kerbent on Family Tree Circles

I have been scouring the censuses in order to find out if my Walter Todman who I think may have changed his name either on the way to Australia from England or when he got to Australia. I have written before about my search for his identity which can be read about in a previous post here.
Since he may have changed his name I have attempted to research the following combinations of in the census returns - Walter Todman, Walter Willoughby, James Todman & James Willoughby born 1866. They needed to appear in the census in 1871, the first census taken after his birth in 1866 +/- 2 years, but not in 1891 or after as he was in Australia. It’s head banging work but in the process I have gathered quite a bit of census data that might be of use to others. If you wish in particular to see my conclusions based on this data concerning my personal research you will find it here

Looking for Walter Todman born 1866 +/- 2 yrs on the census using the FindmyPast data base indexes.
1871 Census
Walter Todman son of William & Emily abt 1866 born in Milford, Surrey, England living in Milford, Surrey (Class: RG10; Piece: 823; Folio: 22; Page: 2)

1881 Census
Walter Todman son of Emily abt 1866 born in Surrey, England living in Witley, Surrey (Class: RG11; Piece: 790; Folio: 60; Page: 9)

1891 Census
Walter Todman husband to Sarah born in Kent, Deptford living in Chertsey, Surrey (RG12; Piece: 552; Folio: 37; Page: 4)

1901 Census
Walter Todman husband to Elizabeth A born in Kent, Deptford living in Chertsey, Surrey (RG13; Piece: 660; Folio: 26; Page: 43)

1911
Walter Todman husband to Elizabeth born in Kent, Deptford living in Windlesham, Surrey (RG14; Piece: 3021; Schedule Number: 143)

Looking for Walter Todman born 1866 +/- 2 yrs on the census using the Ancestry.com data base indexes.
1871 Census
Walter Todman son of Henry & Emma Todman born in Kent, Deptford living in St Paul Deptford, London (Class: RG10; Piece: 744; Folio: 162; Page: 15; GSU roll: 824720)

Walter Todman son of William & Emily abt 1866 born in Milford, Surrey, England living in Milford, Surrey (Class: RG10; Piece: 823; Folio: 32; Page: 2; GSU roll: 838701)

1881 Census
Walter Todman son of Henry & Emma Todman born in Kent, Deptford living in Chertsey, Surrey (Class: RG11; Piece: 768; Folio: 60; Page: 18; GSU roll: 1341180)

Walter Todman son of Emily abt 1866 born in Milford, Surrey, England living in Witley, Surrey (Class: RG11; Piece: 790; Folio: 60; Page: 9; GSU roll: 1341186)

1891 Census
Walter Todman husband to Sarah born in Kent, Deptford living in Chertsey, Surrey (RG12; Piece: 552; Folio: 37; Page: 4; GSU roll: 6095662)

1901 Census
No Walter Todman’s found

1911
Walter Todman husband to Elizabeth born in Kent, Deptford living in Windlesham, Surrey (RG14; Piece: 3021; Schedule Number: 143)

Looking for Walter Willoughy born 1866 +/- 2 yrs on the census using the FindmyPast data base indexes.
1871
Walter Willoughby son of Benjamin Willoughby & Anie born Yorkshire, England (Class: RG10; Piece: 4521; Folio: 68; Page: 12)
Walter Willoughby son of Robert Willoughby & Rebecca born Surrey, England (Class: RG10; Piece: 636; Folio: 123; Page: 36)
Walter Willoughby son of Thomas Willoughby & Hannah born Berkshire, England (Class: RG10; Piece: 1250; Folio: 106; Page: 11)

1881
Walter Willoughby son of Hannah (widow) born Berkshire, England (Class: RG11; Piece: 1273; Folio: 38; Page: 38)
Walter Willoughby son of Ann Willoughby (widow) born Leeds, Kent (Class: RG11; Piece: 4497; Folio: 40; Page: 25)
Walter Willoughby son of Robert Willoughby & Rebecca born Rotherhithe, Surrey, England (Class: RG11; Piece: 581; Folio: 36; Page: 39)

