A Russian Willis in Brighton

[kizmiaz]

Anne

Spookily enough, I have found out that my Charles Payne Willis was the son of Mary Ann, but Mary Ann Upton. His father was also Charles Willis, so I don't see any direct connection. Interesting coincidence though.

Rod, it would appear that the link to Russia in any way, shape or form is tenuous to say the least. My grandmother was told by someone who had allegedly been tracing the family that her grandfather was Russian and was called Wiliski, but I have found nothing at all which would verify this, and the person who told her seems to have been extremely lax in her research. All the evidence, checked and cross-checked, points to a good old Brightonian family from beginning to end, with only an occasional outsider from other parts of Sussex marrying into the line.

The real story seems to have been that my grandmother was always called "Russian Red" by her mother, and I am now quite sure this had more to do with her hair colour, and the fact that the Russian Revolution was BIG news, so her mother probably heard the expression that way. One thing leads to another, and a family myth is born.

Interesting how these things happen!

Thanks for the info everyone.

Glen

[annem]

Hi Glen
So  Charles Willis born Brighton 1814
married Mary Upton   1835 St Nicholas Brighton

Charles Paine Willis christened              1846  St Nicholas Brighton Sep 13th
Have you checked the christening record and if so did it give his date of birth.

Also do you know were the Paine/ Payne comes from.
Was it from the Willis or Upton side of the family.

Rod maybe right I know of a family story which had a South American c 1890 ,which proved to be totaly wrong . However when we got to the 41 census there he was, born around 1795  South America.
The infomation was correct but about 4 generations out.
I have also found people who having adopted English Surnames , in keeping changed were they were born.

Best Wishes Anne

[annem]

 HI kizmiaz
You did not get back to me saying were the Payne came from. I did not say befor because it seems too weird. But my Paynes seem to rise from nothing to achieve quite high standing. Ie quite a few leases for property in London . They start as drappers in southampton st and then by the late 1820sare wine merchants at 61 st james street; theycontinued in the wine trade for the next 100 years plus. In trying to find out how they got started I came across Weltje who ran the Thatched house ( a well known mens club in St james street) Weltjewent on to become a chef to the Prince Regent.
Branched out into other areas of the royal house hold. Money lender/raiser to + for the Regent . As well as playing a large role in securing the land for the Brighton pavilion. The times newspaper has quite a few of his escapades. He is described by the national portrait gallary as Louis Weltje (1745-1810), Comptoller to the Prince of Wales. Sitter in 5 portraits.  If there is a conection between your Payne Willis and my lot I would be very intreasted. Your family story of Russian's maybe mistaken however if a conection to the Paynes of St James street, then it would have bases all  be it several generations eariler.
When I said the Paynes did well it was only one brothers side of the family.

[kizmiaz]

Hello Anne

To be honest, Charles Payne Willis has been put quite far back on the back burner for quite a while as I have been sorting someone elses tree for them for several months, but I have found no connection with any Payne or Paine families anywhere with regards to Charles Willis. His father would seem to have been Charles Willis and his father was possibly John Willis, and I can't see any of the wifes famlies having Payne connections either.

Sorry

Glen