RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Durham => Topic started by: pringlebingo on Thursday 22 July 10 15:54 BST (UK)
-
Looking for the parents of Thomas Willis in this area (b. 1834 if I remember correctly!).
-
Looking for the parents of Thomas Willis in this area (b. 1834 if I remember correctly!).
Not a lot to go on really. Was he actually born in Durham or just lived in that area? If he was born there - what was his actual birthplace in Durham
Do you have a copy of his marriage cert showing his fathers name and occupation?
Is he on the 1881 census which is free to search at http://www.familysearch.org/eng/search/frameset_search.asp?PAGE=census/search_census.asp
There is one on the 1851 census b Houghton Le Spring - parents George & Isabella but without more info it's difficult to know if it's the right entry
-
Sorry! I need to start leaving detailed posts!
What I know is that he married Rachel Halden and they had two daughters, Kitty and Nellie. He moved to America before 1881 but then moved back after Rachel died and remarried.
Before they left for America they were living in Barnard Castle.
-
What I know is that he married Rachel Halden and they had two daughters, Kitty and Nellie
Where and when did he marry
Where and when were the children born
There is no Willis/Halden marriage on freebmd
but then moved back after Rachel died and remarried.
Who did he then marry and where?
-
Kitty and Nellie were both born in America in 1864 and 71 respectively.
Thomas was born in 1825 in Barnard Castle, sometimes described as Romaldkirk.
Married Ann on return from America - we think!
On return from America lived at Staindrop - Teesdale - later moved to Darlington.
-
Sorry, I'm getting confused. I hate to ask, but was it 1825, or 1834 per your initial query ? Don't worry, I used to give far too much information and get in a dreadful muddle when I first joined ! :(
Looking for the parents of Thomas Willis in this area (b. 1834 if I remember correctly!).
Thomas was born in 1825 in Barnard Castle, sometimes described as Romaldkirk.
There's this baptism in Barnard Castle :
Thomas Willis, 11th. August 1824
Parents : Joseph and Anne Willis
Barnard Castle
Kindest regards,
Pels.
-
So if his daughters were both born in America - he must have left England before 1864
If he was b 1824 - he was 40 when Kitty was born and 47 when Nellie was born
Did the girls return with him when he left America
-
Yes they did, and later Kitty lived with him under the name of Westcott (she married James Westcott).
-
Looking for the parents of Thomas Willis in this area (b. 1834 if I remember correctly!).
May I interupt - I thought the original query was to find the parents of Thomas Willis, Carole ? :-\
-
May I interupt - I thought the original query was to find the parents of Thomas Willis, Carole
It was - but we first have to find Thomas Willis to establish if you found the right IGI entry
So far - birthyear 1834 then 1825
I have just found this 1891 entry - dtr indexed as KATTIE
Thomas Willis 66 b Barnard Castle retired builder
Kittie E Willis 26 b Chicago Illinois
RG12 Piece 4079 Folio 105 Page 1
Now I am happy that it's the right IGI entry
-
Kittie Elizabeth Willis married James Henry Westcott in 1896
-
Now I am happy that it's the right IGI entry
Best to mention, I found the information on the Family Search pilot site.
http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#start
Pels.
-
Thank you - yes, I questioned my original date at the time because I couldn't find the tree that I wanted. Certain that it's 25 now though. So any ideas on finding his parents?
-
There's this baptism in Barnard Castle :
Thomas Willis, 11th. August 1824
Parents : Joseph and Anne Willis
Barnard Castle
Kindest regards,
Pels.
Thank you - yes, I questioned my original date at the time because I couldn't find the tree that I wanted. Certain that it's 25 now though. So any ideas on finding his parents?
I'm hoping these are his parents - if you scroll the page slightly .. you should see my earlier reply.
Best wishes,
Pels.
-
Sorry Pels - totally missed your first post.
They look like a good option to me!
-
Hi Pringle,
You lucky as this post is one of the best posts I have ever read! From near nothing to a full result from Pels :) and Carole W ;) too persist to prove the event!!! :D exactly.
Why Lucky? to have 2 of the best researchers coming too your request! all in one page
Two great ladies!
Regards Dave
-
Hi Dave,
You're too right! After my initially awful post I never expected such a good result.
Many thanks to Pels and CaroleW :)