William Walter Lee/Louisa Marsh

[Jaxie77]

Hi. My name is Jaclyn and I am looking for more information on my great-great grandparents. William Walter Lee and Louisa Hannah(or Anna) Marsh 1862-1938. They had, I believe had 13 children one of them being my great grandmother Elizabeth Mable Queenie Lee born December 4, 1900 in Hasting, England died January 4, 1993 in Thunder Bay, ON Canada. I don't have a lot of information on any of her sibblings...I have names and a few dates but nothing more. I'm pretty sure that some of her brothers may have been in the millitary or police service in England and would love to learn more about that. Here are the names that I do have: Alfred 1893-1980, Annie 1886-1989, Grace (Adams), William, Wally(Walter?), Maud, Louisa, Henry, George and Ethel. Two of the kids I have no name or record of them...just know that there were two others. I'm pretty sure that George Lee was with the police. I would love to learn about who my great-great-great grandparents and of my great grandmother Elizabeths sibblings and to get in contact with any living relative that may be out there still. Thanks for any info or tips anyone sends this way.

[Jimmy]

Hi Jaclyn,
I assume you have this,
1891. 4 Park Rd, Hollington, Sussex.
William Lee 30. General labourer. Westfield, Sussex.
Louisa H Lee 30. Dover, Kent.
Louisa Lee 8. St Leonards, Sussex.
William Lee 7. St Leonards, Sussex.
Annie Lee 5. Hollington, Sussex.
Ethel Lee 3. Hollington, Sussex.
George Lee 2. Hollington, Sussex.
Maud Lee 2/12. Hollington, Sussex.

1901. Hollington, Sussex.
William Lee 40. General Labourer. Westfield, Sussex.
Louisa Lee 40. Kent. NK.
William Lee 19.
Ethel Lee 13.
George Lee 12.
Maude Lee 10.
Alfred Lee 9.
Henry Lee 7.
Walter Lee 4.
Grace Lee 2.
Elizabeth Lee 3/12.

Others born Hollington, Sussex.

1911. 80 Hollington Old Lane Hollington St Leonards On Sea.
William Walter Lee 50. Gas Labourer.
Louisa Hannah Lee 50.
Ethel Mary Lee 23.
Alfred Lee 19.
Henry Lee 17.
Walter Lee 14.
Grace Lee 12.
Queen Lee 10.

Married 31 years. 13 children, 2 died.

[Jaxie77]

Thanks so much Jimmy. I had some of it but not all of it. Any idea on where I can find out more information on the two children that died? Or William Walter's parents and if in fact some of his sons were in the military and or police service? Where should I start my search? Jaclyn

[MarkCDodd]

I can see you haven't got very far on your tree on Ancestry. That is a good place to start.

Use the information Jimmy has given you to find the census on Ancestry.

Let Ancestry fill in all the details from the census and you may start to get hints from other Ancestry trees as well as their own records.

Ancestry can help with the WW1 service, death, medal and pension records and WW2 prisoner records but nothing else military.

Find My Past can help with the pre WW1 military records.

In Australia we can just contact the Police and they will send the historical records of any serving members. Is the UK the same?

[MarkCDodd]

Here are their burials

First name(s): William Walter
Last name LEE
Date of burial: 19 Jul 1947
Age at death: 86
Calculated year of birth: 1861
Place of burial: Hollington
Dedication: St Leonard
County: Sussex
Notes:
Hollington St Leonard
Denomination: Anglican
Record source: National Burial Index
Data provider: Hastings & Rother Family History Society


First name(s): Louisa Hannah
Last name LEE
Date of burial: 7 Apr 1938
Age at death: 76
Calculated year of birth: 1862
Place of burial: Hollington
Dedication: St Leonard
County: Sussex
Notes:
Hollington St Leonard
Denomination: Anglican
Record source: National Burial Index
Data provider: Hastings & Rother Family History Society

[MarkCDodd]

Use Familysearch as well.

