MORRIS family search.

Hello

When did William arrive in Australia or if you don't know that, when did he marry?  This will put the upper limit on the date he left the UK.

There is a web site which has Passenger lists leaving UK 1890-1960 which may or may not include your relative. Unfortunately earlier departures are not recorded in the UK.

Have you found him on the census? In 1871 and 1881 he is likely to be living with his parents and any brothers and sisters so this will allow you to say who they were. Tracing the family forwards is not easy but you may be lucky.

Mike

The passenger list for the S S Aberdeen, arriving New South Wales, Australia on 13 Nov 1886 shows a William Morris, aged 19, a sawyer, native of Shropshire. No other members of his family were with him. Was this your William (and if so, can you tell us how you know that)? If it was, assuming the age and county of origin recorded are both correct (and that is by no means certain) we are looking for a William Morris born probably in 1867 or possibly late 1866, somewhere in Shropshire. Not quite a needle in a haystack, but there are several potential candidates to choose from.

An Ancestry member tree has the above record attached to William Morris, born 1867 in Clun, Shropshire, died 1953 in Parramatta, NSW. However, also attached are 3 England census records, two of which clearly do not relate to the William Morris in the passenger list. One of two from 1871 shows a William Morris born in Newton, Warwickshire, and one from 1881 shows a William Morris born in Middlesex (as were his parents). The only one which might conceivably relate to the William on the passenger list (and the William you are seeking) is from 1871 (Bishops Castle, Shropshire) showing a 4 year old William Morris born in Clun. His parents are William Morris (26, an agricultural labourer, born Lydbury North, Shropshire) and Ann (27, born Norton Linsey [= Norton Lindsey], Warwickshire). His siblings are Sarah F (6, born Ludlow, Shropshire), Mary (2, born Bishops Castle) and Elisabeth (9 months, born Bishops Castle). Piece 2731, folio 64, page 2.

If this census record does relate then we should be able to find William on the 1881 census, but not on any UK census returns after that, and there mustn't be a UK death or burial for him between 1881 and 1891 (the latter condition not being an easy one to demonstrate of course).

Unfortunately it appears that there was more than one William Morris born at Clun in the 1860s and as people did not necessarily know (or sometimes chose not to give) their correct age when the census enumerator came around, there is plenty of scope for mixing them up. However a likely match in 1881 is the 15 year old William Morris, born Clun, a servant (ag lab) in the household of Josiah (a farmer) and Elizabeth Jones at Hollies in the parish of More, Shropshire. Piece 2621, folio 21, page 4. Despite the age not quite matching this might well be the 33 year old William Morris, born Clun, who appears on the 1901 census in the parish of Bishops Castle, a waggoner on a farm, married to Elizabeth and with 6 month old daughter Agnes. If so, this particular William Morris is ruled out.

What information do you have showing that your William Morris was born in Clun by the way? Does that source (or any other sources you have) provide any other clues regarding William's origins / family in England? (Do you, for example, have his marriage or death certificates, or marriage / death notices from newspapers, or a copy of his will, if he left one, and if so do any of them say anything regarding parents, siblings or birthplace?) The more information you can provide, the greater the chances of getting results.

Steve

If your William Morris was the one who married Catherine Maud(e) Wholohan / Wholahan, had children named Catherine Hart Morris, Phyllis Maud Morris, Evelyn Maud Morris, William John Morris (died in infancy), William St Maryalan Morris and Ronald Canberra Morris, and (as per my previous post) died 1953 in Parramatta, NSW, then I have a possible alternative birthplace for him - Wrockwardine.

There is a tree at Ancestry which shows this William as being from Shropshire (no specific place of birth given), and naming his father as William Morris (no further details for him). This researcher has presumably also seen the passenger list I referred to in my previous post, and maybe also a marriage register entry / certificate naming the father. No reference is made to the source of this information, but let's accept for now that Wiiliam's father bore the same forename.

