William WILLEY

[grannysj]

Hi Cas!

Sorry to have gone missing but we're still on the case.

A family member now remembers a vital part of the jigsaw which is that there is a family connection with the Bonfield family of Chardstock. We have also found a website from a Robert Newton that mentions a James Willey having his cottage burnt down near Foundry Farm in 1878, then James dies in 1879. So we are pretty certain that all that info you gave us is correct and that this is indeed our William's father.

Crawley is a tiny place near Yarcombe (now in Devon). First there was a farm, then it turned into an iron foundry, then reverted to being a farm in 1925.

We would like to know how the Bonfields were connected to the Willey family. It is thought that someone was a cousin, so perhaps one of the girls (?Jane/Sarah or Ellen) married and became a Bonfield. Incidentally, margaret Bonfield's claim to fame is that she was the first Cabinet Minister in parliament.
It would also be nice to know where James came from since he wasn't born in Chardstock. Any ideas?
 

[Willow 4873]

Hiya Grannysj

Welcome to Rootschat!

I dont know if this site might be of any help http://www.parkhouse.org.uk/index.htm

I've got another link somewhere for Somerset transcripts but its on the other computer so I will post it later when I get chance

Willow x

[Cas (stallc)]

Just for info this looks like the death of mother, of William...

Deaths Mar 1874  WILLEY  Betsy  age 56  Axminster  5b 9

Also going back to William, this is his marriage for ref

Marriages Sep 1883 
 
JENKINS  Elizabeth    Pontypridd  11a 647   
Jordan  Octavia     Pontypridd  11a 647   
Lewis  John     Pontypridd  11a 647   
WILLEY  William     Pontypridd  11a 647

Wifes remarriage...

John Lewis wid, age 25, fathers name Lewis, married Octavia Willey, wid, age 22  (formerly Jordan) fathers name Hobart on 3/9/1889 by Banns at YSTRADYFODWG - This would be the Ystradyfodwg parish church of St John in Ton Pentre

1891 - RG12 Piece 4424 Folio 116 Page 57
Ystradyfodwg  Town: Clydach 

John Lewis 26
Octavia Lewis 23 
Raymond G Willey 6

1901 - The family with a lot more Lewis children are at  RG13 Piece 5014 Folio 170 Page 13, Ton Pentre, Ystradyfowg. Raymond is still with them

Marriages Dec 1905   
 
WILLEY  Raymond George    Pontypridd  11a 1[0_]01
Possible spouses:
JONES  Harriet    Pontypridd  11a 1001   
JONES  Mary Ann     Pontypridd  11a 1001   

Possible info for James could be found at Devon online parish clerk, as we already have him in 1841 census so you need parish info...I would post on the Devon board, with a link to this thread, to see if anyone can help...or to give you a link for the site.

Only this submitted info IGI so needs to be verified

James Willay
Birth:  1814   Upottery, Devon. Spouse:  Betsy
Marriage:  About 1840   Yarcombe, Devon

JAMES WILLIE OR WILLEY Birth:  1813  Upottery, Devon
Death:  24 APR 1879   

In 1851/1861/1871 James gives pob as Upottery Devon
 
If I find any info regarding sibling marriages will post...

Cas

[Cas (stallc)]

Submitted Info IGI

Ellen Willey - Birth:  1858  Chard Borough Or Chard Common Or, Chard Parish, Somerset
Father:  James Willey. Spouse:  Walter Mullins 
Marriage:  1880   Chard Borough Or Chard Common Or, Chard Parish, Somerset

Marriages Sep 1880   
 
BROOKS  Charles    Chard  5c 616   
Harbour  Emma Jane     Chard  5c 616   
Mullins  Walter     Chard  5c 616   
Willey  Ellen     Chard  5c 616

1881 - http://www.rootschat.com/links/03rj/

1881- Bonfield family at Crawley foundry a lot of this family in Crawley scroll through pages- http://www.rootschat.com/links/03rk/

1881 is free to seach, also freebmd and IGI

Cas

[Willow 4873]

Hiya Grannysj

This is the other link

http://www.pbenyon1.plus.com/PR_Index.html

Willow x

[grannysj]

I already have the Welsh history, thanks. Just a small detail - they married in the Porth Independent Chapel.

I'm a bit confused over James:-
I believe it's James and Elizabeth on the 1871 census, so when we look back for a birthplace for him, there are 2 different James's.
One married to a Betsy and one to Elizabeth, a year apart. can you confirm he married Elizabeth? Or are they one and the same? Betsy could be short for Elizabeth.
I suppose the marriage record would confirm it.

I couldn't get anywhere following the Bonfield link. it didn't weem to open up.

[grannysj]

Is there a maiden name for Elizabeth?

Raymond did in fact marry Mary Jones. They were my husbands grandparents.

Glad to get info on Ellen and Walter!

and thanks for the other interesting links Willow. This is all very addictive!

The amazing thing is that we originate from the Midlands and find that the ancestors came from about 3/4 hour journey away!

When I've got more facts we'll root around the area; gravestones etc.
GrannySJ

[Willow 4873]

Hiya Grannysj

I'm in the Midlands but my one GGGrandfather came from Appleton Lancs and his Mother came from Raddington Somerset. We dont know where his father came from because I cant find him anywhere although hes registered as the father of his two younger daughters in Wolverhampton and his wife re-married here

Willow x

[grannysj]

We had a great day today and have located Foundry Farm, Crawley in Yarcombe near Chardstock and the site of the cottage that burnt down. managed to talk to the occupants who confim the Bonfield connection. Got some good pics.

We wonder whether one of james's daughters either Mary, Joan/Jane or Sarah married a Bonfield. We know Ellen didn't.

grannysj