William Tufnell Lequeux x 2

[ElizabethHerts]

I'm helping a family member with his tree.

We have the Henson family from Kings Cliffe in Northamptonshire.

Henrietta Maria Henson married William Tufnell Lequeux in June qr 1859 at St George's Southwark.

In the censuses William doesn't appear to have much idea of when or where he was born! Can anyone find anything about him prior to his marriage?

William and Henrietta had two sons - William Tufnell Lequeux, who was a famous writer, and Frederick Henson Tufnell.
Frederick married twice.

[Jackie H]

Do you have the marriage cert? Its on Ancestry

http://search.ancestry.co.uk/iexec?htx=View&r=5538&dbid=1623&iid=31280_197623-00120&fn=Henerietta+Maria&ln=Henson&st=r&ssrc=&pid=6883087

April 22 1959. Unfortunately it says in the margin against his name "neither father nor mother known"

[ElizabethHerts]

Many thanks, Jackie! I looked for it but couldn't find it.

I wonder where he got his names from?

[Jackie H]

Its strange isn't it. What's the earliest sighting you have of him?

[ElizabethHerts]

His marriage! I can't find him at all before that.
He could have been born in France, but William and Tufnell are English. The William could be anglicised, but Tufnell is definitely English. OH has Tufnells in his tree.

[Jackie H]

He doesn't seem to know his age either - not even a guess! If someone was a foundling, how would they be named?

[ElizabethHerts]

Perhaps he was a foundling from Tufnell Park.:D

How would you invent a name like Le Queux??

[Merry]

Wikipedia thinks he is French. It also says his author son was educated there.

If Wm senr was a foundling then his name might have come from the person who found him!

[Jackie H]

I wonder whether this is him in 1841 - no way of knowing really without any other details

http://search.ancestry.co.uk/Browse/view.aspx?dbid=8978&path=Norfolk.Downham+Market.ALL.3.13&sid=&gskw=William+Legueux

[bcbrit]

I wondered if it was a variation of Lacroix ?

bcbrit

[Janet]

More likely Legueux, I think. I'm too far gone to research it tonight, but there is apparently some social history attached to the appelation(s) Le Gueux, Legueux, Les Gueux. If you Google you'll see. Perhaps it was simply true that he had no idea who either of his parents was, nor even how to really spell his own name. The substitution of q for g is a natural shift. We see it often here with Hispanic names such as Rodriguez where they shift to Rodriquez. My reading of both those images is Legueux, actually, and that is how Ancestry has transcribed the name on the school roll.

[ElizabethHerts]

Well, William Tufnell Le Queux junior seems to have had a good education. I'm not sure how a draper's assistant afforded it. His mother was the daughter of a Northamptonshire clock/watchmaker.

William senior left a will in 1890 - it might give more details.

Name: William Lequeux
Probate date: 10 Dec 1890
Death date: 16 Nov 1890
Death place: Surrey, England
Registry: Principal Registry

LEQUEUX William
Personal Estate £1,110 12s 6d
10 December. The Will of William Lequeux formerly of 175 Boyson-road Walworth but late of 14 Croydon-road Penge both in the County of Surrey Linendraper’s Assistant who died 16 November at 14 Croydon-road was proved at the Principal Registry by William Burney Vince of 88 Vestry-road Camberwell in the said County and Thomas Griffiths of 27 Tibberton-square Essex-road Islington in the County of Middlesex Draper’s Assistants the Executors.

[ElizabethHerts]

Lequeux in its own right is a French surname. A Jacob Lequeux came to England as a church minister.

[PatrickC]

Hi

I found this post through a Google search. I think I can add a little to the mystery, though not much by way of answers actually - and maybe it's just adding further mystery!

I am researching the Howes family, one of whom is Benjamin Howes who was a draper and had a shop at 60 Fleet Street, London.

