Monday, September 17, 2007

Ellen Levy (alias Villiers)

This information relates to Chart 39, the descendants of Thomas Pask, (1766 - b1851), who lived in St. Pancras.

This morning we received a very interesting e-mail from William de Villiers, who lives in South Africa, about Ellen Levy (alias) Villiers. Coincidental, she was the mother of James Morton Pask - See the previous blog John Morton Pask - Ashantee Medal for Sale.

William saw a reference to Ellen Levy (alias Villiers) on our website, and it fired his imagination and plunged him into hours of work at his computer keyboard researching Ellen's father. He found:

Isaac LEVY (alias Isaac VILLIERS or John VILLIERS) was born in about 1788. He was married [date unknown] to Mary COLLIER (who was born in Hornsey, Middlesex in about 1789).

Isaac ran into financial difficulties in the 1820’s and was sued and committed for debt – being described in the legal documents as Isaac Levy “(commonly called Isaac Villiers, sued and committed as Isaac Villiers), late of Golden-Square, Middlesex, afterwards of Sackville-Place, Lambeth, Surrey (carrying on business in Partnership with William Court, as Tailors, under the firm of Villiers and Court), then of Glbson-Street, Waterloo-Road, Surrey, then of Isabella-Street, Waterloo-Road aforesaid, then of New-Street, Waterloo-Road aforesaid, Comedian, and carrying on business, on his separate account, as a Tailor”.

When the national census was taken in June 1841 he was described as “Isaac Villiers”, a tailor, living in Arlington Street in London with his wife, five children and two sempstresses.

When the census was taken again in April 1861 he was described as “John Villiers”, a 73 year old tailor, living at No. 25, Clarence Street, Islington St Mary in London with his wife and eldest daughter.

He died in 1863.

In addition, William has provided very detailed information - with sources. This information will be included in the next website update, that is imminent.

We were also very intrigued by the change of name. Now thanks to William, the mystery is solved.