Mike that is very interesting thank you. My Richard Wallis departed England in 1858 (his arrival into NZ on the ship "Maori") and the only piece of information on the Dollman St connection is a family bible which states he lived at 58 Dollman St, Notts (I have not personally sighted this bible). and am still trying to verify the authenticity of this fact. Your info is helpful as I may now be able to dispute the fact... You certainly need to be a detective in this game!
Not sure if anyone can help me further but details that I have are:
Richard's christening record 1831 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire (spelt Wallace), parents Mary Prime and Richard Wallace (Wallis) both from Cambridge. Mary (b. 1806) and Richard (b. 1801) married 1831 in Barrington Cambridge. I think Richard snr was married to Elizabeth (Betsey) last name unknown, before he married Mary - and had three children (William, Phoebe, Henry) then betsey must have died and Richard remarried to Mary who then had my Richard.
Census for 1841 the family live in Edgbaston St Birmingham, Warwickshire (altho Richard's age is incorrect states 15 instead of 11?) and this is where William, Phoebe and Henry appear, and in 1851 census my Richard was a boarder (occ stoker) at 3 Palmer St Warwickshire.
Lost him between 1851 and his emigration in 1858 and have been searching for years in Notts to no avail. Nothing shows up in any Directories, incl searches thru Birmingham ones, although I think I have found his (step)brother William (saw mills/carpenter) and possibly his mother Mary Ann Wallis still in Birmingham (father presumed died early) Can someone tell me - as a stoker, in Birmingham, would that have been in coal mines, colliery etc or what else? He arrived into NZ in 1858 as a Fellmonger - so could he have been a stoker (for the boilers) in a fellmongery in 1850s in Notts and then taken up the trade before he departed? Richard always signed his name Wallis, Notts. which is where his supposed last place of residence (Dollman St) was before NZ.
Not sure if anyone can shed any more light on any of this for me. I would be prepared to undertake some basic research in NZ for anyone as trade.
thanx Lyn (also searching PRIME from Cambridge). many thanx