William WALLIS born Le Havre de Grasse, France

[deeree]

I have an ancestor, William John WALLIS born in 1845 at Le Havre de Grasse in France according to the 1871 British census. In 1871 he is living at Thomas Street, Limehouse with his mother Mary and 2 brothers. How would I obtain a birth certificate or any other clue as what the family were doing in France? He married in 1874 in Bow, London and said he was the son of William WALLIS, boilermaker. He gave his own occupation as blacksmith. Kind people have previously checked the 1851 and 1861 census for me and not found the family in England. Can anyone help please. Thanks, Desley

[suemalings]

The family were in England in 1861

15 Ann Street, Stepney

William Wallis b abt 1817 Wendover, Iron Foundry Labourer
Mary b abt 1825 Monmouth
Matilda b abt 1844 France
William b abt 1845 France, Blacksmith's Labourer
David b abt 1847 France
Ann b abt 1853 Stepney
Richard b abt 1860 Stepney

[Peter Goodey]

Many British citizens in France returned home in 1848 so it may be worth searching the 1851 census.

[Red Kite]

Le Havre de Grasse

I reckon this is the port of Le Havre on the Normandy coast (original name Le Havre de Grace). Grace and Grasse would sound alike when pronounced the French way.

[lesleys]

Class: HO107; Piece: 1551; Folio: 23; Page: 38

1851:

Thos Wallis 35 Scotland, Glasgow Forge Labourer
Mary Wallis 25 Monmouthshire
Matilda Wallis 8 France, Havre British Subject
Willm Wallis 6 do
David Wallis 4 do (Guinea?)

Looks like Thomas died and Mary remarried - need to look for death & marriage

[lesleys]

Possible death for Thomas
Thomas William Wallis Stepney 1854 Mar quarter 1c,376

But marriage is a bit more difficult

nearest I can find is Stepney 1860 June quarter William Wallis 1c, 968
but no Mary
and Mary WallER Stepney 1860 June 1c, 950 (but no William) there would have to have been a couple of errors for this to work.

It is always possible that they did not marry - odd that William has the same occupation and similar age to Thomas but totally different place of birth - both are quite clear on the originals.

[deeree]

Thankyou for all your help. I'm absolutely bowled over. It's very strange that Mary's 2 husbands/partners would have the same surname. It's not such a common name. They probably wouldn't be brothers being born so far apart. I think Mary's maiden name was DAVIS or DAVIES and born Newport, Monmouth. I think I found son David on the 1881 census but his name is spelled WALLACE. He's living in London. Mary is a widow in 1881 and living in Tonbridge, Kent with her son Richard. Her name is spelled WALLACE. Richard and a son Charles born in 1863 are called WALLACE in later census'. Its very confusing. Thankyou once again, I'm very grateful. Desley

[deeree]

Hello Lesleys,

I forgot to ask where they were living in 1851.

[lesleys]

9 Alfred Terrace - Stepney

My Wallis family also got put down as Wallace in later censuses, luckily I found them because I knew all the childrens' names. I couldn't fid a birth for William of Wendover - maybe he was a Wallace?

[lesleys]

But I did find a death for William Wallace Stepney 1868 age 51
right age and place so probably him