Foley from Chinnor or Bledlow

[sleekpeek]

Hi all,

I need a lookup for Chinnor (or Bledlow, Bucks)?

William Foley (could be Folly, Folley etc) born about 1845 in Chinnor - or so it says in both 1871, 1881 and 1891 census. He died by 1899 in the Bermondsey area.

I'm trying to find his parents and find out if he truely was from Chinnor (or nearby) as I cant find him on the 1851 or 1861 census returns.

Thanks
Emma

[CaroleW]

Hi

Chinnor is Oxfordshire - where did you get Bledlow from?

He married in 1867 and the marriage cert shows his father as John - occ Turner.  Neither of the witnesses were surname Foley

[bucksboy]

Bledlow is just a couple of miles from Chinnor.

This maybe your man.

1851 census, has him down as William TOLLY. c1843. Bledlow.  Parents are Joseph(1806) & Mary Folley[TOLLY](1810).  FARMER of 50 acres, Living in Bledlow.

Bledlow marriage - John FOLLEY(Widower), to Mary STEVENS.  by Banns.  24th Dec 1828.  Witnesses - Thomas Eustace, James Gibbs, Maria Stevens & Wm. Friday.


Steve.

[bucksboy]

In 1861, William Folley c1842. Bledlow, is married to a Sarah A. ?  c1843. Woburn, Bucks.  Living in Bledlow.

He appears in 1871/81/91 as well, so he's not your man.

No baptism found in Chinnor PR's for William Foley/Folly/Folley etc.

There is this possible birth reg.   William Folley. o/n/d 1847. Wycombe dist.  Vol. 6  Page. 381.


Steve.

[sleekpeek]

thanks everyone.  Yes Bledlow and Chinnor are minutes apart.

He married in Camden in 1867 to Mary Ann Townsend and have struggled to find his birth.

the latter in 1847 in Wycombe seems possible, as this could be Bledlow .. does it give any more details, parents names? 

I now know his father to be John Foley a Turner in 1867.

Thanks
Emma

[bucksboy]

I think I may have found him......or a clue, at least.

I didn't find it at first, as it was under WITNEY surname.

Chinnor baptism - William Witney-Folly.   Born 30 Nov 1847.  Baptised - 23/4/1848.   Son of Abraham(labourer) & Letitia(Lacemaker).

Abraham Witney c1821. Stokenchurch, Oxfordshire, is quite easy to trace in census.   He's in Oxford County Jail in 1851.

Letitia/Leticia Folley c1821. Stokenchurch, Oxfordshire, is a bit harder.    1841 census is ok, 1851 census, she is down as Seticca Folley 1821. Stokenchurch.

Letitia Folley was baptised  12 Aug 1821 @ Stokenchurch, Oxfordshire.  Daughter of William & Susannah. (as per 1841 census).

If you look in 1851, there is a WILLIAM FOLLEY aged 3 years old.   born Stokenchurch.  They are living with Richard Folley c1825, Stokenchurch.  (He is Letitia's brother.).     Richard was living with possible Grandparents in 1841.

There is a marriage for Leticia Folley in j/a/s - 1856. Wycombe district.  Vol 3a.  P.515.   I think she married Edmund Steptoe, @ St. Peter & St. Paul, Stokenchurch.

In 1861 census, Leticia Steptoe c1819. Stokenchurch, has a son Thomas Steptoe c1847. Saunderton, Bucks.  I think this maybe William Folley/Witney.

Even though Stokenchurch is in Oxfordshire, civil registration  transferred to Buckinghamshire.....(I cannot exactly remember when.).

I would also hazard a guess, that William Folley/Witney, was born elsewhere(Saunderton), as an illegitimate child of Leticia Folley, but Abraham Witney did not marry her.

I have no explanation as to why he gives his father as John on his marriage details, but it's not unheard of to fabricate a father from thin air, or stretch the truth.

If you buy his birth cert, I would guess he was born @ Saunderton, Bucks, Workhouse in 1847.

I hope you can follow this.


Steve.


Info from OxFHS- Chinnor/Stokenchurch PR's CD.   And BucksFHS - Church finder facility.

[sleekpeek]

wow .. thats really interesting .. I think I may have to order his certificate.

Where did you find his birth/baptism as I couldn't find online, but then I was looking under Fol(le)y.

I suspect that he changed his surname to 'get away' from being illegitimate and as they do when they don't know (and even sometimes when they do  change the name of the father.

thanks again for all your sleuthing on this, its really appreciated.

Emma

[bucksboy]

The only John Folley/Folly, I can find is one born c1808 in Chinnor.  His wife is Elizabeth (nee.Parkyns(c1798. Bledlow)), and they were married  4 July 1830 @ Chinnor.   Elizabeth was a widow at time of marriage.

In 1851 their ages have been entered/transcribed wrongly as 1786 & 1798 respectively.

John Folley is a Bricklayer.

No William Folley c1841 - 1850,  in 1851. to this family.


I  found the baptism for the William Witney Folley in the OxFHS Parish transcripts CD for Chinnor.   This is available for purchase from OxFHS.    I think they also do look ups for a fee.

You will not find the 1847 baptism online.    You will need to purchase the birth cert, and it may not give fathers name.

There is very little available online for free, as far as Oxfordshire is concerned.


Steve.

[bucksboy]

William Foley died 1st March 1899 @ 20, Lagard Rd, Bermondsey, London.     Effects of £668 & 13 shillings, to Arthur John Medus(commercial clerk) and Henry Seymour Foley, (Ironmonger).

Probate -  London. 17th May. 1899.


Steve.