In the 1851 census - which is very indistinct and very poorly transcribed on Ancestry but a bit better on Findmypast - your man William Legueux/Lequeux is there, as a shopman:
http://interactive.ancestry.co.uk/8860/MDXHO107_1527_1527-0139/2930202?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.co.uk %2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3frank%3d1%26new%3d1%26MSAV%3d1%26ms T%3d1%26gss%3dangs-c%26gsfn%3dWilliam%26gsln%3dHart%26msbdy%3d1827%26 msbpn__ftp%3dIslington%252c%2bMiddlesex%252c%2bEng land%26msbpn%3d85855%26msbpn_PInfo%3d8-%257c0%257c0%257c3257%257c3251%257c0%257c0%257c0%2 57c5275%257c85855%257c0%257c%26msrpn__ftp%3dFarrin gdon%252c%2bMiddlesex%252c%2bEngland%26msrpn%3d167 1130%26msrpn_PInfo%3d8-%257c0%257c0%257c3257%257c3251%257c0%257c0%257c0%2 57c5275%257c1671130%257c0%257c%26cpxt%3d1%26uidh%3 dnw6%26msbdp%3d1%26cp%3d11%26pcat%3dCEN_1850%26h%3 d2930202%26recoff%3d9%2b21%2b22%26db%3duki1851%26i ndiv%3d1&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnRecord#?imageId=MDXHO107_1527_1527-0139

short link http://bit.ly/14lMcz0

(I have added some corrections to the Ancestry transcriptions)

Why I am sure it is him is that Benjamin Howes was born and grew up in Kings Cliffe, so there's the link to the Henson family, plus the drapery link. In fact his aunt Elizabeth Howes married Matthew Henson; I've started to assemble the Henson family tree but there are lots of them so it will take a while.

I was curious about why Benjamin should be employing a Frenchman (or a Brit with a French name and born in Paris)!

There are Legueux and Lequeux families in/around Paris, but I don't have an international Ancestry subscription so I haven't been able to do much there. My hunch is that he was the illegitimate son of a well-to-do Parisian. His mother may have died perinatally and his father (or his father's family!) decided to send him off to an obscure school in England, which they paid for, to give him a fighting chance, but didn't want any contact.

OK that's all pure conjecture, but it does fit the facts as far as we know them.

I was looking for his future, and I had not found the Lequeux marriage, so I am extremely grateful to you all. I had found the 1841 school entry and made the connection - I'm sure that's him.

The 1851 census gives William's place of birth as 'Paris (British Sub).

I will try to find out if any of the pupils at the school were from Kings Cliffe; I will post back here if I find anything further.

The name Tufnell is a family name, so it is quite likely that William's mother was a Tufnell. I wonder if it is to do with this upper class family:
http://interactive.ancestry.co.uk/6632/6632-2-58-0192/532?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.co.uk%2fc gi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fgst%3d-6&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults&rc=1128,603,1253,636;1050,686,1174,718;758,2308,89 0,2340#?imageId=6632-2-58-0190

Short link http://bit.ly/149HHuJ

Did you notice that one of the witnesses at his wedding in 1859 was Charles Goodrick, who was the son of the schoolmaster in Downham Market? He is listed as Brutus Goodrick in the 1841 Census, but his full name was Charles Brutus Godrick:
http://www.goodrick.net/fam51.html

I will continue my efforts to get further.

Patrick Cunningham

[PatrickC]

I just noticed another tie back to the school. One of the executors of his will is William Burney Vince; there was a Robert Vince, aged 4 yrs, at the school in the 1841 census. It seems a school where friends were made for life!

Patrick

[ElizabethHerts]

Welcome, Patrick, and many thanks for your contribution.

I shall have to revisit this research because it's not on my tree, but a separate one for my relative.

I'll get back to you later (today, hopefully) when I have looked at what I have.

