My Italian ancestor was my paternal grandmother's father, who died aged 38 or so in 1918 as a result of mustard gas in WW1. So, born about 1880 - where? His family lived at somewhere apparently called Waterdawn (sic) Manor in or around Purley, Surrey. The family came from Naples, possibly Casserta. He eloped with my greatgrandmother - Sarah Emilia ? (who's own mother was Spanish) who was a maid and was disinherited by his family. My Grandmother was taken as small child to visit her aunts - so, siblings and descendants? He was subsequently known as Francis John Villas. We now think this may have been because the Vicar who married them couldn't spell Villiers (which doesn't sound Italian - perhaps someone could enlighten me?) I initially thought it may have been an anglicisation. I know that Francis and Sarah were very poor and my Grandmother was born in Peabody Buildings (the charitable housing trust), and on her marriage certificate (1926) he's noted as a Builder (dec'd). The family by then were living in Bevenden Street, London. If this rings any bells with anyone, please let me know. Many thanks and best wishes to you all with your research. Hille Cook

At 15:04 27/04/2002 -0400, Hille Cook wrote : >My Italian ancestor was my paternal grandmother's father, who died aged 38 >or so in 1918 as a result of mustard gas in WW1. So, born about 1880 - where? > >His family lived at somewhere apparently called Waterdawn (sic) Manor in >or around Purley, Surrey. The family came from Naples, possibly Casserta. > >He eloped with my greatgrandmother - Sarah Emilia ? (who's own mother >was Spanish) who was a maid and was disinherited by his family. My >Grandmother was taken as small child to visit her aunts - so, siblings >and descendants? > >He was subsequently known as Francis John Villas. We now think this may >have been because the Vicar who married them couldn't spell Villiers >(which doesn't sound Italian - perhaps someone could enlighten me?) I >initially thought it may have been an anglicisation. >. >Hille Cook Hello, I don't know but Villiers, if the name is correct, seems French... For the rest, I don't have any other explanation, Pierre Marie