Name: Louisa Hannah Marsh
Gender: Female
Baptism/Christening Date: 30 Mar 1862
Baptism/Christening Place: Hawkinge, Kent, England
Birth Date:
Birthplace:
Death Date:
Name Note:
Race:
Father's Name: John Marsh
Father's Birthplace:
Father's Age:
Mother's Name: Ann
Mother's Birthplace:
Mother's Age:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: I00915-2
System Origin: England-EASy
Source Film Number: 1786547
Reference Number: it 2 p 63 no 508

[MarkCDodd]

This is William in 1811.

1881 census transcription details for: 17, Unity Ter, Hollington
Print Close

National Archive Reference:
RG number: RG11
Piece: 1032
Folio: 16
Page: 25
Reg. District: Battle
Sub District: Bexhill
Parish: Hollington
Enum. District:
Ecclesiastical District:
City/Municipal Borough:
Address: 17, Unity Ter, Hollington
County: Sussex
Name Relation Condition Sex Age Birth Year Occupation , Disability Where Born
LEE, Jesse Head Married M 45 1836 Stone Breaker (Road Lab) Dicker, Sussex
LEE, Delia Wife Married F 41 1840 Westfield, Sussex
LEE, William Son Single M 20 1861 Brickmaker Westfield, Sussex
LEE, George Son Single M 15 1866 Westfield, Sussex
LEE, James Son Single M 12 1869 Hollington, Sussex
LEE, Lydia Daughter Single F 9 1872 Hollington, Sussex
LEE, Walter Son Single M 6 1875 Hollington, Sussex
LEE, Albert Son Single M 4 1877 Hollington, Sussex
LEE, Henry Son Single M 0 1881 Hollington, Sussex

[MarkCDodd]

SPOOKY!

This is Jesse, William's father, with his parents in 1841.

The elder Benjamin Bonney and his wife Elizabeth are my wife's 3rd Great Grandparents.

They emmigrated to Australia in 1852 and did very well for themselves. So did 12 of their 15 children.

In 1844 they had a son called Jesse. He is my wife's 2nd Great Grandfather.

Jesse is not a very common name. Since your 2nd Great Grandfather was living with the Bonney family and is called Jesse there must be a link somewhere.

The Bonney family was actually called Bonniface. They changed to Bonney prior to emmigrating to Australia.

They were a very religious family and emmigrated for religious reasons.

I would not be surprised to find some of your relatives amongst those who came over for the same reasons.

1841 census transcription details for: Milton Street, Arlington

National Archive Reference:
RG number: HO107
Piece: 1115
Book/Folio: 8/9
Page: 10
Reg. District: Hailsham
Sub District: Hailsham
Parish: Arlington
Enum. District:
Ecclesiastical District:
City/Municipal Borough:
Address: Milton Street, Arlington
County: Sussex
Name Relation Sex Age Birth Year Occupation Where Born
PARRIS, George M 55 1786 Sussex
PARRIS, Elizabeth F 55 1786 Sussex
WARNER, William M 20 1821 Sussex
BONNY, Benjamin M 35 1806 Sussex
BONNY, Elizabeth F 35 1806 Sussex
BONNY, Benjamin M 16 1825 Sussex
BONNY, Ester F 10 1831 Sussex
BONNY, Diner F 8 1833 Sussex
BONNY, Elizabeth F 6 1835 Sussex
BONNY, James M 5 1836 Sussex
BONNY, Anne F 3 1838 Sussex
BONNY, David M 1 1840 Sussex
LEE, James M 25 1816 Sussex
LEE, Lucy F 25 1816 Sussex
LEE, Mary F 5 1836 Sussex
LEE, Jesse M 1 1840 Sussex

[MarkCDodd]

This would be your 2nd Great Grandparents marriage.

