Im researching Benjamin Lewis, born 1800 Tunbridge Wells baptised 1801. He married Sarah Vaux or Sarah Vour 1823 at St Mary, Islington. Their children were William John,Catherine,Mary Ann,Isabel Maria, B enjamin,Ferdinand,Charlesm, and Alfred all born in Tunbridge Wells between 1826 and 1839.
I have Benjamin as a clerk with the Tunbridge Wells Comissioners on London Road in the 1840 directory. the 1841 census has Benjamin as an appraiser and with him is his wife Sarah and seven of their children. The 1851 census, taken at 2 Bedford Place Tunbridge Wells gave Benjamin as a town commissioners clerk.
He is not found in any 1861 census in England but the 1871 census has him at 5 Carston Terrace in Lambeth,Surrey, He is given as a "gentleman". With him was his wife Sarah and three of his children.
It appears from a death records for a Benjamin Lewis born 1800 that he died in the 4th qtr of 1880 at St Saviour, Southwark,Surrey.
In July 1851 he was found to have embezeled some 4,000 pounds from the town of Tunbridge Wells while working as a clerk and quickly left town and apparently left the country for a letter from his son from some foreign country stated that his father would return to England if no charges were made against him and if he payed the money back. There is no indication that he ever payed the money back and nothing found indicating that he had been arrested and charged.
I have two questions. Can someone with access to passenger/travel records on Ancestry for example give me any details about where Benjamin went in 1851 once his crime was discovered. When he left and with whom (no doubt his wife went with him) and to where and details about his return to England are of great importance to me. Any information about charges against him /legal cases/warrants/ arrests etc also of interest.