Yet another tree at Ancestry shows a family living at Wrockwardine, Shropshire, headed by William Morris / Moriss. The 1871 census shows the family at the Bell Inn, Wrockwardine (piece 2809, folio 23, page 40). William Moriss, 36, beer house keeper, born Wellington; wife Caroline, 35, born Dawley; children John (7, born Dawley), Mary A (5, born Wrockwardine), William (3, born Wrockwardine) and Martha (11 months, born Wrockwardine). Son William, at 3 years of age, would have been born in 1868 or (more likely) in 1867. The family are still at the Bell Inn ten years later in 1881 (piece 2681, folio 30, page 54). William Morris, widower, 45, beerhouse keeper; with children John (17, house builder's apprentice), Mary A (15), William (13) and Martha 10) (all shown as born at Wrockwardine). In this tree, William Morris senior and junior both disappear after the 1881 census, although some of the other children are traced further forward in time. (William senior may be the William Morris of the Shrewsbury Arms, Albrighton near Wolverhampton, who died 23 Nov 1889 according to the National Probate Calendar; the likely death registration for him, in the December quarter of 1889 at Shifnal, gives his age as 55 which would give a year of birth of about 1835.) So we have a William Morris from Shropshire, born 1867/8, father also named William, who vanishes after 1881 (I don't see a likely death registration for him in Shropshire between then and 1891, although of course he may have moved away). But why should he be the William Morris who went to Australia, married Catherine and had the children namd above?

Well, note the middle name of William and Catherine's first child: Hart. Keeping that in mind, let's look for the marriage of William Morris senior and his wife Caroline. The 1861 census gives us a clue to the timescale of that event (and helpfully, if we have the right family, also shows us William senior's parents). The family was at that time living in Madeley (piece 1858, folio 132, page 7). John Morris, 55, furnace man, born Wellington; wife Elizabeth, 54, born Wellington; son William, 26, furnace man, born Wellington; daughter-in-law Carroline Morris, 23, born Dawley; granddaughter Alice M, 3, born Dawley; grandson Henry, 4 months, born Madeley. So we're looking for a marriage around 1857, probably in Dawley or Wellington registration districts. FreeBMD shows a marriage registered in the latter district in the June quarter of 1858 (volume 6a, page 1333) and the four parties on that page of the register included a William Morris and a Caroline Hart. The birth of baby Alice Mary Morris was registered at Dawley in the December quarter of the same year and she was baptised at Dawley on 10 Oct 1858 (see FamilySearch), so it looks like her mother was already carrying her when she married William (not an unusual occurrence by any means).

I suspect that William Morris junior chose Hart as the middle name of his firstborn daughter in Australia because it was his mother's maiden surname. If I'm right, and if the family above is the one you are researching, then hopefully this helps you take things further. (And after all this, boy do I hope this is family you are researching!!)

Steve

PS - Catherine Hart Morris sadly died on her 21st birthday, see the Trove website for the newspaper report which names her father as Alderman Morris.

My research is similar to the William Morris already done here. Some new ideas though.... My grandfather was John Morris born 1873 St George's, England and died 1947 Liverpool Australia...  He was the oldest son of  William Morris,an orchardist of Shropshire. His mother is shown simply as Catherine Hart [not Catherine Morris or nee Hart] on his  1912 wedding certificate. It also shows both parents to be deceased. John was the oldest son, so the William Morris that died in Parramatta NSW in 1953 could have been a younger son. Several options show up in NSW BDM for William, Catherine and John. I am awaiting a death certificate that may have more detail.

I would like to reopen this dialogue with anybody interested. There are still gaps in the info.  William Morris was born Shropshire 1867 and travelled to NSW Australia and became Penrith Lord Mayor around 1920.      To recap some of the above He was married to Catherine Wholohan. When he died in 1953 he left issue; an Evelyn M age 50; a William S age 42; a Ronald C age 37 living and 3 females deceased. All were born in Australia.  His older siblings, all born in Shropshire were Alice1858, John 1860, and Mary A1866 ; and Martha 1871, a younger sister. His father was William Morris born Madely Shropshire around 1833 and mother was Catherine Hart. They married around 1856. William and John travelled to NSW Australia on the SS Abergeldie 24/08/1885 as single men, ages falsified. William was the Bell Inn hotel keeper and listed as a widower on the shipping records as at 1885 so Catherine's burial predates 1885. William died 22/12/1902.near Parramatta NSW. Catherine hart appears to be born 09/04/1828 at Bolton-Le-Moors to William and Mary Hart.  Now William/1867 did not know who his mother or father were [NSW BDM 1953/017801],  John/1860 's widow shows the parents as William Morris and Catherine Hart. [NSW BDM 1947/022274] HOWEVER William/1833 death certificate states that he married a Caroline Hart [NSW BDM 1902/015431] That's as much as I have for now. If anyone can fill the gaps or correct wrongs please do so. Willian/1833 was my great grandfather, John/1860 was my grandfather.

