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Looking at the Ancestry image, I think Mary, although calling herself Mary Roberts, states that she is ''Married, a Wife'.

Mary in the 1861 Census?

Name: Mary Roberts
Age: 21
Estimated Birth Year: 1840
Relation: Wife
Gender: Female
Where born: Runcorn, Cheshire, England
Civil Parish: Everton
Ecclesiastical parish: St George
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England
Street Address:
Occupation:
Condition as to marriage:
View image
Registration District: West Derby
Sub-registration District: Everton
ED, institution, or vessel: 54
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Schedule Number: 13
Piece: 2719
Folio: 49
Page Number: 5
Household Members:
Name Age
Mary Roberts 21 Married b Runcorn, Dressmaker
Elizabeth Shaw 24 Visitor, b Runcorn, Dressnaker
Mary Roberts 1, Dau b Runcorn

Address 13 Albion St

There is Probate for Robert Cheshire Whiteway 8 May 1872, Death 3 Apr 1872. Probate is Granted to Mary Whiteway, Widow the Relict of 4O Spencer Street, Everton.

1861 and 1871, Robert is living in Irwell Lane.
1870 (marriage) , 1871 (census) and 1872 (Robert's probate) , Mary is at 40 Spencer Street.

It looks as if they never lived together.

And yet, both their names are on Frederick and Reginald's baptisms in 1863

The Probate says Robert was late of Runcorn died 3 April 1972 at Penmaenmarw in the County of Carnavon!

1861 her sister Elizabeth Shaw born 1837 she married 19/3/1863 to Reginald Mansfield Park
Witnessed by William Shaw and Mary Roberts.

Maryb

......and Mary's Baptism; all three were baptized on the same day. The Baptism image said their Abode was Everton and that Robert was a Commercial Traveller.

I wonder if the child Mary Roberts in the 1861 census posted by LondonBelle is the Mary Cheshire Whiteway who is the main subject of this thread?

ROBERTS, MARY mms SHAW
GRO Reference: 1859 S Quarter in CONGLETON Volume 08A Page 249


But where is she in 1871?
Mary Whiteway's address is Kensington in 1878.

It's a great pity there's not a full address on the 1863 baptisms!

Yes, I believe that the Mary Roberts b 1859 Congleton is the Mary Whiteway that the OP refers to and who also appears in both the 1861 & 1871 Censuses.

Mary b 1859 is with her Mother Mary Roberts in 1871 Census ...it states she was born Congleton, her age was given as 11

Oh yes, so she is - I forgot that.

Record Transcription:
Lancashire Baptisms

First name(s) Charles
Last name Whiteway
Birth year 1865
Birth date 07 Dec 1865 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Baptism year 1866
Baptism date 25 Jun 1866
Baptism place Liverpool, St Peter
Denomination Church Of England
Diocese Liverpool
Residence Everton
Father's first name(s) Robert
Father's occupation Traveller
Mother's first name(s) Mary
County Lancashire
Country England
Archive
Liverpool Record Office
Archive reference 283-PET-2-59
Register type Baptisms
Register year range 1866-1867
Page 50
Record set Lancashire Baptisms
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Parish Baptisms
Collections from England, Great Britain

Another child (apparently a twin) baptised the same day:

Herbert Whiteway
in the Liverpool, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1919
Name: Herbert Whiteway
Age: 0
Birth Date: 7 Dec 1865
Baptism Date: 25 Jun 1866
Baptism Place: Liverpool, St Peter, Lancashire, England
Phillimore Ecclesiastical Parish Map:
View this parish
Father: Robert Whiteway
Mother: Mary Whiteway


Birth:
ROBERTS, HERBERT mms SHAW
GRO Reference: 1866 M Quarter in WEST DERBY AND TOXTETH PARK Volume 08B Page 409


???

Deaths Sep 1866 (>99%)
Roberts Herbert 0 W derby 8b 569

No place of death stated on GRO website:

ROBERTS, HERBERT 0
GRO Reference: 1866 S Quarter in Volume 08B Page 569

I've found a Burial Register for Herbert......the address given is 40 Spencer Street....It was a purchased grave.

Name: Herbert Roberts
Age: 8/12
Record Type: Burial
Birth Date: abt 1866
Death Date: abt 1866
Burial Date: 10 Sep 1866
Burial Place: Liverpool Cemetery, Liverpool, Lancashire, England
Cemetery Section: Church of England

Robert and Mary seem to have been switching between surnames in a fairly random manner.

Herbert born, died and buried as Roberts, but in the midst of that he's baptised as Whiteway.
Similarly Fred, Reg, Mary and Charles - born as Roberts and listed as Roberts in 1871 (also Mary in 1861), but baptised as Whiteway.
Parents at different addresses in 1861, and 1870 - 1872.
Strange!

It's not as if Robert was still married and living a double life, as Ann had died in 1857.
Mary doesn't seem to have ever married a Roberts.

Mary with sister, Elizabeth in 1841 Census?

Name: Mary Shaw
Age: 2
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1839
Gender: Female
Where born: Cheshire, England
Civil Parish: Runcorn
Hundred: Bucklow
County/Island: Cheshire
Country: England
Street Address:
Occupation:
View image
Registration District: Runcorn
Sub-registration District: Runcorn
Neighbors:
Piece: 95
Book: 20
Folio: 6
Page Number: 6
Household Members:
Name Age
William Shaw 35 Mason
Mary Shaw 30
William Shaw 9
Thomas Shaw 7
Elizabeth Shaw 4
Mary Shaw 2

Mary Shaw
in the 1851 England Census
Name: Mary Shaw
Age: 12
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1839
Relation: Daughter
Father's Name: William Shaw
Mother's Name: Mary Shaw
Gender: Female
Where born: Runcorn, Cheshire, England
Civil Parish: Runcorn
Phillimore Ecclesiastical Parish Maps:
View related Ecclesiastical Parish
County/Island: Cheshire
Country: England
Street Address:
Occupation:
Condition as to marriage:
Disability:
View image
Registration District: Runcorn
Sub-registration District: Budworth
ED, institution, or vessel: 7e
Neighbors:
Household Schedule Number: 99
Piece: 2164
Folio: 472
Page Number: 26
Household Members:
Name Age
William Shaw 45 - stone mason
Mary Shaw 43
Thomas Shaw 17
Elizabeth Shaw 14
Mary Shaw 12
John Shaw 2

Mary and sister Elizabeth in the 1851 Census?

Name: Mary Shaw
Age: 12
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1839
Relation: Daughter
Father's Name: William Shaw
Mother's Name: Mary Shaw
Gender: Female
Where born: Runcorn, Cheshire, England
Civil Parish: Runcorn
Phillimore Ecclesiastical Parish Maps:
View related Ecclesiastical Parish
County/Island: Cheshire
Country: England
Street Address:
Occupation:
Condition as to marriage:
Disability:
View image
Registration District: Runcorn
Sub-registration District: Budworth
ED, institution, or vessel: 7e
Neighbors:
Household Schedule Number: 99
Piece: 2164
Folio: 472
Page Number: 26
Household Members:
Name Age
William Shaw 45
Mary Shaw 43
Thomas Shaw 17
Elizabeth Shaw 14
Mary Shaw 12
John Shaw 2

It is very strange indeed!!