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in the process possibly found a second bigamist in the family. This is a summary. I just want somebody to check out my thinking before I get too excited.
My g grandmother is Catherine WASLEY, born 30th March 1857 (birth cert) to Matthew and Catherine WASLEY (nee WILLIAMS). I have never been able to locate this family on any census, and many other people have tried with no success.
When Catherine Jnr married John Salmon BENNETT ON 8th June 1880 at the Register Office in East Stonehouse, Plymouth, she cites her father as Matthew WASLEY, deceased, and a seaman in the RN. That fact does not seem to fit with info from her birth cert, nor his wedding cert, where both times he is shown as a copper miner.
This has been a brick wall for ages, and I have left it alone for a long time. However, today, I thought I would have another go.
1881 census - RG11; Piece: 2203; Folio: 20; Page: 34 - shows John and Catherine BENNETT with their first born child Mabel in East Stonehouse. No problem there (other than Mabel's birth was actually registered as Kate
)
However, I believe that Catherine and Mabel are ennumerated twice in 1881, the second one being RG11; Piece: 2291; Folio: 60; Page: 19 where they are enumerated as visitors to a Catherine HODGE in Bodmin. This Catherine has a birth year of 1823, and born in Chacewater, which fits exactly with details for Catherine WILLIAMS who married Matthew.
Looking at Free BMD, there just happens to be a marriage with a Catherine WASLEY and William HODGE included in December quarter of 1860 - Truro 5c 260.
Looking at 1861 census - RG9; Piece: 1563; Folio: 3; Page: 4, there is William and Catherin HODGE, with a 4 year old daughter Kate which fits exactly with the birth details of my g grandmother. By 1871, the family are still living in Chacewater, but William has died, and there is a daughter Elizabeth age 8 - RG10; Piece: 2286; Folio: 24; Page: 2.
I cannot see a birth for a Catherine/Kate HODGE in 1857, and I believe that this is why I have never been able to find her on a census until after her marriage.
However, what has happened to her father Matthew? I still can't locate him on a census. He was born c1824 in Gwennap, Cornwall. There is no death record that I can see between 1856 and 1860. There is one for a 56 year old in 1876, but I think that is the one who was born c1819 in 1861 census - RG9; Piece: 1554; Folio: 82; Page: 16.
I am going to order the wedding cert today to see what details that holds. I suspect that Catherine will be recorded as a widow when it arrives.
I'm sorry if this is all a bit long winded, but I needed to get my thoughts down in writing. If anybody can add their thoughts on it, I would appreciate it.
My g grandmother is Catherine WASLEY, born 30th March 1857 (birth cert) to Matthew and Catherine WASLEY (nee WILLIAMS). I have never been able to locate this family on any census, and many other people have tried with no success.
When Catherine Jnr married John Salmon BENNETT ON 8th June 1880 at the Register Office in East Stonehouse, Plymouth, she cites her father as Matthew WASLEY, deceased, and a seaman in the RN. That fact does not seem to fit with info from her birth cert, nor his wedding cert, where both times he is shown as a copper miner.
This has been a brick wall for ages, and I have left it alone for a long time. However, today, I thought I would have another go.
1881 census - RG11; Piece: 2203; Folio: 20; Page: 34 - shows John and Catherine BENNETT with their first born child Mabel in East Stonehouse. No problem there (other than Mabel's birth was actually registered as Kate
)However, I believe that Catherine and Mabel are ennumerated twice in 1881, the second one being RG11; Piece: 2291; Folio: 60; Page: 19 where they are enumerated as visitors to a Catherine HODGE in Bodmin. This Catherine has a birth year of 1823, and born in Chacewater, which fits exactly with details for Catherine WILLIAMS who married Matthew.
Looking at Free BMD, there just happens to be a marriage with a Catherine WASLEY and William HODGE included in December quarter of 1860 - Truro 5c 260.
Looking at 1861 census - RG9; Piece: 1563; Folio: 3; Page: 4, there is William and Catherin HODGE, with a 4 year old daughter Kate which fits exactly with the birth details of my g grandmother. By 1871, the family are still living in Chacewater, but William has died, and there is a daughter Elizabeth age 8 - RG10; Piece: 2286; Folio: 24; Page: 2.
I cannot see a birth for a Catherine/Kate HODGE in 1857, and I believe that this is why I have never been able to find her on a census until after her marriage.
However, what has happened to her father Matthew? I still can't locate him on a census. He was born c1824 in Gwennap, Cornwall. There is no death record that I can see between 1856 and 1860. There is one for a 56 year old in 1876, but I think that is the one who was born c1819 in 1861 census - RG9; Piece: 1554; Folio: 82; Page: 16.
I am going to order the wedding cert today to see what details that holds. I suspect that Catherine will be recorded as a widow when it arrives.
I'm sorry if this is all a bit long winded, but I needed to get my thoughts down in writing. If anybody can add their thoughts on it, I would appreciate it.
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