1891
Walter Willoughby son of Robert Willoughby & Rebecca born Rotherhithe, Middlesex, England (Class: RG12; Piece: 376; Folio: 157; Page: 51)
W Willoughby son of William Willoughby & Alice M J born Plymouth, Devon (Class: RG12; Piece: 1733; Folio: 28; Page: 49)

1901
None

1911
None

Looking for Walter Willoughy born 1866 +/- 2 yrs on the census using the Ancestry.com data base indexes.
Census 1871
Walter J Willoughby son of Thomas Willoughby & Hannah born Yorkshire, England (Class: RG10; Piece: 1250; Folio: 106; Page: 11; GSU roll: 827839)
Walter Willoughby son of Benjamin Willoughby & Ann born Yorkshire, England (Class: RG10; Piece: 4521; Folio: 68; Page: 12; GSU roll: 848474)
Walter Willoughby son of Robert Willoughby & Rebecca born born Surrey, England (Class: RG10; Piece: 636; Folio: 123; Page: 36 ; GSU roll: 818930)

Census 1881
None

Looking for James Todman born 1866 +/- 2 yrs on the census using the FindmyPast data base indexes.
Only one found before 1901:-
James Todman Lodger Single Male 26 1865 Gardener Hastings, Sussex, England

Looking for James Todman born 1866 +/- 2 yrs on the census using the Ancestry.com data base indexes.
Nothing within the parameters

Walter and Martha married on 16 Jan 1892 in All Saints Church, Saint Kilda, no address was given for Martha at the time, but Walter was living in Hawthorn according to the marriage certificate. From the time of his marriage, and for the birth of his first two children Walter worked as a blacksmith. Their eldest daughter, Martha Todman (later known as Ruby) arrived on 24th December in 1894 at the Women's hospital.

On the 14th September 1895 Walter Todman and his wife welcomed Ivy Florence Todman into the world. Life must have changed dramatically for the family by 1895, with 2 small children life must have been busy for the Todman household. The family had been living at 27 Arthur St, South Yarra, Victoria when Ruby was born. During the intervening 18 months between their first and second child the family had shifted to 3 Palmero Place, South Yarra , They may have also resided at Hancock St, South Melbourne for a short time as well.

Walter was still pursuing his inventions and continued to register new patents. In April 1894 he made an application for a patent for "an improved machine for saving gold" In October 1895 Walter was granted a patent for "An improved automatic check for venetian blinds." . He appears to have left his occupation as a Blacksmith and is working as a casual waiter perhaps to allow more time to focus on his inventions. But October 1895 saw the last of his applications for patents, earlier in that year in January he had even abandoned one.

Things appear to have hit boiling point for Martha as we next find the couple in the Prahran Police Court . Martha alleges that her husband Walter Todman left "her without any means of support at South Yarra on the 3rd inst." December, 1895. She had two children and "her husband was a job waiter and earned about 11 pound a month. Her parents were in England." The couple had a violent domestic argument, resulting in Walter being struck with a poker . It was resolved by the court an order being issued "for a I pound a week maintenance, and one surety of 25 pounds to be found for a due observance" She has been quoted as saying "her husband, who was a waiter, was in the habit of handing her his earnings each week, but on Sunday week be refused to give her any money, and since then she could not live with him on account of his temper and disgusting language."

After all this angst and excitement things appear to settle at least for the next few years until 1901.

For sources see Originally published at Link: Sandra's Ancestral Research Journal on the 4 October 2015

I have looked at the census between 1871 and 1881 to find my man. Since he may have changed his name I have attempted to research the following combinations – Walter Todman, Walter Willoughby, James Todman & James Willoughby.

These names were chosen for the following reasons:-
* Walter Todman - he was known from 1890(i) when he applied for his patent using this name, and for the rest of his life including when he married Martha Sarah Ellis in 1892(ii) in Australia.
* Walter Willoughby & James Todman - based on information contained in a advertisement in a newspaper column for MISSING FRIENDS "Willoughby, or Todman (James), left Millwall in 1884; last letter from Sydney, N.S.W., in 1888. Mother asks."(iii)
* James Willoughby- the final permutation of the possible first and last names.

