Looking for James Slape Williams

[Angie Hawk]

First post, here goes...

My GG Grandfather is proving difficult to trace. His name is James Slape Williams and was born around 1827 in London. He emigrated to Australia around 1844 and died in Northcote, Melbourne 6 Apr 1900.

His death certificate lists his parents as "not known", which doesn't help at all.

Any advice on where to search would be appreciated.

Thanks, Angie

[garstonite]

First post, here goes...

My GG Grandfather is proving difficult to trace. His name is James Slape Williams and was born around 1827 in London. He emigrated to Australia around 1844 and died in Northcote, Melbourne 6 Apr 1900.

His death certificate lists his parents as "not known", which doesn't help at all.

Any advice on where to search would be appreciated.

Thanks, Angie

Hi Angie and a warm welcome to Rootschat .
are you sure he "emigrated" - could he have been sent as a prisoner ??

[Milliepede]

That's an unusual middle name which could be helpful. 

[Angie Hawk]

Thanks for the replies!

I thought Slape would make things easier, it's possibly his mother's maiden name but I can't be sure. It continued to be a family middle name for a few generations.

As for his trip to Australia, one family member has him coming over on the barque "Dale Park" arriving in Melbourne (Port Phillip) on 21/7/1844 but he's not on the passenger list, so I'm not sure this is correct.

Another person has found a James Williams convict who was tried at Monmouth on 26/3/1842 and sentenced for 10 years (arrived in VDL in 1844). He married my GGGM in 1852 in Sydney so it could fit, but Wales is a long way from London. Of course, he might have just made up his birthplace, I have no clue.

The convict James Williams has an estimated DOB of 1827 and is a bootmaker...which my GGGF was!

[Angie Hawk]

Forgot to mention that his place of birth in the convict record is Newport. My GGGF has London on his death certificate.

[wivenhoe]

The Age 19 Dec 1889...In Mem for Eletta WILLIAMS
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/197505972?

BDM VIC death
WILLIAMS Eletta Lovina 54yrs
parents Isaac THOMPSON and Eletta Lovina      1887 / 13599

Eletta is the wife of James Slape WILLIAMS.

FreeBDM  Chipping Sodbury  JunQ 1851 11 / 299
SHIPWAY Edwin   m. THOMPSON Aletta Lovinia

NSW BDM marriage
182/1852 V1852182 38C WILLIAMS James m. THOMPSON Lavinia     NP

And Edwin SHIPWAY has children with Catherine in NSW...no marriage to see for this couple.

BDM VIC births
WILLIAMS Bertha Slape 1866 / 20681  parents James Slape / Eleta Lovenia THOMPSON
WILLIAMS Blanche Ellen 1869 / 21619 parents James Slape / Eleta Lavinia THOMPSON

The 1869 certificate would be useful for your research. I think it would show previous issue, also ages and birthplace of parents.

                                  ..................................

also in Victoria marriage
SHIPWAY Lavinia Elletta   m. MCAULAY William 1877 / 4988

death
MCAULAY Lavinia Eletta   1943 / 2080
parents James SHIPWAY and Rowena THOMPSON

[bevj]

This could be the Welsh James Williams (on FamilySearch):

Name    James Williams
Gender    Male
Christening Date    22 Jan 1826
Christening Place    Monmouth, Monmouth, England
Mother's Name    Jane Williams

I wonder if his father was a Mr. Slape.

Bev

[joboy]

That's an unusual middle name which could be helpful.

George Slape maried Elizabeth Twitchings in Marylebone 1830 which might be a connection.
Joe

[Dundee]

Another person has found a James Williams convict who was tried at Monmouth on 26/3/1842 and sentenced for 10 years (arrived in VDL in 1844).

This could be the Welsh James Williams (on FamilySearch):

Name    James Williams
Gender    Male
Christening Date    22 Jan 1826
Christening Place    Monmouth, Monmouth, England
Mother's Name    Jane Williams

I wonder if his father was a Mr. Slape.

Bev

The mother of James the convict was named Charlotte.  His siblings were John, Charles, Isaac, William, Anne, and (I think) Harriet who is dead.  All supposedly living at Newport in 1844.

Debra