Des Longrais - serious help needed!

[TracyL]

Having just found out the real identity of my great grandfather (grandfather was 'adopted'), I have come to a standstill.

I thought this discovery (thanks to the 1911 census) after so many years of searching was a major breakthrough, but the reality is that the line seems to have disappeared!

There were three children of Auguste Durand DesLongrais who arrived from France with wife Marie around 1860:  Augustine Marie Thereze, Arthur Auguste and Antoine.  Arthur Auguste was my great grandfather.  He was born 1863.  I have census records for the family from 1861 to 1871, then for Arthur and Antoine from 1881 to 1911.  Augustine Marie Des Longrais (known as Marie) disappears after 1971 along with her father, her mother having died in 1880.

Arthur had one child with his wife Gertrude Marion Gilbert; born Dorothy Marie Des Longrais. She died a spinster in 1984. He had two illegitimate chidren after dorothy with Mercy Marks - my grandfather and Muriel, both given up for adoption.  They were given the name Lawrence (father's name Arthur Day Lawrence) Muriel died without children.  My grandfather had one child - my father. Arthur Auguste's brother Antoine married an older woman and does not appear to have had children. 

After such a long search to find the real identity of my great grandfather, is there really no-one left?

A search to find real family has ended abruptly.  Of the three children of Auguste Durand Des Longrais, and at least three grandchildren, it seems extraordinary that my father was the only one to make it to the next generation.  And to find so much over the last six years, I am stunned that there is no-one that has any memories, photos or history to share.

Is there really no-one out there?
Tracy

[kanskar]

I wonder if this is the missing sister:

Marriage - Fulham - Jun 1888 Qtr

Augustine Marie (or Marie Augustine) De La Gree - Alfred Louis A Hoerz


I've found them on the 1901 Index to 1901 Online in Willesden.

Alfred is aged 40 born Germany (Teacher of Languages), Augusta is aged 38 born France. There does not seem to be any children with them.

Kanskar

[TracyL]

Hi Kanskar

Thank you for that.  I had seen the marriage  and do agree that it might be worth buying the certificate.  His occupation would fit as Marie's father was a teacher of languages.  Marie's age would have been around 40 in 1901, so would be a reasonable fit with this one.

Can you give me the reference for the 1901 - have just done a quick search and can't find them.

By the looks of it, Marie would be the only chance of finding descendents.

Many thanks.

[posteria]

Hello

The same couple appear on the 1891 census at the same address ....

Hendon RG12/104 Folio 96 Page 12

Alfred Hoerz Head M 28 Teacher of Modern Language Germany (Naturalised British Subject)
Augusta do Wife M 28 France
Harriett Baker Servant S 24 General Servant Domestic Hants Southampton

60 Glengall Road, Willesden

The 1901 census reference is Hendon RG13/1223 Folio 55 Page 37

posteria

[TracyL]

Got them - thank you.  If this was her the lack of children would fit! 

I've just had a look for Hoerz on the 1911 with no success.  I would have thought that if there were going to have children, they would have had them by 1901 anyway!

I think I will have to buy the marriage cert, if only to eliminate her.

The only other option I can think of is that Marie and her father returned to France after her mother's death, but they had been in this country for twenty years at that  point, and both sons stayed here, so I can't think why he would do that.

[kanskar]

Tracy - I don't think this her now  .

I've found that Augustine Marie T was born in Staffordshire (Penkridge Reg Dist) in 1860, not France.

[TracyL]

I absolutely don't think this rules her out.  Where did you find the birth record?  I have Augustine Marie Thereze Deslongrais as born in Sept Q 1860, Penkridge 11a 844.  It looks as though she was born here shortly after her parents arrived in the UK, although one of her brothers was also born in Wales on later census he claims to have been born in Warwickshire.

Marie DesLongrais appears on the 1861 census with just her mother aged 8 months and it looks as though they have recently arrived in Wales (they were listed in a hotel, then crossed out and listed elswhere as though they may have just left the hotel??).  On that census, her birthplace is listed as Pembrokeshire, Tenby.  On the 1871 census it is also still Pembrokeshire, Tenby, although they are now living in Warwickshire. 

Was the birth you found for De la Gree or Deslongrais?

Confusing myself now

Tracy

[kanskar]

Tracy - It's the same reference for her as you have. Penkridge Reg District is in Staffordshire.

[TracyL]

That's a bit odd then, as on two census documents she claims to have been born in Wales!  It surely must be the same person as it such an unusual surname.  That's another cert to order then!

It isn't too far fetched then that a claim to be born in France comes along later.  This makes less sense that she goes to France with her father after her mother dies in 1880 as she was born here and he had been away for at least 20 years , but there is really no trace of either of them (mother died in Warwick reg district).

Tracy