Mark Serebriakoff's Home page

I am collecting a family history relating to my family the Serebriakoffs', and related families of Graham, Gay, Pinkney, Stevenson, Boydell, Johnson, Foster, Moore and others.

The Serebriakoff family came to England from Russia in about 1888, and I can trace back to 1850, or there about, from Russian documents I have. I know that the man who came to England, Esper Serebriakoff had a brother and 3 sons, only one of whom I know about. If you have any information please contact me at; mark.serebriakoff@googlemail.com

Esper Serebriakoff's father was Alexander Serebriakoff.  He was a lieutenant colonel in the Russian army.  Esper joined the Russian navy as a cadet in 1872.  He rose to become a lieutenant but left the navy in 1885, and left Russia in about 1888. 

Esper came to England with his wife Katherine Seitelman, via Switzerland, where in March 1888 Vladimir Serebriakoff my grandfather was born.  When they finally got to England they lived in Dartmouth for a time.  They may also have spent a short time in Germany.  

At some time from the late 1890's they lived in Forest Hill in South East London.  At this time Esper was involved with the Russian émigré community working against the Russian government.   I have a copy of a revolutionary  paper written by Esper in 1899 giving an address in Siddons Road, Forest Hill.  Valdimir told a story of looking through the banisters watching visitors arrive at the house, one of whom was Lennin. 

Valdimir stayed in England when the family returned to Russia, though he did visit his mothers home town of Odessa.  His time there coincided with the Battleship Potempkin incident, and he claimed that he was shot and wounded there.

Valdimir married Ethel Graham in 1912 and my father Victor, was born  in October 1912.  Vladimir and Ethel had 7 children, 5 girls and 2 boys.   The children of those children have spread over many parts of the world, and the family names used are Serebriakoff, Gay, Pinkney, Stevenson, Boydell, Johnson, Foster, Moore.  

One of Vladimir's boys was Victor Serebriakoff.  He became the Honorary President of Mensa, having built the organisation from a handful of friends to a world wide society with over a hundred thousand members.  More details of his story can be found on The Victor Serebriakoff Page