Category Archives: VEEVERS Family Stories

The Veevers line begins with me. My maiden name was Doran-Veevers. My father, Douglas (1926-1999), legally blended his surname at the request of his mother. At the time, she worried there would be no heirs to carry on her father’s name, Doran. My VEEVERS line can be traced back to 1642 around Lancashire, England. Many generations lived and bred around that community. My great-grandfather, James Harrison Veevers (1837-1907) left England between 1860-1870 to make his home in India. My grandfather, Victor Hubert Veevers, (1885-1968) as well as my father, were born in Bombay, India.

THIRTY-FOUR Emperor’s Family

Posted on April 21, 2024 by cannyoung

Light sparkled in Harriett’s soulful brown eyes when James announced the upcoming visit from her mother and sisters. Tethered to his work, her step-father, Henry Bakes, remained in Bombay, though Harriett did not mind, as she craved female company. In … Continue reading →

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THIRTY-THREE – Heartache

Posted on April 6, 2024 by cannyoung

Harriett fell into despondency as if damp clouds snuffed out her inner candle. James arrived home from a day of fresh ideas and enthusiasm for working in his overseer role. Some evenings, when he returned home, he found the ayah … Continue reading →

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THIRTY-TWO – To Kolhapur, Maharashtra

Posted on March 30, 2024 by cannyoung

British administrators established education systems in India to build professional skills well before James arrived in Bombay. The Empire, keen to transfer its knowledge to the colonies, needed to speed up the construction boom happening across the continent. From the … Continue reading →

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THIRTY-ONE – Christmas, 1871

Posted on March 23, 2024 by cannyoung

December in Bombay provided a much different perspective from the Christmas holidays James had passed in England. He gazed out of the window; the dusty streets waited for the Sunday morning traffic. Harriett came from the bedroom dressed in her … Continue reading →

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THIRTY – Coming Home

Posted on March 16, 2024 by cannyoung

Harriett lifted a finger to her lips the moment James entered the room. Her glance flicked towards the cradle, draped in fine gauze, and tucked in the corner. The floor danced with patterned light streaming through the motifs of the … Continue reading →

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Twenty-nine – Spinning

Posted on March 10, 2024 by cannyoung

James now walked through his life like a character on stage. He clung to his work as the stabilizing force in his world, while Harriett’s mother orchestrated the upcoming event. Mrs Bakes permitted James and Harriett to spend time together … Continue reading →

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Twenty-Eight – The Reckoning

Posted on March 2, 2024 by cannyoung

James looked up from his drawing and noticed the evening light fading. He stayed at work later, timing his return to coincide with the dinner bell, then retreating to his room for the night. Uncomfortable with their spontaneous rendezvous and … Continue reading →

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TWENTY-SEVEN – Sparks to Flame

Posted on February 24, 2024 by cannyoung

Soft murmurs filtered to the upper level where James finished unpacking his belongings. Mr. Bakes must be home. James checked the time and confirmed he still had thirty minutes before dinner. He pulled the packet from the Public Works Department … Continue reading →

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TWENTY-SIX – Planting New Roots

Posted on February 17, 2024 by cannyoung

James grasped the handle of his portmanteau, packed with his essential belongings; his fingers, damp from the humidity, stuck to the leather. Dressed in his whites, and wearing his solar topi helped, but once the ship moved into the inner … Continue reading →

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TWENTY-FIVE – BOMBAY

Posted on February 10, 2024 by cannyoung

James vacillated between regret and acceptance for many months, and his guilt lingered as he judged himself. Perhaps he had given up too easily. Perhaps he might have tried harder to please his father. Other times, James regretted this line … Continue reading →

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