William Francis Humphries

[sio59]

I have been searching for some time for information on gggrandparents. I really would like to know more about my gggrandfather particularly where in England he was born so would be very grateful for any information no matter how little.

William Francis Humphries b1839 England.He was an engineer in the Royal Mail and was posted to Limerick Ireland  c1854. He was in charge of extending the telegraph cable to Valencia Island and then to America. William died 1904 Limerick.

William married Martha Hinchy from Bruff,Co Limerick about 1868. Martha died 1921 Limerick City.

[trish251]

From a search on FreeBDM there are a number of William Humphries registered - but no William Francis
Looking at the 1841 Census there seem to be more! Still no Francis, also 1851

Do you have any idea of his parent names? In 1854 he would have been 15 - was he "in charge" at this time - it seems very young to have been an engineer at this age - or did this all happen later. Did he go alone to Ireland?

Trish

[sio59]

Hello Trish,
Thank you for the BDM search. Looking back on the little info I have on W.F. I think I should have put c1860 and NOT 1854. This would make more sense regarding his age to be an engineer and for the laying of the telegraph line in 1866. Unfortunately I have no idea if he went to Ireland with anyone and no-one in the family has heard any mention of his parents. The name William runs for a couple of generations so there is a possibility that was the name of his father. I got his marriage record from Limerick IFHF but it only states Humphries as the father. As I have a marriage date I will try Groire in Ireland for his marriage cert - I just might be lucky.

[celia]

William was a bit of an inventor in his day these are Patents 4 invention act 1852

Celia

[sio59]

Hello Celia,
 Thank you so much. Are these actually from 1852 or a later date?

Sio

[celia]

Sorry Sio
I had snapped all 3 bits from the gazette saved them then found 2 were the same.So had to do it again and forgot to mention.The Gazette 1878. You can see these your self on

http://beta.gazettes-online.co.uk/
click on the London book
then on the left, search tools.on the bottom of the page where it says "with exact phase" put the full name in.
Then seach. three will come up but 2 are the same number
click on see P.D.F.and wait

Celia

[sio59]

Hi Celia,
Wow, what a find. I am thrilled to have these for the tree and may now be able to get a bit further . Thank you again.

Sio

[celia]

Sometimes you find them sometimes you don't, it's allways worth a try.To be honest i wasn't expecting any hits but you got lucky

Celia