Subject

Samuel Garcia Asher was born about 1868 in Russell Square, Bloomsbury. His birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1868 in the St Giles registration district and his parents were Dr Asher Asher (1837-1889) and Lucy Asher née Garcia (1842-1891).

In the 1871 census he is shown as living at 10 Bernard Street, Bloomsbury with his parents, his sister Hannah Asher (1864-1916), his brother Philip Asher (1866-1904), together with a female general domestic servant and a nurse. His father's occupation was listed as M.D. General Practitioner.

The 1881 census shows him living at 18 Endsleigh Street, St Pancras, with his parents, both siblings, his paternal grandmother Hannah Asher (1815-1901), his cousin Samuel Barnett Garcia (1866-1893), together with cook and housemaid. In the 1891 census he is shown as a merchant's clerk living at 6 Randolph Crescent, Paddington, with his widowed mother, his brother, a cook and a housemaid.

Electoral registers from 1895 to 1902 show him listed at 89 Wigmore Street, London, where he rented 3 unfurnished front and back rooms on the 1st Floor for £80 per annum. On 6 November 1896 he was initiated as a freemason in the Eccentric Lodge No.2488, giving his address as 89 Wigmore Street, London and his occupation as a secretary. Our picture source claims that in 1901 he was a private secretary to Nathaniel Mayer Rothschild, 1st Baron Rothschild, Baron de Rothschild GCVO, PC (1840-1915) and was residing at 89 Wigmore Street, London.

Electoral registers and Post Office London directories from 1902 to 1904 list him at 2 Marble Arch Mansions, 475 Oxford Street, Westminster. In the 1st quarter of 1903 in the Paddington registration district he married Lillie Barnato (1877-1959) and they had two children: Lucy Rachel Asher (1906-1960) and Elizabeth Phyllis Asher (1907-1983).

Electoral registers and Post Office London directories from 1905 to 1938 list him at 30 Berkeley Square London, W1. On 13 June 1906 as a freemason he joined the Barnato Lodge No.2265, giving his address as 30 Berkeley Square, London and his occupation a gentleman.

The 1911 census shows him as a retired private secretary living on his own means at Ascot Place, Winkfield, Ascot, Berkshire, with his wife, their daughters, a butler, a valet, a footman, a housekeeper/cook, a kitchen-maid, two housemaids, a lady's maid, a nursery-maid, two maids and a boy servant. Electoral registers and Kelly's Local Directories list him at this address from 1915 to 1938.

The London Gazette dated 21 January 1913 lists his annual re-appointment as one of His Majesty's Lieutenants within the City of London with effect from 8 November 1912 an appointment he had held from at least 1905 until his death. In September 1913 he resigned his membership of the Eccentric Lodge No.2488 and on 6 November 1913, whilst residing at 30 Berkeley Square, he was admitted to the Freedom of the City of London by redemption in the Worshipful Company of Gardeners.

Probate records confirm that he lived at both Ascot Place, Ascot and 30 Berkeley Square, London and that he died, aged 70 years on 17 November 1938 at 30 Berkeley Square. Probate was granted on 12 December 1938 to both his widow and an Arthur Cecil Abrahams, a member of the London stock exchange. His effects totalled £236,340-18s-7d. (The adjusted figure for inflation in 2021 is £18,182,290).