Percy Lathy's French Affair

[Tinker]

Here's a real challenge for those of you who like to get your teeth into something meaty:
My cousin's great-uncle Percy Ireland Lathy, born 1874, Tillington, Sussex, was reputed to have left his family for a French dancing girl, and caused something of a scandal, apparently. He was a Lepidopterist who wrote several books on butterflies. It appears that he was living in France by at least 1927, as a book of his dated that year is written in French. I have also found a 1936 address for him in Paris: 90 Boulevard Malesherbes. Is there any way I could go about finding out whether he was, in fact, co-habiting with a Frenchwoman, and whether there was any issue of such a relationship? My cousin has been completely unable to turn up anything to substantiate/disprove the story, despite his best efforts.

[ChristineR]

Did his wife ever file for divorce? if so, the records should contain all the sordid details

[Waitabit]

I hate when I can't get at records!
A......y Seem to have Percy Ireland Lathy b.1875 arriving New York between 1820-1957. Lovely but I can't view them.
TMotherJane


1891 England Census
Census & Voter Lists
View Image
Name: Percy J Lathey
Birth: abt 1876 - Billington, Pulborough
Residence: 1891 - Bexley Heath, Bexley, Kent, England

1901 Percy Lathy [IJ.].{IRELAND} Letham, Sussex 26 -Lepidopter, own account

Births Dec 1874 (>99%)

LATHY Percy Ireland Midhurst 2b 372

You probably have all of this, but it's all that's on offer of you don't have a US subscription to A......Y!

Perhaps some-one with subs. can help.

[Sandyhall]

1901 England Census about Percy J Lathy
Name: Percy J Lathy, Age: 26
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1875
Relation: Boarder
Gender: Male
Where born: Letham, Sussex, England
Civil Parish: Enfield
Ecclesiastical parish: Enfield St Andrew
County/Island: Middlesex
Country: England
Registration district: Edmonton
Sub registration district: Enfield
ED, institution, or vessel: 1
Household schedule number: 118
Household Members:
Name Age
Percy J Lathy 26
Albert E Redman 33
Elizabeth A Redman 36
Lizzie J Turner 21

Source Citation: Class: RG13; Piece: 1270; Folio: 14; Page: 19.

Not to sure about this but don't you need to speak to the Mayor of the Town in France to find out who lived with him. Maybe one of members who live in France could tell us.
You could try a post on the French Forum.

Sandy

[Sandyhall]

Here are 1881 and 1891 Census.

1881 England Census about Percy Lathy
Name: Percy Lathy, Age: 6
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1875
Relation: Nephew
Gender: Male
Where born: Tillington, Sussex, England
Civil Parish: Bexley
County/Island: Kent
Country: England
Street address: Myrtle House
Registration district: Dartford
Sub registration district: Bexley
ED, institution, or vessel: 6
Household Members: Name Age
Albert Hide 49 Head unmarried Draper
Sarah Hide 16 Neice
Harriett Johnson 15 Servant
Jane Lathy 39 Sister Widow
Maurice Lathy 12
Percy Lathy 6
Thomas Lathy 13

Source Citation: Class: RG11; Piece: 861; Folio: 10; Page: 14;


1891 England Census about Percy J Lathey
Name: Percy J Lathey [Percy J Lathy] Age: 15
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1876
Relation: Son
Mother's Name: Jane
Gender: Male
Where born: Billington, Pulborough
Civil Parish: Bexley
Ecclesiastical parish: Christchurch
Town: Bexley Heath
County/Island: Kent
Country: England
Registration district: Dartford
Sub registration district: Bexley
ED, institution, or vessel: 6
Household Members: Name Age
Hannah Anny Curiel 19 Servant
Albert Hide 59 Brother Draper
Edith J Hide 27 Neice
Jane Lathey 49 Head Widow Living on own means
Mannie F Lathey 22 Groom
Percy J Lathey 15

Source Citation: Class: RG12; Piece: 635; Folio 128; Page 14

Sandy

[Sue Mackay]

I hate when I can't get at records!
A......y Seem to have Percy Ireland Lathy b.1875 arriving New York between 1820-1957. Lovely but I can't view them.
Perhaps some-one with subs. can help.

I can view this. He sailed on the Minnetonka arriving 23 July 1928

TRANSIT
Name: Percy Ireland LATHY
Age: 53
Male
Single
Entomologist
Able to read: English and French
Nationality: Great Britain
Place of Birth: Midhurst, England
Immigration Visa No: 2656 Transit Cert date 27:6:28 Issued Paris
Last permanent residence: Paris, France

There is a photograph of the ship as well. If you wish copies of the photo or the passenger manifest, PM me with your e-mail address.

[bumblebee]

He also sailed in

Mr P I LATHY
Date of departure: 20 July 1904
Port of departure: Liverpool
Passenger destination port: Philadelphia, USA
Born about 1875
Age: 29
Marital status: Single
Sex: Male
Occupation: Lepidoptorist
Sailed on Westernland

Bumblebee

[Sandyhall]

You can find out about looking for people in France on the Europe Genealogy Forum

Here are his Parents and Brothers before he was born (note spelling)

1871 England Census about Maurice Luthy
Name: Maurice Luthy [Maurice Lathy] Age: 2
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1869
Relation: Son
Father's Name: Thomas
Mother's Name: Jane
Gender: Male
Where born: Tillington, Sussex, England
Civil Parish: Tillington
County/Island: Sussex
Country: England
Street address:
Registration district: Midhurst
Sub registration district: Midhurst
ED, institution, or vessel: 12
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 72
Household Members: Name Age
Kezia Entrinap 19 Servant
Jane Lathy 29 Farmers wife
Thomas Lathy 30 Farmer of 300 Acres employing 9 Men and 4 Boys
Maurice Luthy 2
Thomas Luthy 3
Amelia Rapson 20 Servant

Source Citation: Class: RG10; Piece: 1120; Folio: 59; Page: 13

Sandy

[Tinker]

Wow, you've all been busy! Thank you all! Percy seems to have travelled A LOT. The information on the manifest for the Minnetonka definitely confirms that he was resident in France, and that he could read French... he must have been fairly fluent in French to have been able to write technical stuff about butterflies. (The family were well educated - Maurice/Mannie went to Oxford University before joining the Army.)

I think the suggestions about trying out the Europe or France forum are probably the best way forward. This is the first time I've come across someone who's lived in France so I had no idea where to start looking, to be honest.

[Sandyhall]

Wow, you've all been busy! Thank you all! Percy seems to have travelled A LOT. The information on the manifest for the Minnetonka definitely confirms that he was resident in France, and that he could read French... he must have been fairly fluent in French to have been able to write technical stuff about butterflies. (The family were well educated - Maurice/Mannie went to Oxford University before joining the Army.)

I think the suggestions about trying out the Europe or France forum are probably the best way forward. This is the first time I've come across someone who's lived in France so I had no idea where to start looking, to be honest.

Hi
Read some of the post already on the Forum first before starting your own thread as you may find the answer in their already.
Sandy