I have calculated his year of birth as 1866 +/2 yrs based on his children’s Australian birth certificates which gives the father’s age and birth place:-
* 1894(iv) on his daughter's Martha certificate his birth place was given as Essex, England
* 1895(v) on his daughter's Ivy Florence certificate his birth place was given as Stepheney, London
* 1897(vi) on his son's Walter Victor certificate his birth place was given as Surrey, England
* 1903(vii) on his daughter's Hazel May certificate his birth place was given as Essex, England
* 1906(viii) on his son's Lincoln James certificate his birth place was given as Essex, England
* 1908(ix) on his daughter's Charlotte Mary certificate his birth place was given as Norfolk, England
* 1910(x) on his daughter's Alma Dudley certificate his birth place was given as Norfolk, England
On all birth certificates the informant was Martha Todman, mother and Walter’s wife; although the place of birth is always different his age is always consistent with being born in 1866.

The date range for search has been confined to 1871 and 1881 as the 1871 census is the first census taken after his birth in 1866 +/- 2 years, and by 1891 as he was in Australia.
The outcome of my research at this stage has resulted in two likely candidates:-
* Walter Todman son of William Todman & Emily abt 1866 born in Milford, Surrey, England
* James L T Willoughby son of Charles Willoughby & Mary Ann born Surrey, England

Now to check that neither of them died before 1891.....

Sources
(i) "Patent Office Transactions," The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser, 27 December 1890, p. 1446, col. 3; digital images, TROVE (http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article163648327 : accessed 18 Oct 2015), The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912).
(ii) Registry of Birth, Death and Marriages, Victoria, "Certificate of Marriage Walter Todman & Martha Ellis 16 January 1892 Reference# 345" (Original in family papers of Myrtle Sharp)
(iii) MISSING FRIENDS. (1901, April 13). Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1869 - 1912), p. 6. Retrieved October 21, 2015, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207944213
(iv) Registry of Birth, Death and Marriages, Victoria, Australia, Birth Certificate Martha Todman (Year 1894, #1801, Original a certified copy)
(v) Registry of Birth, Death and Marriages, Victoria, Australia, Birth Certificate Ivy Florence Todman (1895, Reference# 32737 Original a certified copy)
(vi) Registry of Birth, Death and Marriages, Victoria, Australia, Birth Certificate Walter Victor Todman (Year 1897, Reference# 31247 Original a certified copy)
(vii) Registry of Birth, Death and Marriages, Victoria, Australia, Birth Certificate Hazel May Todman (1903, #13749, Original a certified copy)
(viii) Birth Certificate Lincoln James Todman, 20 July 1906, Reference# 298, Registry of Birth, Death and Marriages, Victoria, Australia (Original a certified copy)
(ix) Registry of Birth, Death and Marriages, Victoria, Australia, Birth Certificate Charlotte Mary Todman (Year 1908, # 22796, Original a certified copy)
(x) Registry of Birth, Death and Marriages, Victoria, Australia, Birth Certificate Alma Dudley Todman (Year 1909, Reference# 6626 Original a certified copy)

The earliest we have been able to locate our Walter Todman in Australia is 1890 when he applies for a patent for shearing equipment which was duly reported in "The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser"(i) on the 27 December 1890 So I was very excited when I found an advertisement in a newspaper column for MISSING FRIENDS

"Willoughby, or Todman (James), left Millwall in 1884; last letter from Sydney, N.S.W., in 1888. Mother asks." (2)

Family legend states that Walter changed his name from Willoughby to Todman. The only marriage that my cousins and I have been able to fine between a Willoughby and a Todman occurred in 1854 when Charles Willoughby married Mary Ann Ramsey Todman in Gillingham Kent. They had a son James Lincoln Willoughby. On Walter's marriage certificate his mother was Mary Ann Willoughby, although the father was listed as Walter Todman(iii).

