The problem of Walter Todman's real Identity

+5 votes
153 views

The earliest I have been able to locate 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.)

WikiTree profile: Walter Todman
in Genealogy Help by Sandra Williamson G2G6 Mach 3 (30.6k points)

1 Answer

+1 vote
Mary Ann Ramsey Todman married Charles Willoughby in 1854. Charles was a police constable.

In 1861, Mary Ann was living with her mother Charlotte in Bermondsey, with two children:
Charlotte Todman    59 (born Kirby, Essex)
Mary A Willoughby    25
Mary A Willoughby    6
Charles S Willoughby    11/12

In 1871, this is now the family unit living in Deptford:
Charles Willoughby    38
Mary Ann Willoughby    35
Charles J Willoughby    10
Annie M Willoughby    9
Charlotte E Willoughby    7
James L T Willoughby    5
Eliza B J Willoughby    1

By 1881, the family was living in Poplar:

Charles Willoughby    48
Mary A.R. Willoughby    46
Charles J. Willoughby    20
Annie M. Willoughby    19
Charlotte E. Willoughby    17
James L.T. Willoughby    15
Eliza B.J. Willoughby    11
George L.M. Willoughby    9
Alice J. Willoughby    7
Katherine B. Willoughby    4
Charlotte Todman    79

No Walter Todmanin either 1871 & 1881, or indeed any trace of him nor Grandmother Charlotte in 1871.

A birth Walter B Willoughby was registered March 1866, Bethnall Green, died in the new year & a Walter Todman in March 1866, Greenwich, the latter is evident in UK Census through to 1911.
by Living Woodhouse G2G6 Pilot (280k points)

I have looked at the census’.  Since he may have changed his name I have attempted to research the following combinations – Walter Todman, Walter Willoughby, James Todman & James Willoughby. 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 I was able to narrow the candidates down to 2 that met the criteria best, well at least until someone can find otherwise and they were:-

  • 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

I will have to try to kill them off I suppose the one who survives might be the one who came to Australia.  I’ve found a James Willoughby coming into Australia in 1885 but not a Walter Todman...... – will keep chipping away at the wall.  I’d like to claim James Willoughby but don’t feel that I’ve closed all the gaping holes yet, and if he did change his name after he got to Australia rather than on the way over it makes me wonder if something happened ... Lots of things to ponder!

Thanks for your interest it’s nice to share with people who are actually interested!

I would be inclined to research the cousins of Mary Ann Ramsay Todman, as my guess is Walter Todman's father was a member of the Todman family.

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