Completed- Francis James THOMPSON

[Pacific]

I have Francis James Thompson.He was born in Godmanchester Huntingdonshire in 1859. I put this up here because his parents were from Suffolk. I have found his parents Ellen Rebecca Young and Benjamin Thomspon. Mother died in Bury. Father died in 1872 in Canada. Francis had three brothers. Benjamin Norton Thompson I have all his details. Charles Augustus Thompson died in Canada I have all his details. Frederick William Thompson died in Australia I have all his details.
Francis James is a puzzle to me. Francis went to live with his grandmother after the mother's death. He is at her house in the 1871 census. I can not find him in the 1881 census in England. At this time his grandmother is living with her daughter in Suffolk.
I figure in 1881 he would be around 21 years old.
I did not find any death for him between 1871-1881. He seems to have disappeared. It came to my mind he might have gone to Canada, Australia or New Zealand. He was the youngest of the lot.
Any ideas or help is greatly appreciated.
Finding this one would get me close to the finish of researching this family.
Have a good day
Hera

[Suffolk Mawther]

There are several records for a Frank Thompson, born 1859 in Houghton (I found the baptism for your Francis as nearby Godmanchester).  He is married to Catherine and living in Cambridgeshire.

Can you give further details of the 1871 census please which might help locate him later?

Where is the Grandmother living in Suffolk?

Pat ...

PS I have been researching for 40 years next month and am nowhere near getting to the end of researching any of my family lines   

[Pacific]

Thanks.
I did wonder if he might have used some other name. Francis was living with his grandmother Maria Arabella Thompson at 30 Beacon St, West Derby in Lancashire according to the 1871 census. Around that time their father went to Canada because the father Benjamin Thompson died in 1872 in Ontario Canada.
I meant Francis is the last one in this family of four brothers that i am looking for.
Everything helps,
Thanks so much
Hera

[Suffolk Mawther]

In 1871, I notice that there is a visitor from Preston St Mary in Suffolk with the family in Lancashire.  Is there a connection with that village?

Regarding the name, I just know that all the boys named Francis in my family were known as Frank, never known as Francis 

I see what you mean about tying up the loose ends on this branch of the family. 

Off to bed now, night night
Pat ...

[Suffolk Mawther]

Hello Hear,

I haven't had any luck with the Preston St Mary connection 

Thought it was worth a try though.

Pat ...

[Pacific]

I will look into that this weekend.
Actually thinking about it Francis's maternal grandmother Ann Maria Clayton's family was from Lancashire. Her father was Benjamin Lane Clayton's family was from Lancashire.
I have found out that it seems Francis James went to New Zealand and married, had children and died in NZ in 1891 only 34 years old.
Thanks for your help.
Hera

[Pacific]

Thanks everyone.
I have found Francis in New Zealand in 1879. Perhaps someday I will find information about him from 1871-1879.

[ribbo39]

Hi Pacific,

I would strongly suggest you post  a request on the NZ forum pages.

I have an ancestor who went to NZ in 1909 and thru them I was able to
get not only his burial details but also his WW1 (NZ) army records and
a copy of his Will as well.

Well worth it.

Alan

[Pacific]

Thanks
Hera