William Willis

[DRH123]

I would think it quite possible that Jane should end up looking after her widowed son's stepson, even if he was not her natural grandson. And anyway he may have been just visiting her and mostly living with stepfather or with someone from his mother's family.

There is at least one tree showing a living descendant of William snr's son Herbert, so a DNA test may be doable. https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/12079029/person/290005380305/facts (It's a small world, I appear to be "step"-related to the Beedell family in that tree.)

If we're very lucky, the father may even be acknowledged on William Sully's birth certificate. I don't know if that would be shown in the indexes. There's also the chance of a Bastardy Order.

David

[Gadget]

It seems that the Willis family were his 'social ' family, which I believe is the most important, but it might be worth seeing if a DNA test would confirm a genetic relationship as well. 

add-  not sure if this was mentioned earlier ~ the Luton children are described by William, snr as stepsons but William jnr is described as son.

[insidecentre]

Hi once again thank you for all you replys.i have just sent away for William Sully 1896 birth certificate, fingers crossed William Willis is down as the father.cheers

[softly softly]

Please do let us know the outcome of details. Even if his father is not named his mother will be and his date of birth.

John

[insidecentre]

No problem will do,Many thanks

[jonwarrn]

Births Dec 1876   
SULLY    Mary Ann        Clifton    6a   71

But, sadly
Death
Dec 1876 Clifton 6a 49
Sully, Mary Ann
Age 0

[jonwarrn]

Possible?
Baptism at Hockworthy, 5 Feb 1871
Mary Anna Sully
Parents James and Elizabeth

1891, Tiverton
Mary H Sulley, 19, Servant (Cook), born Devon Hockworthy

[jonwarrn]

Report in the  Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser, 3 Feb 1892
I think it's to do with a maintenance claim.

Charles Stevens, labourer, Tiverton, who recently enlisted in the Devonshire Regiment Exeter, was summoned before the Cullompton magistrates Monday by Mary Hannah Sully, of Sampford Peverell.
Superintendent Collins announced the receipt of an anonymous telegram from Tiverton asking for an  adjournment of the case. The request, however, was not acceded to, and the defendant was ordered  to contribute 2s 6d weekly for 13 years.

Baptism at Sampford Peverell, 14 Feb 1892
Frederick Charles Sully
Parent Mary Anna
Born 30 Nov 1891

Is it the same Mary Hannah?

[DRH123]

Possible?

Yes, I was about to post the same.

She is with James and Elizabeth in Hockworthy in the 1871 Census (as Mary, aged 3 mo.) and the 1881 census (as Mary Hannah, aged 10).

David