dennis, her husband, Harry Gordon Selfridge, Jr., father-in-law, Harry Gordon Selfridge, Sr., and mother-in-law, Rosalie Amelia (Buckingham) Selfridge, predeceased her.
Paternal grandparents: Vice Admiral James Samuel Akid Dennis, a Commander in the Royal Navy, and Charlotte Catherine (Parson) Dennis
Paternal great grandfather: James Samuel Dennis
Maternal grandparents: William Llewellyn Morgan Williams and Bertha (Fry) Williams
Her daughter, Jennifer, shared her story of their home in England, at Friars Lawn, before the family had to flee to Canada and the United States from Liverpool to avoid the bombing raids in 1939, in a documentary about the Selfridge family heritage, which was shared on PBS. She mentioned that since her parents’ marriage was “secret” to avoid the wrath of her grandfather, Harry Gordon Selfridge, Sr., she and her brothers never met their grandfather.
Sources:
“Skier Killed,” The Daily Sitka Sentinel, Sitka, Alaska, Tuesday, March 19, 1985, p. 3.
“Marriage, a Secret 16 years, Revealed,” Milwaukee Sentinel, January 11, 1941, p. 5.
A Fleeting Peace - Golden Age Aviation in the British Empire
Aviators - Harry Gordon Selfridge, Jr.
www.afleetingpeace.org/index.php/aviators/s
Various genealogical, family tree, and timeline websites
Charlotte Elsie (Dennis) Selfridge, born September 24, 1897, in Harwell, Greater London, England, to her parents, Pierce John Dennis, London solicitor (attorney) and former Vice Admiral in the Royal Navy, and Bertha “Bertie” Alice (Williams) Dennis, was the first of ten children in her family.
She worked in the toy department at Selfridge’s Department Store, London, England, where she met Harry Gordon Selfridge, Jr., son of the owner of the store. They were secretly married about 1924 in England and were parents of four children. The family resided at Friars Lawn, a home purchased in 1935, before leaving England in 1939.
Charlotte first immigrated to Canada in 1939, before arriving in the United States in June, 1940. Their children also immigrated through Canada in 1939, and were later brought to the United States in July 1940 by their “Nanny.” During this period, London was being bombed by Germany in World War II.
After his father’s family lost control of the store by 1939 during the Great Depression, Harry Gordon, Jr. decided to return to the United States in 1940. He married Charlotte Elsie Dennis in Libertyville, Lake County, IL, near Waukegan, IL on June 10, 1940, in the office of a justice of the peace, which helped with the immigration process for Charlotte and their children. The Milwaukee Sentinel published an account of the sixteen-year secret marriage on January 11, 1941. Apparently, many of his close family members and cousins were not aware of the secret marriage or even knew the couple had four children.
Harry Gordon, Jr. continued to work as an executive in retail sales for Sears, Roebuck Company, following his move to the United States. They resided in several states over several years, including Darien, Connecticut and Red Bank, NJ. From those states, he could commute to the New York, NY area, if needed.
Charlotte moved from Red Bank, NJ to Juneau, Alaska after the death of her husband in 1976. Apparently her son, Martin, and grandchildren loved skiing, and she wanted to be part of their experience. She died March 12, 1978 in Juneau, Alaska at age 79. Martin Gordon Selfridge, died in a tragic skiing accident in Juneau, Alaska, at age 52, on March 17, 1985.
Sons, Dr. Oliver Gordon Selfridge, Dr. Ralph Gordon Selfridge, both experts in computer science and mathematics, and Martin Gordon Selfridge, daughter, Dr. Jennifer Ann (Selfridge) McLeod, ten grandchildren, seven brothers, Pierce James Dennis, Lawrence Bertie Dennis, John Dennis, Hugh Northmore Dennis, Derek Bruchell Dennis, and Kenneth Morgan Dennis, three sisters, Kathleen Violet Dennis, Una Alice Dennis, and Nina May Dennis, many nieces and nephews, and cousins survived her.
Her parents, Pierce John Dennis and Bertha “Bertie” Alice (Williams) Dennis, her husband, Harry Gordon Selfridge, Jr., father-in-law, Harry Gordon Selfridge, Sr., and mother-in-law, Rosalie Amelia (Buckingham) Selfridge, predeceased her.
