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Hi Zena Am trying to find details for Mary Jane Cosway who was married to William Reynolds. Mary and William were the parents of Sarah Jane Reynolds (born 17 April 1881) in Exeter. Cosway doesn't seem to be a common name and obviously I don't konw where Mary or William were born but they lived in Exeter when they had Sarah. Have looked at Ancestry.co.uk but can't seem to get anything definite. It's possible Mary was born in 1839 but I can find no record of a husband called William tying up to the same Mary. Grateful for any help.

Maybe their marriage? Marriages Jun 1878 COSWAY Mary Jane Exeter 5b 145 REYNOLDS William Exeter 5b 145 Gwyn

There's a Sarah J. Reynolds age 9 on the 1891 census born Exeter, Devon. She's in a Girls Industrial Home in Plymouth in training to be a domestic servant. Margaret

Gwyneth Yes, I've noticed that one, but they don't seem to be on many censuses, unless one of them died and the other remarried maybe? and I've also come across the one training to be a domestic servant, which doesn't really help me when it comes to her parents either as they're not listed. Domestic servant - pretty much what I am now!

As you have a birth certificate naming Sarah's parents, I would buy their marriage certificate. You will then hopefully have the names of Sarah's 2 grandfathers and this will make it easier to find the correct William and Mary....regardless of whether Sarah is possibly away at school. Gwyn

Jim That's a possibility. Might explain why she ended up as a domestic servant

I think this is them in 1881. The name has been mis-transcribed as Keynolde but the original looks like Reynolds. 1881 census Cricklepit St., Exeter William Reynolds, head, 30, labourer, born Totnes, Devon Mary Jane, wife, 29, born Taunton, Somerset William Henry, son, 2, born Exeter

Gwyn I have their marriage certificate from 30 September 1901 in Plymouth. She married Henry Wright who was 25 at the time and she was 20. His profession was Sailor and he lived in Wales at the time of their marriage (in Plymouth). Henry Wright's father was also called Henry Wright who was a labourer. Sarah Jane Reynolds father is listed as William Reynolds who was also a labourer. Maybe her and her husband's fathers knew each other from the same job! I think maybe I need a few days away from all this as it's doing my head in. Maybe I need to look at it with fresh eyes!

Margaret Wow! How did you do that? That definitely looks like a possibility and makes more sense than the year someone else had on their tree (ie. Mary Jane born 1939) which would have made her pretty old (for that time) when she had her. Well maybe that'll narrow it down and I should look into that. I'll definitely be hassling you lot more as I'm not very good at this yet!

It 's the marriage cert. for Sarah's parents that you need. You will then hopefully have a name for the fathers of William and Mary. Using that information you should be able to find the birthplace of William and Mary ...by attaching them to the correct father. Even if Mary Jane died in 1886, you should be able to look for the correct William after that date......Did he witness Sarah's marriage?....Who did? Gwyn

Gwyn I couldn't order marriage cert for her parents because I knew nothing about them except their names and I was having trouble finding them. I only found out after getting her certificate today that her name was COSWAY and not CASWAY! The marriage was witnessed by Richard Williams and what looks like Florence Harris. No idea who they are though

I think this is the family from 1881 1891 Charlotte Reynolds William,Mary Jane abt 1889 Exeter Daughter St Edmund Devon Frederick Reynolds William,Mary Jane abt 1886 Exeter Son St Edmund Devon Margaret Reynolds William,Mary Jane abt 1887 Exeter Daughter St Edmund Devon Mary Jane Reynolds William abt 1851 Taunton, Somerset, England Wife St Edmund Devon Walter John Reynolds William,Mary Jane abt 1891 Exeter Son St Edmund Devon William Reynolds Mary Jane abt 1850 Totnes, Devon, England Head St Edmund Devon William Reynolds William,Mary Jane abt 1879 Exeter Son St Edmund Devon

Have given a possible birth for Mary Jane Cosway on your other thread. The marriage that Gwyneth found (first reply on this thread) seems to be the likely one for Sarah's parents. Kath. x

William with parents in 1861? 8 Moor Ashes, Totnes, Devon John Reynolds, head, 35, lab. on So. Devon Railway, born Exeter Mary, wife, 33, born Totnes William H., son, 10, scholar Jessy, dau, 8, scholar Jane, dau,6 Margaret, dau,6 Thomas, son, 11 months Children all born Totnes.

Having just read the other thread,this is confirmation The address in 1881 is Cricklepit st. Exeter 1881 England Census about William Keynolde Name: William Keynolde Age: 30 Estimated birth year: abt 1851 Relation: Head Spouse's name: Mary Jane Gender: Male Where born: Totnes, Devon, England Civil parish: Exeter St Mary Steps County/Island: Devon Country: England Street address: Cricklepit <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Condition as to marriage: Married Education: Employment status: View image Occupation: Labourer Registration district: Exeter

God, too much information, can' t take it all in at this time of night especially with a headache from lying on floor with laptop. Will have a look tomorrow. Thanks all I'm sure I'll be back with more queries! Goodnight

Baby William on the 1851 census. Behind the Walls, Totnes, Devon John Kitts, head, widower, 50, brewer, born Totnes John Reynolds, lodger, married, 25, rail lab., born Exeter Mary Reynolds, lodger, married, 24, born Ottery Mary Elizabeth Reynolds, lodger, 12, born Totnes William Hy. Reynolds, lodger, 7 months, born Totnes Don't know who Mary Elizabeth would be, too old to be a child of John & Mary. A sister of John, perhaps?

All Sometimes I wish I'd never started this. My brain's totally frazzled. I'm definitely going now else I'll be up 'til some ridiculous hour of the morning!

Now have marriage certificate of William Reynolds and Mary Jane Cosway although it leaves me none the wiser re: finding out Mary Jane Cosway's date of birth or find her certificate. William and Mary did indeed marry in 1878 in Exeter. William is listed as aged 28 and a labourer and his father, John Reynolds was also a labourer. Mary Jane Cosway is on the certificate as aged 27 or 29 (can't read it) and her father is listed as Thomas Cosway. I can't find ANY records of a Mary Jane Cosway having been born around 1851

Hi Maria, Is there an occ for Thomas Cosway on the marriage certificate? What are the witnesses names? Fiona.