British Subject b Italy c 1828, Louis / Lewis Formby.

[jorose]

Something interesting in the 1841 census:

HO 107/519/8 folio 12 page 17
in Formby
William Formby, 75, "Ind", b. in county
Wm Kershaw, 20, Ag Lab, b. in county
Lewis Workhouse, 15, no occupation given, b. "Foreign"

I think if you look at the Formby parish records you are likely to find a baptism for him under the first name Lewis (which surname is anyone's guess) and there may be some notes regarding his origins there.

[wilcoxon]

Thanks so much for this, I have only just found this Formby link to my Taylors, so for you to find this after so much searching before by others is just excellent.
Well worth  following up.

[

[suemuffy]

Interesting, yes, I was never able to find him in the 1841 census, and the right age (rounded up or down to the nearest 5 years on that census).  I think that is probably him.  I have trawled the baptisms for Formby in the record office, there was only the one church, St Peter's and there is no sign of a Lewis.

By the way "The Ancient Chapelry of Formby, St Peter' reminds us that a chapel existed in Formby from early times - in what was a detached part of the ancient parish of St Mary, Walton"

http://www.westgallerychurches.com/Lancs/Formby/Formby.html

[Cfhed]

Hi,

I have been doing some family history research and I was delighted to find that Sue's family also had a myth about Mr Formby. Therefore, I would like to pass on the information that has been handed down through the generations on my side. Our version of Mr Formby's story is as follows:

He was found as a young man wondering on Formby beach after a supposed shipwreck. He spoke no English, just Italian. He had no idea what had happened to him, where he came from, or who he was really- it was supposedly a case of amnesia. He soon settled in the area and was named after the beach he was found on, hence Mr Formby, he found work and got married.

Over the years he learnt to speak English but he refused to learn how to read and write it- he'd always get someone else to read the newspaper to him. The story goes that after many years when he was much older, some Officials wanted to speak to him but he refused to engage with them and he 'played dumb'. I note on one census he has been ticked as being "blind, deaf or dumb'. I wonder if this could perhaps offer an explanation as to why he never learnt to read or write English, or whether this was because he supposedly had amnesia, or if he was faking it/hiding something.

His name was pronounced 'Loo-eee' like the Central European name 'Louis', which could explain why the spelling in one census is different and the name was passed down for a few generations. But we've always referred to him as Mr Formby.

If he is the person listed as 'Lewis Workhouse' in the 1841 census, the approximate age of 15 would fit our version of his life as being a young man. As for the father named on his marriage certificate, we strongly believe that this is a lie but there ut cannot be proven or disproven.

One family rumour is that he was a stowaway on board a ship that got into trouble off the coast of Formby. Another is that he was wanted for something in Italy so left and went on the run. Obviously over the generations the story could have changed and/or been exaggerated so we'll never know what truely happened. Of course, Sue's version could be closer to the truth.

It's at moments like this that I wish I had a time machine so I could go back and find out.

[suemuffy]

Interesting that you have a similar story and not unusual that it has it's own version of events although the basic facts are the same. There is no reason to discount that he was a young man who spoke Italian for if he was a child how would he know he came from Italy? As I was looking for a foreign vessel it was just as likely to have been a British one with foreign seamen onboard, not unusual but that we will never know. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/158745615/lewis-formby

[Cfhed]

Hi Sue,

Thank you for your response. This is exactly why I was exited to find your story which I told other relatives and they were just as thrilled- the basic facts are the same: beach, shipwreck, Italian. It is great knowing that the legend is known to other decendants! If I find out anymore I'll let you know.