On the 1851 census I have Richard Brown age 37 born Kent, Margate ( or Whitstable) depending on census. His wife is Matilda age 26 born Essex. I cannot find births or marriage anywhere. Can anyone help please
Thanks Ann
1851 they have a son Richard b. 1847 in Hyam, Kent. So presumably the marriage took place in Kent, though in 1851 they are living in Wandsworth.
Daughter Sarah born 1850 Shenfield, Essex.
RICHARD WILLIAM BROWN
Birth: 15 DEC 1846
Christening: 17 JAN 1847 Saint Mary, Higham Near Gravesend, Kent, England
Parents:
Father: RICHARD BROWN Family
Mother: MATILDA BURLS
Source Information: Batch No.: C131412
The Higham could be the Hyam on 1851 census and if this is right, Burls could be Matilda's maiden name.
1841
has a Matilda Burrel age 15, William Burrel 40 and Sarah Burrel 12.
HO107; Piece 324; Book: 8; Civil Parish: South Weald; County: Essex; Enumeration District: 8; Folio: 57; Page: 22;
No idea if South Weald is right area - what does Matilda say for birthplace in later censuses?
So Richard died with a middle name and also bothered to write it on the census, but there are no marriages for any RIchard Stephen Browns at all after 1837 and before his death. Also there are only a couple of marriages of a Richard Brown with a potential wife called Matilda and those are the other end of the country.
It's a pity he is probably untraceable in 1841 as I would be suspicious that he was perhaps previously married and then couldn't marry Matilda because his first wife was still living (but then I have a suspicious mind! )
I am printing all of this info out and inwardly digesting. I dont think he is the only dodgy man in my tree. Still it makes for a bit of excitement.
Found out today that my nan (dads mum) who always looked down on us was pregnant when she got married. She did not register my dad for 3 months. Did she think she was fooling anyone
I've always wondered if my very straitlaced gran ever found out that her own father was illegitimate, or if my equally straitlaced dad knew that his grandparents were bigamists.
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