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I can fill this bit in...at some point my great grandmother married and Alexander Morrison and they then double barrelled their names becoming Morrison-Wells. I understand that he was a cotton trader and she went to live in South Africa with him. I don't know if she met him in England and then they moved to South Africa or if she went out there. Given her station in life, I would expect she met him in England. I have a record of my grandfather, Leslie Norman going to South Africa in 1952, so presumably this was to visit her or whatever. Perhaps she died then, I don't know.

PM - have asked Sharon to put all replies on here.

Sharon, have you checked to see if Arthur Aldis made a will?

'Hello Jan - my mother and uncle have always talked about Mr Aldis (their grandfather). My uncle Leslie was born in Wymondham in 1921 and lived there until he was three years old and I hav a photo of him in an expensive looking miniature car at about that time. It seems that there is only one Mr Aldis on the 1901 Census from Wymondham. Obviously, I'm keen to check that this is correct, but believe he's the most likely candidate and I was always told that he had no other children which is why he acknowledged his illegitimate son (my grandfather Leslie Norman Wells). It also looks as though he did indeed have no other children. '

Jan

Jonesey's thread re wills:

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards/board/genealogy_chat/thread/1259939

This might be Arthur's death:

Name: Arthur E Aldis
Birth Date: abt 1864
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1930
Age at Death: 66
Registration district: Norwich
Inferred County: Norfolk
Volume: 4b
Page: 123

ADDED there are a few probate records for Arthur Aldis, one for an Arthur Edward though not till 1936. I don't have high enough level of Ancestry membership to view this, maybe someone else can have a look.

Jan

Have you tried contacting the Ancestry members who have Arthur in their tree?
Jan

I'm now a bit confused. I don't understand the association of Arthur E Aldis to Kimberley Hall when Chris has said it was owned by John Kimberley (which makes sense). He obviously wasn't the caretaker as he was a fruit grower and I have one census which lists him as an "employer" - think it's the 1911 one.

Any suggestions?

Harriet of course was not married to Arthur Aldis, she was his maid.

Hello - yes, Arthur Edward Aldis (he died on 15 Jan 1956) did make a will. Probate was granted on 16 April 1956.

Actually, having just looked at the record, I'm not sure it's the same man. He's left his estate to a Doris Joan Bale (married woman it states). It also says that he lived in Framingham Pigot, Norfolk, so will have to check if it's the same person or not. Also, he only left about £2k so either he lost a lot of money towards the end of his life,as I assume being an employer and fruit grower he was worth a bit or?

But Arthur E. Aldis died 1930?

This is Doris I imagine:

Births Jun 1921 (>99%)
Aldis Doris J Abgbott Henstead 4b 348 (MMN Abbott on image)

Marriages Jun 1943 (>99%)
Aldis Doris J Bale Norwich Outer 4b 193
Bale Archie G Aldis Norwich Outer 4b 193

I believe you are right about the will. This must be the Arthur who left money to Doris, who is presumably his daughter:

Births Mar 1893 (>99%)
Aldis Arthur Edward Henstead 4b 210

Marriages Mar 1920 (>99%)
Abbott Agnes I Aldis Henstead 4b 385
Aldis Arthur E Abbott Henstead 4b 385

This is much more likely to be the Arthur we are looking at:

Deaths Sep 1930 (>99%)
Aldis Arthur E 66 Norwich 4b 123 Scan available - click to view

Jan

Sharon, can we just re-group a bit? As far as I can tell, the family story is that your grandfather was the son of a Mr. 'Aldis' - or similar!
From that you seem to have focused on this Arthur Edward Aldis but with no real evidence that he is linked in any way. Or have I missed something??
You say 'Harriet of course was not married to Arthur Aldis, she was his maid' - but where did the first name of Arthur come from?
Without a name on a birth cert you will be very lucky to identify your great-grandfather.
Jan

('nods' head here at Jan, family stories can be very misleading!, without proof of Father, not sure you can ever prove anything concrete!)

Chris :)

I know Chris - think I got a bit swept up in the flow there for a bit!
The only other thing I can suggest is to check out any probate records for Aldis Norfolk - if he acknowledged your grandfather he might have included him in a will. This would give you the proof you need.
Jan

Just done a google search...(arthur edward aldis wymondham) looks to be Bankruptcy Notice 1926?...

Chris :)

From new thread: http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards/board/ancestors/thread/1324475

"Hi - I've been researching my grandfather Leslie Norman Wells, born in Wymondham, Norfolk in 1899 (I have his birth certificate). His mother was Harriet Laura Wells also born in Wymondham, Norfolk in 1878 (parents George and Hannah Wells). My grandfather was illegitimate. At some point Harriet married an Alexander Morrison and they started calling themselves Mr and Mrs Morrison-Wells. I understand that they went to live in South Africa but I'm interested in finding details about their marriage as this will tell me whether my grandfather was education in England or abroad. Any help would be much appreciated."

Sharon, have you any idea where/when Alexander Morrison was born? (Might help with immigration records).

This looks like Alexander heading off to South Africa:

UK, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960

Name: Alexander Morrison
Gender: Male
Age: 40
Birth Date: abt 1883
Departure Date: 15 Oct 1923
Port of Departure: London, England
Destination Port: Cape Town, South Africa
Ship Name: Borda
Shipping Line: P & O Branch Service
Official Number: 135340
Master: Captain R Holland

His last country of permanent residence was England and his address had been c/o Kimberley Street, Wymondham, Norfolk. His occupation was farming. He intended to stay in South Africa.

(Perhaps Laura was to follow?)

This looks like him going back to South Africa with Harriet Laura:

UK, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960

Name: Mr A Morrison
Gender: Male
Age: 42
Birth Date: abt 1882
Departure Date: 28 Feb 1924
Port of Departure: London, England
Destination Port: Cape Town, South Africa
Ship Name: Grantully Castle
Shipping Line: Union-Castle Mail S S Co Ltd
Official Number: 129058
Master: J A Kerbey

He's travelling with a Mrs H L Morrison.

His contact in the UK was Mrs Wymer, Kimberley Street, Wymondham.

I've been trying to further investigate my great grandfather Arthur Edward Aldis. I realise that I was so carried away with all of the information you all so kindly provided above (ages ago now) that I never answered how I knew that he was my great grandfather. I knew because my uncle was born in Wymondham and my grandfather and grandmother lived there for a while. As such, my uncle was familiar with him, having met him and later on, my aunt met him too (she's still alive and remembers Arthur Edward Aldis well).

He was declared bankrupt in 1926 but I'm still confused about what happened to him after that and when he died. His wife was definitely Eliza Nobbs and they lived in Northfields, Wymondham in 1926. Any more help on when and where he died would be much appreciated (sorry, have been looking at other strands of my family in the interim). With best wishes, Sharon