Who is William/Philip William Tracey?

[Merry]

I did look for Strong/Thomas births 1866-1870, but there were none in London/Surrey/Sussex.

[Phoenix]

Mary's early life a mystery too: I cannot find a marriage for her parents, nor what happens to mother Phillipa...

Have to go out, just when it's getting fascinating!

[Sussex Maid]

Harry's Mum/Merry and Phoenix - thank you for looking at this for me and for confirming what I have found.
I came to Mr Tracey, through the Strong family, when I couldn't find any birth registrations for the 'supposed' Strong/Thomas daughters of Mary Jane.
Phoenix - where did you find Mary in 1841 please? I have only been able to find her in 1861 and 1881.

[Phoenix]

I found the baptism of a Mary Jane on Find My Past, and her living with her mother in Plymouth in 1841. I'll see if I can locate it on Ancestry...

[kiterunner]

1860 Post Office London Suburban Court Directory:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interacti...=successSource

Tracey Philip William, 5 Merton Villas, Cambrian Road, Richmond.

Also in the Street Directory of the same year with an "esq".
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interacti...=successSource

[Sussex Maid]

I think I have found the 1841 census - Union Street Plymouth; Philippa Thomas, 30 is the mineralogist with Mary Thomas age 5. I don't have a sub to FMP but assume the baptism is 1833 at St Andrew Plymouth father William mother Philippa - does the register give the occupation of William as mineralogist?
KiteRunner - Thank you for the directory entries, at least I know that there was a person called Philip William Tracey :-)

[Merry]

does the register give the occupation of William as mineralogist?

I looked at that earlier and I think it said mineral dealer.

[Phoenix]

When Mary marries, by licence, she is living in Lewisham, Kent and gives father William as a gentleman. Presumably the girls did not attend the wedding?

[Merry]

Where did you see the marriage, Phoenix?

[Phoenix]

It's on family search. (image 98 of 532)

What is really odd is that he describes himself as a gentleman, when I think he was a Colonel by that stage. He retired on half pay in March 1867 but had already been clapped up in an asylum on 27 November 1866, where he died in 1869.

Presumably, any will he made would be set aside because he was a lunatic. The obituaries mention his service in the army, his parents, but are tight-lipped about his marriage.

One wonders whether his brother, who didn't administer the estate, despite being a Registrar of the Probate etc division of the High Court of Justice, stepped in quickly to prevent Mary Jane grabbing the cash!