So now I am seeking to make contact with anyone who might be able to shed light on the mystery.

References
(i) "Patent Office Transactions" The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser, 27 December 1890, p. 1446, col. 3; digital images, TROVE (http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article163648327 : accessed 18 Oct 2015), The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912).
(ii) MISSING FRIENDS. (1901, April 13). Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1869 - 1912), p. 6. Retrieved October 21, 2015, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207944213
(lll) Registry of Birth, Death and Marriages, Victoria, "Certificate of Marriage Walter Todman & Martha Ellis 16 January 1892 Reference# 345" (Original certificate the in family papers of Myrtle Sharp.)

Walter Todman
Born - Mar Q 1866 Greenwich 1d 711
Christened - Entry 880 - Walter 11 March 1866, 8 years Child of Henry & Emma Todman, Addlestone, Father Labourer Source Ancestry.com. Surrey, England, Baptisms, 1813-1912 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Original data: Anglican Parish Registers. Woking, Surrey, England: Surrey History Centre. Baptisms in the Parish of Addlestone, in the County of Surrey in 1874 page 112

Census Appearances 1871, 1881 & 1891

1871 Census
Wotton Road, St Paul Deptford, Greenwich, London, England
1. Henry Tadman 33 Head, Baker b. Chertsey, Surrey
2. Emma Tadman 28 Wife b. Chertsey, Surrey
3. Arther Tadman 7 Son b. Norwood, Surrey
4. Walter Tadman 5 Son b. Deptford, Kent
Source 1871 RG10; Piece: 744; Folio: 162; Page: 15

1881 Census
Spratts, Chertsey, Surrey, England
1. Emma Todman, head, 39, widow, Chertsey, Surrey, England
2. Arthur Todman, 17, Carter, son, Norwood, Surrey, England
3. Walter Todman, 15, Carters Boy, Deptford, Kent, England
4. Emily Todman, 7, scholar, Chertsey, Surrey, England
5. Nellie Todman, 2, Chertsey, Surrey, England
6. Lucy Cardash, 2, Foundling
7. Alfred Jennins, 1, Foundling
Source: Class: RG11; Piece: 768; Folio: 60; Page: 18 (Note the first letter of Todman looks like J so the surname is often indexed as Jodman)

1891 Census
Mixnams, The Ferry, Chertsey, Surrey, England
1. Walter Todman, Head, Married, Male, 25, Agricultural Labourer, Deptford, Kent, England
2. Sarah Todman, Wife, Married, Female, 26, Chertsey, Surrey, England
3. Alice Todman, Daughter, Female, 8, Scholar, Chertsey, Surrey, England
4. Walter H Todman, Son, Male, 0, Chertsey, Surrey, England
5. Elizabeth Hunter, Sister In Law, Single, Female, 20, Chertsey, Surrey, England
Source: 1891 Census RG12, Piece #552, Folio 37, Page 4

Further details on family source

Further information for Parents:- Death of Father registered in Mar Q 1879 as Henry Todman, aged 42, District Chertsey, Vol 2a, page 34; Parents marriage registered Dec Q 1862 Henry Todman to Emma Gray District Chertsey, Vol 2a, page 45

Marriage
Walter Todman aged 23, father Henry Todman, & Sarah Vinvine aged 23, father George Vinvine on 30 November 1890
Source : Ancestry.com. Surrey, England, Marriages, 1754-1937 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Original data: Anglican Parish Registers. Woking, Surrey, England: Surrey History Centre.Page 52 (digital image 27), Christ Church Ottershaw, Reference # OTT/1/3

Further information:-
All baptised on the same day 17th May 1874, as Walter:-
1. Entry 878 - Emily Child of Henry & Emma Todman, Addlestone, Father Labourer
2. Entry 879 - Arthur born 11 Feb 1864 10 years Child of Henry & Emma Todman, Addlestone, Father Labourer
Source Ancestry.com. Surrey, England, Baptisms, 1813-1912 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Original data: Anglican Parish Registers. Woking, Surrey, England: Surrey History Centre. Baptisms in the Parish of Addlestone, in the County of Surrey in 1874 page 112

