Selby/Grice

[hopetofind]

Hello
 Is there anyone here that knows anything about my great great grandfather Walton Selby? I know he was from England(Titled) but I have no idea what that title was. He was born somewhere between 1832-1839.
  I believe he may have been a wanted man in England,for what I do not know.He came to the U.S. Pennsylvania I believe.  He married Margaret Wonders. They had a son Samuel George Selby B)05/16/1864.His family sent him money to live on. I believe that once the statute of limitations on what ever crime he committed ran out, He abandoned wife and son to go back to England and claim his inheritance.
 My great great grandmother Margaret (Wonders) Selby Had to fend for herself and son. She did wash/laundry for a man by the last name of Grice.Who took in My great father Samual who went by his middle name George.  It is said that this man adopted him. But there are no adoption records to be found. I do know that my great grandfather  took the last name Grice and did not use Selby as his last name.
 He Samuel Grice went on to marry Lorretta B hill.B1869. They had my Grandfather Clarence I Grice B. 06/24/1896. M.Adelia Lehman B. 12/22/1893 They had my Mother Adelia C. Grice B.08/03/1934
 I know that Samuel/George was Walton Selby's only living heir when He died. He turned down the inheritance because he would have to live in England to claim it and he would not abandon his family. Like his father abandoned him and his mother.
 So when It comes to Walton Selby of England I hit a brick wall. It's as if he never existed. That  lowly skunk sure did a good disappearing act. On my great great grandmother and great grandfather.
 Somebody out there must have the pieces to this puzzle.Maybe I have the pieces to theirs.

Thank You
Leslie Ann hope nee Dunbar
 
 
 

[tidybooks]

Hi Leslie,

Welcome to RootsChat, and hope you have success in your research.

I have checked Ellis Island records and no "Walton Selby" records there. Checked FreeBMD and no success there either. Looked for him in the "Times Archive" and no success there either.

Have you got him on US Census, does it give you any information re County etc.

Tom

[heywood]

Hi Leslie Ann and welcome 

Do you have a marriage record for Margaret and Walton?

The dates you give are too early for the Ellis Island records. I have checked the CastleGarden site but there is only a Walter Selby aged 7 yrs arriving in 1867.

regards
heywood

[heywood]

Is this Samuel, although mother's name not quite right?

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MXJ5-CVQ

[tidybooks]

Hi All,

I have another record on Family Research site, https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.2.1/M75H-4BL
he marries in 1863, then dies in 1866 at Illinois, USA.

Tom

[hopetofind]

Wow. Thank You very very very much Tom and Heywood.
   I now have some of the missing puzzle pieces I need. I feel sad now. Walton wasn't a rat who abandoned wife and child. He died. He didn't go back to England.
 I wonder now why Samuel was told that. I wonder what Walton Died of at such a young age. Who were Walton's parents?
 The mystery continues......
Leslie

[hopetofind]

Thank You also to Tidybooks. 

[heywood]

Hi All,

I have another record on Family Research site, https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.2.1/M75H-4BL
he marries in 1863, then dies in 1866 at Illinois, USA.

Tom

Hi Tom and Leslie,

is this a submitted record though? I'm never very sure of the difference on FS.
I wonder if it is verified.

heywood

[hopetofind]

 I believe that's him. He was Married to Margaret and they had my great grandfather Samuel George Selby.
 Now maybe I  can find out who Walton's parents were........ And why the story about him abandoning his wife and child.
 Maybe I should start looking for William Grice and Mary Grice. Since he shows up on the 1880 census as being Samuel's father.
 I was told that William Grice liked my great grand father and knew Margaret struggled to survive widowed and,She did do Williams wash/laundry. William asked Margaret to let him take in Samuel. She agreed. it must have been so hard for her. To lose a husband and then have to let go of her son.
 But it was the best thing for him. I believe William Grice was in the coal business so he would have been well able and had the means to raise Samuel.
  I don't know what happened to margaret