[PatrickC]

I found them in the 1861 census!
http://interactive.ancestry.co.uk/8767/BRKRG9_794_798-0931/10990989?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.co.u k%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3frank%3d1%26new%3d1%26MSAV%3d1%26ms T%3d1%26gss%3dangs-c%26gsfn%3dHenrietta%26msbdy%3d1837%26msbpn__ftp%3 dKings%2bCliffe%252c%2bNorthamptonshire%252c%2bEng land%26msbpn%3d86350%26msbpn_PInfo%3d8-%257c0%257c0%257c3257%257c3251%257c0%257c0%257c0%2 57c5277%257c86350%257c0%257c%26msrpn__ftp%3dSouthw ark%252c%2bSurrey%252c%2bEngland%26msrpn%3d87786%2 6msrpn_PInfo%3d8-%257c0%257c0%257c3257%257c3251%257c0%257c0%257c0%2 57c5286%257c87786%257c0%257c%26cpxt%3d1%26uidh%3dn w6%26msbdp%3d1%26cp%3d11%26mssng0%3dWilliam%26pcat %3dCEN_1860%26h%3d10990989%26db%3duki1861%26indiv% 3d1&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnRecord

[ElizabethHerts]

Hi Patrick, I'm pasting some of my research:



1841 Census
OUNDLE, Northamptonshire
HO107 piece 812 folio 8/11 page 14
West Street, Kings Cliffe
Thomas Henson 30 Watch Maker Y (born in county)
Louisa Henson 25 Y (born in county)
Joseph Henson 5 Y
Louisa Henson 7 Y
Henery Henson 3 Y (This is Henrietta)
Mary Henson 1 Y

1851 Census
HENSON, Joseph
OUNDLE, Northamptonshire
HO107 piece 1746 folio 361 page 40
Travellers Rest, Kings Cliffe
Thomas Henson Head Mar 45 Watch and Clock Maker Northants
Stanion
Louisa Wife Mar 39 do Wife Northants Morton Pinkney
Gilks Son Un 19 Watch maker Northants Cliffe
Joseph Son Un 15 Bell hanger Northants Cliffe
Heneretta Daur 13 Scholar Northants Cliffe
Ann Daur 11 Scholar Northants Cliffe
Emily Daur 5 Scholar Northants Cliffe
Thomas Son 3 Northants Cliffe
George Son 1 Northants Cliffe




1861 Census
EDMONTON, Middlesex
RG09 piece 798 folio 45 page 43
Chase Side, Enfield
William Lequeux Lodger Married NK (age) Linen Draper NK
Henrietta Lequeux Wife Married 23 Northampton Kings Cliffe
Thomas Henson Br in law Unmarried 13 Scholar Northampton
Kings Cliffe

1871 Census
ST SAVIOUR SOUTHWARK, London, Surrey
RG10 piece 623 folio 95 page 10
Wansey Street, Newington
William Lequeux Head Married 41 Linen Draper Assistant NK
Henrietta Maria Wife Married 33 Northamptonshire Kings Cliffe
William Lequeux Son 6 Surrey Southwark
June Baldwin Servant Unm 18 General Servant Northants Kings Cliffe
John Osd Gardner Lodger Unm 29 Civil Engineer Newcastle on Tyne
Frederick G Henson Lodger Unm 21 Warehouse Clerk Kings Cliffe
Thomas Nash Lodger Unm 21 Merchants Clerk Somerset Bristol


1881 Census
ST SAVIOUR SOUTHWARK, London, Surrey
RG11 piece 542 folio 47 page 4
175, Boyson Rd, Newington
William Lequeux Head Mar 50 Draper’s Assistant Unknown
Henrietta M Lequeux Wife Mar 43 Kings Cliffe Northamptonshire
Frederick H Lequeux Son 7 Scholar Surrey Newington

Henrietta Maria Lequeux died in Jun qr 1883.

Name: LEQUEUX, Henrietta Maria
Registration district: St. Saviour Southwark
County: London
Year of registration: 1883
Quarter of registration: Apr-May-Jun
Age at death: 45
Volume no: 1D
Page no: 88

William Lequeux died in Dec qr. 1890.

Name: LEQUEUX, William
Registration district: Croydon
County: Surrey
Year of registration: 1890
Quarter of registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
Age at death: 67
Volume no: 2A
Page no: 156

Name: William Lequeux
Probate date: 10 Dec 1890
Death date: 16 Nov 1890
Death place: Surrey, England
Registry: Principal Registry

LEQUEUX William
Personal Estate £1,110 12s 6d
10 December. The Will of William Lequeux formerly of 175 Boyson-road Walworth but late of 14 Croydon-road Penge both in the County of Surrey Linendraper’s Assistant who died 16 November at 14 Croydon-road was proved at the Principal Registry by William Burney Vince of 88 Vestry-road Camberwell in the said County and Thomas Griffiths of 27 Tibberton-square Essex-road Islington in the County of Middlesex Draper’s Assistants the Executors.