Hi there all you looking for Morris W,  I'm new to the family tree trail,  my G father W Morris Born Craven Arms, his father W Morris born Ford  His father John Morris as was his son a John all in the Shrewsbury/ Shropshire area. Little wonder I'm having problems. For a short time I though it was the same family. good luck on your search.        Shirley Morris.

Hi Shirley, GR8 name, I am in  Queensland Australia. I think the hardest part of tree building is to get a rock solid foundation. No guessing, or wishing or hoping when results 'sound' to good to be true. When trying to start my Morris search it was a nightmare. Ever so slowly it started to make sense. There are a multitude of William and John Morris's to choose from. Some sign with an 'X' and many translaters get it wrong. An english woman saying Hannah gets recorded as Anna and the typo gets it as Eannah. Even my Catherine Morris search brought up Katie, Katherine, Caroline and Carroline, all in Shropshire. Good luck!  JohnM

The following is an fairly accurate account of the prior research

Re: The MORRIS family of Madeley (piece 1858, folio 132, page 7). 1861
John Morris, 55, furnace man, b: Wellington; ; [ John was my great great grandfather]
wife Elizabeth, 54, born Wellington
son William, 26, furnace man, b: Wellington [1835-1902];
daughter-in-law Carroline Morris [Nee Hart], 23, born Dawley[1836-1880];
granddaughter Alice M, 3, born Dawley; grandson Henry, 4 months, born Madeley.

Re: The MORRIS family of St Georges, Telford.
William [Snr] Morris, Innkeeper: Bell, Gower St. ,[ Wlm Snr was my great grandfather]
Caroline Morris [Nee Hart] Wife, [1836-1880 Shropshire Eng.] Caroline was my great grandmother]
FreeBMD shows a marriage registered in Wellington in the June quarter of 1858 (volume 6a, page 1333).
Parties of the register include William Morris and Caroline Hart
Children Alice, Henry, John, Mary, William Jnr, Martha [most were born Wrockwardine]
Wlm Snr & son John came aboard the SS Abergeldie 1885 as single men to NSW Aust.[ d:1902/Parramatta NSW & d:1947/Liverpool NSW]
Wlm Jnr travelled alone aboard SS Aberdeen 1886 to NSW Australia.[d:1953 Parramatta NSW]

Hello, Are you able to assist in my search. You [Michael J Hulme & Atcherley.org.uk] did an excellent job for Chipmonk 18/08/2012 who would be a cousin of mine. BUT he got it wrong and shows his 2gfather as Wlm from Clun.instead of Wlm from the BELL INN Gower St. I am anxious to know how William Snr. as a furnace man could buy the BELL Inn in Gower St. Telford. He sold it in 1884 and moved to NSW 1885 where he bought and managed an orchard until his death at age 69 in 1902. Concurrently in Shropshire 1840/1880 there were three other licenced victualers/innkeepers named MORRIS,[ possibly relatives???] I also see there are currently a lot of our relatives living in the Telford area. My next question is, How long have the Morris family been in Shropshire? Is it possible that they came from Ireland or Scotland prior to or around 1800? I find it hard to find a positive link into the next generation [or two] to John 1805 of Madeley whom you refer to. Any directives at all would be appreciated as I don't mind doing the hard slog. Kind Regards, John

My great grand father was William Morris I believe from Bishop's Castle. His son Henry was my grandfather and he said he was born in Bishop's Castle around 1874. He was married in Australia in 1913. I don't know when he came to Australia or whether he came with William. I have no birth or immigration certificates. This is probably not the William you are talking about - though could be a sibling. I have Henry Armine Morris's marriage certificate from Port Adelaide 1913 stating that he was born in Bishop's Castle and his father's name was William Morris.

How long have the Morris family been in Clun, was one question in your text.

I can confirm a marriage at Clun in June 1766 between John Luther and Martha Morris.

The following is from memory, as I dont have my records with me, the Morris family held land in the Shadwell Hundred, and a Large property at Clun that still has a plaque outside dated 169?.

Dave.

Hey John, my great grandfather is William MORRIS he was the lord mayor of St Mary's, he married Catherine Maud WHOLOHAN, they are both buried in the St Mary's cemetery along with his 2 daughters and my grandfather.