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Orphan Number: 5741
Orphan: Thomas WILLIS
Mother:MOORE, Ellen
Father:WILLIS, Henry
Mother's ship:
Father's ship:
Age when admitted:12yrs
Date admitted:1866
Date discharged:7 Aug 1866
Institution(s):Queens Orphan School
Discharged to: Rev Thomas Dove, Swanport
Remarks:
References: SWD32/1


This orphan has been claimed by: David Edwards

Biography of Thomas WILLIS

Thomas WILLIS was born on 3 June 1854. His parents were convicts Henry WILLIS and Ellen WILLIS nee MOORE. He was baptised on 6 August 1854 at St David's, Hobart Town.

Henry WILLIS was listed on the baptism registry as living in Bathurst Street and his occupation was given as “Mariner”. Henry had arrived in Van Diemen's Land aged 20 on the ship “Lady Raffles”. He received permission to marry Ellen MOORE on 31 January 1848, and they were married on 10 April 1848 in Bethesda Church in the district of St George's.

Ellen MOORE arrived in Van Diemen's Land on the 3rd convict voyage of the ship “Lloyds” on 7 November 1845 aged 22.

Henry WILLIS died on 19 September 1854. The cause of death was stated as “Accidentally drowned when in a state of intoxication”. An inquest held on 25 September 1854 confirmed this.

Ellen WILLIS nee MOORE was left with 5 children:

      one unnamed illegitimate child on 26 February 1847

      a girl Ellen WILLIS Jnr born on 10 January 1850

      a girl Eliza WILLIS born on 6 April 1851

      a boy Cornelius John WILLIS born on 29 June 1852

      a boy Thomas WILLIS born on 3 June 1854.

Thomas WILLIS was admitted to the Queen's Orphan School aged 12 in 1866, and apprenticed to the Rev'd Thomas DOVE of Swansea on 7 August 1866.

Ellen WILLIS Jnr, a spinster aged 47, died in Bathurst Street on 24 October 1897.

Daniel MOORE, a convict who arrived in Van Diemen's Land on the ship “Canton” on 12 January 1840, is the brother of Ellen WILLIS nee MOORE, and my great great grandfather, so Thomas WILLIS is my first cousin 3 times removed.

David Edwards 29 May 2016



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