"Mrs LeQuenx’s son, William LeQuenx, was quite famous as a writer of mystery stories. He also wrote ‘The Invasion of 1910’ in which he saw Germany was planning to overthrow England." (written by a family member)

William Tufnell LeQueux
Name: LEQUEUX, William Tuprell (Tufnell)
Registration district: St. George Southwark
County: London
Year of registration: 1864
Quarter of registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
Volume no: 1D
Page no: 113

Frederick Henson LeQueux
Name: LEQUEUX, Frederick Henson
Registration district: St. Saviour Southwark
County: London
Year of registration: 1873
Quarter of registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
Volume no: 1D
Page no: 169

[ElizabethHerts]

The Tuffnell link fascinates me as my OH has Tuffnall/Tuffnell ancestors.

[Margaret in Burton]

Any relation to Phil Tufnell the cricketer? :D

[ElizabethHerts]

I told my m-i-l that she had Tuffnall ancestors and she was adamant she didn't want to be related to Phil Tufnell!

[Anstey Nomad]

Whyever not? Gotta love Tuffers x

AN

[kiterunner]

Please bear in mind that we don't do trees of living celebrities on this site unless they have already made their tree public, e.g. on Who Do You Think You Are or in the papers etc.

[ElizabethHerts]

I like Tuffers too. I love question of sport. We don't take too much notice.

[Merry]

I told my m-i-l that she had Tuffnall ancestors and she was adamant she didn't want to be related to Phil Tufnell!

Like she can choose whether to be or not! lol

[ElizabethHerts]

Like she can choose whether to be or not! lol

:D:D

[Jean LW LeQueux]

Hello Elisabeth,

This is to tell you that I've integrated your research on WTL's family in England. I found the traces of his grand father and rear grand father. Here's the URL (of course, I mentionned you as the Genealogist for the English branches):

https://gw.geneanet.org/rtjlwl?lang=fr&n=lequeux&oc=0&p=william+tufnell&type=tree

Another important new input for WTL: he was from a very old French Family rooting in the medieval times.

WTL and I, we're on branches of the same Family tree leading to Guillaume LEQUEUX, Sergeant of Arms of King Richard Lionheart. Guillaume is the French version of William... In fact, after King Richard's death, Guillaume LEQUEUXmade allegiance to the King of France (actually, he was vassal of both kings: the King of France and the King of England).

Just follow our tree from here:

https://gw.geneanet.org/rtjlwl?i=2&lang=fr&n=weltram+lequeux&oc=0&p=jean+iv+louis&type=tree

Just click on my SOSA LEQUEUX to reach Guillaume LEQUEUX (born in 1090). He is my direct ancester (and probably WTL's as well).

JLW, LEQUEUX

[ElizabethHerts]

Thank you for posting, Jean, and for sharing your research with me. I'll study it in detail when I have time. It is interesting to learn of William's ancestry. I will tell my friend of your research as the Hensons are in his tree and he has a letter which mentions the LeQueux family.

Please would you note that William's wife's name was HENRIETTA MARIA HENSON and change it on your tree. She was incorrectly transcribed as HENERY on one of the censuses. Henry, of course, is a male name.

[ElizabethHerts]

Jean, please could you tell me how you know that William Tufnell Le Queux is the son of Pierre Urbain and Marie Lequeux? Have you a baptismal record or any other proof, such as a will?

When did Pierre and Marie die, and why did William not know his parents?

His marriage was 22nd April 1859 at St Mary Magdalene church in the parish of St George the Martyr, Southwark, London (to Henrietta Maria Henson). See #2 of this thread.

On the certificate it states William didn't know who his parents were. Perhaps he was the illegitimate son of a male Lequeux (Pierre Urbain??) before/after his marriage?