Walter Todman

Born - Sep Q 1865 Hambledon 2a 109

Christened: Entry number 264, Walter Todman, son of William, Labourer, and Emily Todman living in ?Tattenbury, in the Parish of Milford, St John the Evangelist
Source: Ancestry.com. Surrey, England, Baptisms, 1813-1912 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Original data: Anglican Parish Registers. Woking, Surrey, England: Surrey History Centre. St John the Evangelist, 1852 Jan-1875 Feb, Page 33, Digital Image 22 of 38 accessed 30 October 2015

Census Appearances 1871 & 1881
1871 Census in Scotland Lane, Milford
1. William Todman 44 Head, Domestic Servant, Groom b. Hastings, Sussex
2. Emily Todman 40 Wife b. Petersfield, Hampshire
3. William Todman 14 Son, Assistant Groom b. Milford, Surrey
4. Archibald Todman 12 Son b. Milford, Surrey
5. Albert Todman 10 Son b. Chapel En Le Frith, Derbyshire
6. Martha Todman 7 Daur b. Chapel En Le Frith, Derbyshire
7. Walter Todman 5 Son b. Milford, Surrey
8. Frank Todman 3 Son b. Milford, Surrey
9. Harry Todman 1 Son b. Milford, Surrey
10.Kate E Todman 2 months Daur
Source 1871 RG10; Piece: 823; Folio: 32; Page: 2

1881 Census
Witley Street, Witley, Surrey (Note, Witley is only 2 miles away from Mitford)
1. Emily Todman 50 Wife (Husband not present though) b. Petersfield, Hants
2. Adelene Todman 28 Daur, Dressmaker b. Petersfield, Hants. Deaf + Dumb
3. Martha Todman 19 Daur b. Chapel En Le Frith, Derbys
4. Walter Todman 15 Son General Lab b. Witley, Surrey
5. Frank Todman 13 Son General Lab, b. Witley Surrey
6. Henry Todman 11 Son b. Witley, Surrey
7. Kate E. Todman 10 Daur b. Witley, Surrey
8. Sidney Todman 6 Son b. Witley, Surrey
9. Alfred Todman 4 Son, b. Witley, Surrey
Source: 1881 Class: RG11; Piece: 790; Folio: 60; Page: 9

1891 Census
Hornty Road, Hastings, Sussex, England
1. William Todman, Head, Married, Male, 62, Gardener, Hastings, Sussex, England
2. Emily Todman, Wife, Married, Female, 60, Petersfield, Hampshire, England
3. Adela J Todman, Daughter, Single, Female, 38, Dress Maker, Petersfield, Hampshire, England
4. George A Todman, Son, Married, Male, 36, Butler Domestic Servant, Petersfield, Hampshire, England
5. Kate E Todman, Daughter, Single, Female, 21, Book Keeper, Surrey, England
6. Sidney Todman, Son, Single, Male, 16, Tailor, Surrey, England
7. Alfred Todman, Son, Single, Male, 14, Scholar, Surrey, England
8. Charles Wiliams, Visitor, Married, Male, 76, Living On Her Own Means, Stockton, Durham, England
9. Martha E Millichamp, Visitor, Widow, Female, 50, Living On Her Own Means, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
Source 1891 Census RG12, Piece 764, Folio 67, page 25

Further information:-
Walter Todman has left home or died, unable to locate him in the 1891 Census. He could possibly be the Walter TODMAN, born 1866 who died 1887 in the British nationals armed forces deaths 1796-2005 in Sealkote India aged 21 source FindMyPast (UK) GRO Army Death Indices (1881 to 1955), page 223, record set British nationals armed forces deaths 1796-2005 accessed 30/10/2015

Walter Todman is my great grandfather. He lived most of life in Victoria, Australia. It appears he was possibly born in Essex, England and migrated to Australia sometime before 1891 when he married Martha Sarah Ellis in the All Saints Church, East St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. He died suddenly of acute heart failure in 1929 at around 63. Who Walter's parents were is not clear

Before his marriage where and who Walter is almost a complete mystery.