Civil Registration event: Marriage

MarriageFinder: Jesse Lee married Delia Byles
Name: LEE, Jesse
Registration district: Battle
County: Sussex
Year of registration: 1858
Quarter of registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
Spouse's last name: Not available before 1912
Volume no: 2B
Page no: 83

Name: BYLES, Delia
Registration district: Battle
County: Sussex
Year of registration: 1858
Quarter of registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
Spouse's last name: Not available before 1912
Volume no: 2B
Page no: 83

[Jimmy]

1851. Milton St, New Cottages, Arlington, Sussex,.
James Lee 35. Ag lab. Arlington, Sussex.
Lucy Lee 38.
Lydia Lee 12. Dau.
Jessee Lee 9. Son.

Others born Hellingly, Sussex.

[Jimmy]

1861. Barracks, Westfield, Sussex.
Jesse Lea 20. Ag Lab. Dicker, Sussex.
Delia Lea 20. Westfield, Sussex.
William Lea 1 Months. Son. Westfield, Sussex.
William Byne 59. Father in Law. Ag Lab. Westfield, Sussex.
Sally Byne 15. Sister. Westfield, Sussex.

[Jaxie77]

Small world. So Jesse Lea my great-great-great grandfather (william walters dad) at some point changed the spelling of his name to Lee and was living with the Bonny family for religious reasons before the Bonny family moved to Australia. Did I get that right? Why would religious reasons make two families of apparently no relation live together? And why would they change the spelling of their last name from Lea to Lee? This is so great I truly appreciate the information you have shared with me!!!! Jaclyn

[MarkCDodd]

The Bonney family were members of the Ebenezer Independent Church. A very Presbyterian and therefore non-conformist congregation. Anything but Anglican was very much frowned upon. Although religious freedom was sort of guaranteed it did not stop the local Bishops heaping scorn upon any denomination that suggested they were superfluous and a mistake invented by the Catholics. A fascinating character called Reverand John Dunmore Lang established the Presbyterian Church in Australia and was looking for immigrants to help stop the colonies becoming dominated by papists. Since a very large percentage of convicts were Catholic Irish, this was more than probable. So Rev. Lang travelled around the UK promising land grants (which he had yet to get from the Aussie governors) and a land of milk and honey. The trip to Australia was to be on better class ships with proper food and sanitation. Only people with relevant skills need apply! Catholics not allowed.

So hundreds and hundreds of Non Conformists, nearly all strict Presbyterian, took up his offer and travelled to Australia.

In England and Scotland the thought of being associated with any criminal of any class and any religion was frowned upon by these pious people.

They found that the reality of Australia is that to survive you relied on your neighbours, no matter their religious beliefs.

Many of them found themselves working with and employing Irish Catholic convicts.

The first lot of Bonney arrived on the Larpent, which sank, so the second lot delayed for a while till the reason of the sinking was known.

They did very well in Australia and although religion tended to influence a lots of the politics, real tolerance was shown within the general community.

The Bonniface family changed their name to Bonney to distinguish themselves from those who remained Anglican.

If your family changed from Lea to Lee it is likely just the acceptance of the common spelling.

Same as nearly all Dod and Dodds ended up Dodd.

Smyth ended up Smith etc etc.

I will have to look at the household a bit closer to get an idea of why they were together.

[MarkCDodd]

Looking at the census form....the Lee's were neighbours, not in the same house as the Bonneys. Just a bad transcription by Find My Past.

[MarkCDodd]

Delia and family in 1841

1841 census transcription details for: Onion Hill, Westfield
Print Close

National Archive Reference:
RG number: HO107
Piece: 1105
Book/Folio: 6/18
Page: 11
Reg. District: Battle
Sub District: Bexhill
Parish: Westfield
Enum. District:
Ecclesiastical District:
City/Municipal Borough:
Address: Onion Hill, Westfield
County: Sussex
Name Relation Sex Age Birth Year Occupation Where Born
BYNE, William M 35 1806 Sussex
BYNE, Sarah F 25 1816 Sussex
BYNE, George M 9 1832 Sussex
BYNE, Mary F 7 1834 Sussex
BYNE, Delia F 0 (5 months) 1841 Sussex
BYNE, Stephen M 45 1796 Sussex
TURNER, Thomas M 80 1761 Sussex