VANDERSTEEN

Born 9 Jan 1871, Bethnal Green, Midsx., 61 Canrobert Street³
Died 26 Jul 1944, Bedgbury, 26 Ethelburt Road, Canterbury, Kent⁴
Occupation: Pawnbroker's Assistant (1895), Pawnbroker and Jeweller (1901) Jeweller (1920 shops in Dover and Canterbury⁵
Abode: St Pancras, London (1891) , Sidney Villa, Napier Rd, Gillingham, Kent (1895) 78 Northgate St, Canterbury (1901)⁶
He was nominated as Mayor of Dover but was ineligible because he could not trace his ancestry - Letter from Vera J Vandersteen, 15 Nov 1986

My mother had a sister who lived with us in Ashford.I can recall she once showed me a newspaper cutting about my grandfather,it was something about hin being caught with a young girl and at the time he was either the Sheriff of Canterbury or being nominated, unfortunately I was never given the cutting. I do not know if you could trace it, the papers then were "Kent Messenger" or "Kentish Express". From what I gathered my grandfather had was a womaniser,hence the reason for my father never taking me to meet him. - extract from email to RFG from Yvonne P Bowes, 20 Sep 2007.

He probably took over the business of T and G Burns, Pawnbroker and Outfitter, 3 and 4 Tower Hamlets Road, Dover. In the 1905 Pike's Blue Book and Local Directory of Dover, he is listed as "Pawnbroker and Outfitter" at 6 and 8 Tower Hamlets Road. (The road had recently been renumbered to have even numbers on one side and odd on the other.) In 1907 he is just listed as "Pawnbroker" and in 1913 as "Jeweller and Outfitter" when he also has the adjoining premises, number 10. In the 1921 Pike's Directory of Dover he has an additional listing at 109 High Street as "Furniture dealer". 109 High Street is the last one in the High Street and on the corner of Tower Hamlets Road. The following year 6 and 8 Tower Hamlets Road are unoccupied. He continues to be listed as a "Furniture dealer" at 109 High Street until 1930/31 after which entries for A.E.Vandersteen cease. 109 High Street becomes a radio repair shop.

As yet, I have found no evidence of Albert Edward Vandersteen being nominated for mayor of Dover. He is not listed as a town counsellor at any time between 1905 and 1931. (R.F.George visit to Dover 21Oct 2004)

Born 1874, Kent, Chatham⁷
Died 20 Jun 1933, 3 Sackville Crescent, Ashford Kent⁸
Abode: "Bedgebury", Ethelburt Road, Canterbury, Kent (1930)⁹