Paternal grandparents: Vice Admiral James Samuel Akid Dennis, a Commander in the Royal Navy, and Charlotte Catherine (Parson) Dennis
Paternal great grandfather: James Samuel Dennis
Maternal grandparents: William Llewellyn Morgan Williams and Bertha (Fry) Williams
Her daughter, Jennifer, shared her story of their home in England, at Friars Lawn, before the family had to flee to Canada and the United States from Liverpool to avoid the bombing raids in 1939, in a documentary about the Selfridge family heritage, which was shared on PBS. She mentioned that since her parents’ marriage was “secret” to avoid the wrath of her grandfather, Harry Gordon Selfridge, Sr., she and her brothers never met their grandfather.
Sources:
“Skier Killed,” The Daily Sitka Sentinel, Sitka, Alaska, Tuesday, March 19, 1985, p. 3.
“Marriage, a Secret 16 years, Revealed,” Milwaukee Sentinel, January 11, 1941, p. 5.
A Fleeting Peace - Golden Age Aviation in the British Empire
Aviators - Harry Gordon Selfridge, Jr.
www.afleetingpeace.org/index.php/aviators/s
Various genealogical, family tree, and timeline websites
She worked in the toy department at Selfridge’s Department Store, London, England, where she met Harry Gordon Selfridge, Jr., son of the owner of the store. They were secretly married about 1924 in England and were parents of four children. The family resided at Friars Lawn, a home purchased in 1935, before leaving England in 1939.
Charlotte first immigrated to Canada in 1939, before arriving in the United States in June, 1940. Their children also immigrated through Canada in 1939, and were later brought to the United States in July 1940 by their “Nanny.” During this period, London was being bombed by Germany in World War II.
After his father’s family lost control of the store by 1939 during the Great Depression, Harry Gordon, Jr. decided to return to the United States in 1940. He married Charlotte Elsie Dennis in Libertyville, Lake County, IL, near Waukegan, IL on June 10, 1940, in the office of a justice of the peace, which helped with the immigration process for Charlotte and their children. The Milwaukee Sentinel published an account of the sixteen-year secret marriage on January 11, 1941. Apparently, many of his close family members and cousins were not aware of the secret marriage or even knew the couple had four children.
Harry Gordon, Jr. continued to work as an executive in retail sales for Sears, Roebuck Company, following his move to the United States. They resided in several states over several years, including Darien, Connecticut and Red Bank, NJ. From those states, he could commute to the New York, NY area, if needed.
Charlotte moved from Red Bank, NJ to Juneau, Alaska after the death of her husband in 1976. Apparently her son, Martin, and grandchildren loved skiing, and she wanted to be part of their experience. She died March 12, 1978 in Juneau, Alaska at age 79. Martin Gordon Selfridge, died in a tragic skiing accident in Juneau, Alaska, at age 52, on March 17, 1985.
Sons, Dr. Oliver Gordon Selfridge, Dr. Ralph Gordon Selfridge, both experts in computer science and mathematics, and Martin Gordon Selfridge, daughter, Dr. Jennifer Ann (Selfridge) McLeod, ten grandchildren, seven brothers, Pierce James Dennis, Lawrence Bertie Dennis, John Dennis, Hugh Northmore Dennis, Derek Bruchell Dennis, and Kenneth Morgan Dennis, three sisters, Kathleen Violet Dennis, Una Alice Dennis, and Nina May Dennis, many nieces and nephews, and cousins survived her.
Her parents, Pierce John Dennis and Bertha “Bertie” Alice (Williams) Dennis, her husband, Harry Gordon Selfridge, Jr., father-in-law, Harry Gordon Selfridge, Sr., and mother-in-law, Rosalie Amelia (Buckingham) Selfridge, predeceased her.
Paternal grandparents: Vice Admiral James Samuel Akid Dennis, a Commander in the Royal Navy, and Charlotte Catherine (Parson) Dennis
Paternal great grandfather: James Samuel Dennis
Maternal grandparents: William Llewellyn Morgan Williams and Bertha (Fry) Williams
Her daughter, Jennifer, shared her story of their home in England, at Friars Lawn, before the family had to flee to Canada and the United States from Liverpool to avoid the bombing raids in 1939, in a documentary about the Selfridge family heritage, which was shared on PBS. She mentioned that since her parents’ marriage was “secret” to avoid the wrath of her grandfather, Harry Gordon Selfridge, Sr., she and her brothers never met their grandfather.
Sources:
“Skier Killed,” The Daily Sitka Sentinel, Sitka, Alaska, Tuesday, March 19, 1985, p. 3.
“Marriage, a Secret 16 years, Revealed,” Milwaukee Sentinel, January 11, 1941, p. 5.
A Fleeting Peace - Golden Age Aviation in the British Empire
Aviators - Harry Gordon Selfridge, Jr.
www.afleetingpeace.org/index.php/aviators/s
Various genealogical, family tree, and timeline websites
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