researching Willis-Martin

[glendahewitt]

My family name is Willis-Martin. tracing back the willis appeared
around 1891 dont know how willis got in there.

1891 census shows as Henry Willis, Harriet Willis

My grandfather is shown on birth cert as

Arthur Willis Martin
Father Harry Martin and Mother Harriet Martin formerly Newton
this is correct

Other siblings certs read

The Christian name with father Harry Martin Willis.
Would be grateful if someone could shed some light on this.
It is a bit of a mystery have researched further back but not sure if
fully on right trail owing to the mystery.

[Elaine ..Spain]

Firstly welcome to FTF.

It would be helpful if you could give us some years and places of birth for all the family - and the reference for the 1891 census if you have it.

[KiteRunner]

Hi and welcome to the forum.
The most likely reason for that kind of surname change is that Harry's parents weren't married to each other when he was born and one of them was called Willis and the other Martin, but as Elaine says, if you can give us more information it will be easier for us to help.

[Uncle John]

I found one the other day for a marriage between two "posh" families (not my rellies, just a distant connection!). The bride (Miss Jones) had inherited a family mansion, so when she married the groom (Mr Smith) they became the Smith-Joneses.

A couple of my acquaintance (Miss Baker and Mr Butcher) decided to become Mr & Mrs Baker-Butcher.

[Merry Monty Montgomery]

Hi glenda,

Huge apologies if this turns out to be a big red herring, but I have nothing to do for a few minutes, so I thought I'd take a look, but obviously it's tricky with no dates or places!!!

I saw this, which I'm hoping is your grandfather's birth reg, transcribed by FreeBMD and with the last letter missing! It is Willis in the full indexes:

Births Sep 1890
Martin Arthur Willi_ Boston 7a 407

The same child with parents in 1891:

RG12; Piece: 2574; Folio 73; Page 8

and as you said, listed as Willis rather than Martin:

Harry Willis 27 Bricklayer b Boston Lincs
Harriet Willis 23 b Sutterton Lincs
Harry 4 b Boston Lincs
Arthur b Boston Lincs

I agree with Kite that my first thought would be that Harry senrs parents were not married when he was born.

Do you have their marriage cert?

Marriages Dec 1884
Addington Joseph Boston 7a 773
Bell Mary Ann Boston 7a 773
Martin George Henry Boston 7a 773 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Newton Harriet Isabella Boston 7a 773 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

I wondered what it stated for Henry's father?

[Merry Monty Montgomery]

This looks hopeful:

1881 census:

Mary Ann Willis head unmarried 45 charwoman b Boston, Lincs
George H Willis son unm 18 Bricklayers Apprentice b Boston Lincs

RG11; Piece: 3218; Folio: 152; Page: 20

[Merry Monty Montgomery]

1871, I think Dinah is protecting her daughter's reputation here and names George/Harry as her own son, when he is most likely Mary Ann's child:

Dinah Willis head widow 59 Chimney Sweep b Boston
Mary Ann Willis dau unm 33 b Boston
Harry Willis son 8 b Boston
George E Jones serv 26 Chimney Sweep b Boston
William Bemrose serv 21 Chimney Sweep b Boston

RG10; Piece: 3343; Folio: 54; Page: 17

[Merry Monty Montgomery]

I wouldn't be at all surprised if Mary Ann Willis was pretending to be married when her son's birth was registered:

Births Sep 1863
MARTIN George Henry Boston 7a 349

Which would be great, as you would then know his father's name!

[Elaine ..Spain]

... but does the Willis/Martin name go back further Merry (have worked back the same as you!)

From the IGI

MARY ANNE MARTIN
Christening: 02 MAR 1832 Boston, Lincoln, England
Parents: John Martin and Diana

Is this the same as Mary Ann Willis with parents John and Diana Willis?

[Merry Monty Montgomery]

Elaine, that's what I was going to say!!

(though the birth cert ref I posted earlier might help confirm one way or the other!)

[Merry Monty Montgomery]

Let's see what Willis siblings I can find on the census and then we can see how many baps we can find under Willis or Martin.....

Mary Ann 1835
Elizabeth 1838
John 1844
Susannah 1845

dates approx!

Going to look at 1851......

[Elaine ..Spain]

If it is the same then Mary Ann has obviously got younger through the censuses - but she is on the 1841 as aged 6 - shown with parents John and Diana Willis.

HO107; Piece 613; Book: 8; Civil Parish: Boston; County: Lincolnshire; Enumeration District: 16; Folio: 30; Page: 9; Line: 4;

[Merry Monty Montgomery]

1851 reveals Harriet about 1834

[Merry Monty Montgomery]

No more in 1841.

[Elaine ..Spain]

IGI

JANE MARTIN
Christening: 13 FEB 1833 Boston, Lincoln, England
Parents John Martin and Diana

HARRIET WILLOWS ???
Christening: 11 JUL 1834 Boston, Lincoln, England
Parents John Willows and Diana
Need to check to see if there is a Willows family in 1841 - but there is a Harriett Willis aged 7 with the family on the 1841 census

Update - there are some Willows families in Boston - but no John, Diana or Harriett. Should this be Willis?

[Merry Monty Montgomery]

Hmmm, tricky isn't it!!

I sense that glenda has got this far too! I bet she has that George H Martin birth cert and there is no father! lol

[Elaine ..Spain]

I think you might be right !

[Merry Monty Montgomery]

So, maybe Diana/Dinah and John were not married, or maybe John's parents were not married??! (or another 100 gens back!)

I see John Willis/Martin (whatever) was born in Ely. I was born there too, but it's not helping!

[Elaine ..Spain]

IGI

JANE MARTIN
Christening: 13 FEB 1833 Boston, Lincoln, England
Parents John Martin and Diana

Possible burial on the NBI
Burial date 8 Feb 1836 - JANE WILLIS MARTIN, aged 3 St Botolph, Boston, Lincs.

[Merry Monty Montgomery]

Oooh, well done Elaine. So the Willis/Martin thing is def the generation of John and Diana or before this.