However in my quest to find my grandfather I have found two possible Walter Todmans who could in fact be the same person.

In 1890 a Walter Todman registered a patent in NSW for shearing equipment. In 1892 a Walter Todman is getting married to a Martha Sarah Ellis in Victoria.
The question then becomes are these two Walters the same person?
I have been unable to find either of them coming into Australia nor what happened to the Walter Todman who started off in NSW.

My research so far has focused on the following
Establishing where my great grandfather Walter Todman was born through his childrens birth certificates:-
1894 on his daughter's Martha's birth certificate he was born in Essex, England
1895 on his daughter's Ivy Florence birth certificate he was born in Stepheney, London
1897 on his son's Walter Victor birth certificate he was born in Surrey, England
1903 on his daughter's Hazel May's birth certificate he was born in Essex, England
1906 on his son's Lincoln James birth certificate he was born in Essex, England
1908 on his daughter's Charlotte Mary birth certificate he was born in Norfolk, England
1910 on his daughter's Alma Dudley birth certificate he was born in Norfolk, England

On all birth certificates the informant was Martha Todman, mother (& Walter's wife); although the place listed for the fathers (Walter's) birth is always different his age is always consistent with being born in 1866.

A second Walter Todman?
There is a Walter Todman who fathered a Walter Todman in 1890 in New South Wales Australia with a Jane Levey. This Walter Todman was born in Norfolk, England who was 25 years old at the time therefore being born c 1865. A possible match for my Walter. (note Walter and Jane were not married)

The address listed was 9 Bailey Street, Newtown

Pros as to why this might be the same person as my Walter Todman
* the potential birth date of both Walter's is almost the same
* Norfolk is listed as one of the possible birth places of our Walter and is listed as the birth place of this second Walter Todman
* He is also a blacksmith
[We have been unable to find the marriage or death of a Jane Levey or her son Walter Todman in N.S.W or Vic; perhaps Jane did marry or take some elses name and changed her son's name to that surname also?]

[Efforts to try and establish whether these two Walter Todman's are the same person
I have tried to locate the Walter Todman in NSW after/before 1892 particularly at 9 Bailey Street, Newtown. By following his movements I was hoping that we would be able to distinguish between the two Walter's if they weren't the same person
Records that we consulted while in NSW were:-
1. 1891 NSW Census - taken on 16th April 1891. 9 Bailey Street Newtown was uninhabited. This could indicate a number of things, that after Walter Todman son of Jane Levey and Walter Todman was born the couple moved from the house either together or separately.
2. Sydney Sands Postal Directory - 1888 - 1890 did not list a Walter Todman at any location. In 1890 the person living at 9 Bailey Street, Newtown was Miss Mary A Currey. This could mean that Miss Currey lived by herself or was incharge of a boarding house or ??. If the dwelling was a boarding house or similar Walter and/or Jane could have lived there as well. There were Todmans listed in the Directory including a George F Todman and in 1890 a Herman Todman, neither of these were living near Newtown.
3. In the Sands Directories: Sydney and New South Wales, Australia 1891 there was a Walter Todman listed at 9 Bailey Street, Newtown, New South Wales, Australia
3. Electoral Role 1889 - 1890 no Walter Todman listed. In 1889 a George Todman was listed (not mine as far as I can establish)]

A Jane Todman shows up on Sand and Macdougall directory in Coburg, Victoria in 1907 only. This may only be a coincidence - but if this was infact Jane Levy, her son Walter would have been about to turn 18 perhaps she had appeared to collect his share of his inheritance or something.

Cons
*why would you call a second son by the same name? i.e. Walter Victor Todman by the same name as your first son?

With a bit of luck someone can give me a clue on where I should head next or perhaps even have further information to help shed light on the mystery.

Sandra