:(I have found a birth on the Mormon site that I think may be "mine", but I need some guidance as to why the fathers surname is different to the child and why no mother is named?
I'm a bit confused - you say you've found a birth on the IGI, but it is a marriage, isn't it? The marriage entry is an "extracted" record, so it looks as though the details are taken from the marriage certificate. It says that the name of Thomas Owen's father is Thomas Tinsley. Of course, if you want to be sure then you could order a copy of the marriage certificate from the GRO or Lancashire BMD to check if that is what it says. Most likely explanation is that either Thomas Owen was "illegitimate" and Owen was his mother's surname but Thomas Tinsley was his father, or that Thomas Tinsley was his stepfather.
KiteRunner
Every five years or so I look back on my life and I have a good... laugh" (Indigo Girls, "Watershed")
Checking on Lancashire BMD, they list the marriage as taking place at Kirkby, St Chad's, and Thomas is listed under both surnames - Owen and Tinsley, so I think it is safe to assume that the IGI entry has been correctly transcribed, at least.
KiteRunner
Every five years or so I look back on my life and I have a good... laugh" (Indigo Girls, "Watershed")
I have found Thomas Owen and Ellen together on the 1881 and 1891 census, but I cannot locate them on the 1901
Thomas gives his place of birth as:- Simonswood on the 1881 census, but on the 1891 it is recorded as Rainford. Both places in Lancashire.
I must apologize if it appears that I am a bit of a dipstick, but this side of my family have been nothing but one big headache from my granddad backwards. I am searching totally in the dark and having to "assume" things in the hope that I might hit the target.
I presume the 1881 census you have found is this one
RG11; Piece: 3689; Folio: 23; Page: 2
Thomas Owen born 1848 Simonswood
Ellen Owen born 1838 Kirby
Martha Alice Heyes born 1867 Simonswood
What concerns me about this one is that I can trace a Thomas Owen, born 1848 Simonswood, back to the 1851 census, with parents Clarisa and Isaac.
The Tinsley/Owen marriage that Kite has found seems more appropriate - but doesn't fit in with anything I can find on the census for a Thomas Owen born Simonswood.
What do you know about Ellen - year of birth / place of birth / parents?
There is a 1891 census for Thomas Owen and Ellen
RG12; Piece: 2981; Folio 11; Page 15
Household:
Thomas Owen born c 1851 Rainford - occupation Forester
Ellen Owen born c1856 Kirkby
James Owen age 9
Jane Owen age 2
Mary E Owen age 6
Do you know for sure that this is the right family?
i have an ellen owen in 1901 living with brother in law, his children and grandchildren - their names are mawdesly? her birth is down as 1836 in rainhill. they are living in halewood.
1851
Isaac Owen 38 Head b.Simonswood
Clarissa Owen 25 Wife b.Upholland
Thomas Owen 3 Son b.Simonswood
Mary Owen 5 Daur b.Simonswood
Jane Owen 1 Daur b.Simonswood
Mary Birchall 14 Neice b.Rainford
John Wilson 22 Serv b.Ollcar?
William Molyneux 16 Serv b.West Derby
1861
Isaac Owen 48 Head b.Simonswood
Clarissa Owen 36 Wife b.Upholland
Thomas Owen 13 Son b.Simonswood
Sarah Owen 9 Daur b.Simonswood
Isaac Owen 7 Son b.Simonswood
Joseph Owen 5 Son b.Simonswood
Ellen Owen 1 Daur b.Simonswood
1871
Samuel Owen 71 Head b.Simonswood
Thomas Owen 23 Son-in-Law b.Simonswood
Ellen Owen 33 Daughter b.Kirby
1881
Thomas Owen 33 Head b.Simonswood
Ellen Owen 43 Wife b.Kirby
Martha Alice Hayes Relative b.Simonswood
1891
Ellen Owen 53 Head b.Kirkby
Martha A Heyes 24 Neice b.Simonswood
Henry Owen 29 Serv b.Simonswood
1851
James Owen 28 Head
Jane Owen 28 Wife
Ellen Owen 4 Daur
William Owen 3 Son b.Rainford
Margaret Owen 1 Daur b.Rainford
James Owen 1 Mo Son b.Rainford
1861
Willm Wiswall 32 Head
Jane Wiswall 38 Wife
Ellen Owen 14 Step Daur b.Rainford
Willm Owen 13 Step Son b.Rainford
Margaret Owen 10 Step Daur b.Rainford
Thos Owen 8 Step Son b.Rainford
Mary Wiswall 2 Daur
Samuel Moore 31 Serv
James Moor 19 Serv
Class: RG9; Piece: 2755; Folio: 20B; Page: 5
1871
William Wiswell 40 Head b.Rainford
Jane Wiswell 44 Wife
Mary Wiswell 12 Daur b.Rainford
Henry Wiswell 8 Son b.Rainford
Jane Ann Wiswell 5 Daur b.Rainford
Thomas Owen 18 Serv b.Rainford
Thomas Owen 61 Serv b.Hindle/Windle
William Balshaw 9 Serv b.Rainford
1881
? Still looking... Not this one: Class: RG11; Piece: 3741; Folio: 23; Page: 2
1891
Thomas Owen 40 Head b.Rainford
Ellen Owen 35 Wife b.Kirkby
James Owen 9 Son b.Kirkby
Mary E Owen 6 Daur b.Kirkby
Jane Owen 2 Daur b.Kirkby
Jane Owen married William Wisenall in JAS 1858 - Prescot 8b 788
I was trying to find a link to the Thomas Tinsley and Mary Owen marriage in 1848 - and came up with this 1851 census
HO107; Piece: 2192; Folio: 893; Page: 40
which shows household of
Thomas Tinsley c 1824 West Derby
Mary Tinsley c 1828 Rainford
Thomas Tinsley c 1846 Rainford
William Tinsley c 1849 Rainford
This would fit in with Thomas being registered as Thomas Owen (born illegitimate) but father on MC being noted as Thomas Tinsley.
Comment