Hello, I have just found that, after months of searching, my gggrandfather, Thomas Boys Morris, was born in Strood. His father was born in East Langdon - John Morris - and mother Sarah was born in West Langdon. When trying to figure out the Boys connection, I found this post AND have found some odd records in Ancestry of handwritten notes about the deaths of CAtherine Boys and Sarah boys in 1801 and 1806 (wondering if they are grand/great grandmothers of Thomas' mother Sarah and if her surname was Boys, given the coincidence of that unusual name, the family coming from the Langdons, and the fact that there seem to be a lot of Boys in that area. (Thomas born in 1816/John about 1787/Sarah about 1797)
Does anyone know about the Morris Boys connection?? I am coming up blank beyond the census records of 1841/51, no marriage, birth records (except for Thomas Boys), nothing for the parents.
Thomas Boys Morris became a mariner, married hannah Hickman from Southampton in 1840, and though he died young, assuming that is why he does not live in the family home with his wife - she becomes head of household by 1851 (died at sea?), his full name shows up on his children's wedding banns (Thomas Boice/Boyce/Boys Morris; master mariner/deceased).
Any information to find the Boys connection that might help me continue to go back and to answer questions about the family origins would be VERY much appreciated!