Genealogy Chat

says 'mason' on marriage certificate to Ann.

Was Thomas a Stonemason when he married Ann? Reg

Hi Reg Mary's father on her second marriage as a widow is Thomas Morris stonemason dec'd. Ann never remarried. She was still Ann Morris at time of death.

Yes that is correct Reg. They are living with Ann Morris's mother .. Elizabeth Parker. She was the widow of Teasdale Parker. Ann... Mary's mother was the sister of The Rev Joseph Parker Independant minister who was responsible for the building of the city temple in London. Ann and the children disappear after the 1871 census but Ann reappears on the 1891 census living with her youngest son in Salford. She returns to Hexham on the 1901 census and dies there in 1902. The entry for Harry and Mary on the 1871 census is the only one that sort of fits apart from places of birth.

I see that on the 1861 census, Mary's mother is described as being 'separated from husband'. Could this have any bearing on Mary's info about her father? Reg

Right.......got them in 1871.........I'd been searching for Henry, as per your earlier posting. Reg

Hi Reg Mary's parents were Thomas Morris and Ann Byers (widow) formerly Parker. They married 3 Dec 1850 at Hexham Parish Church Northumberland. The info on the 1871 census is: Harry Freeman lodger aged 24 married brickmaker born Durham Darlington Mary Freeman lodger aged 17 married born Durham Darlington The census is in Bishop Auckland Durham.

You say you have the marriage cert for Mary's parents.......what were their names, and where did they marry? Reg

Joyce Are you able to give us the full 1871 info? Reg

opps sorry Coaxy occupation on first childs birth certificate says 'brickmaker'.

marriage certificates for a few of the children says Henry was a bricklayer or brickworks labourer.

death certificate says road labourer, most of the birth certificates say road surface man , brickworks labourer or just labourer.

Joyce Did you see my question re the birth certificate and the father's occupation?

What do the various sources (marriage & birth cert, and census) say that Henry's occupation is?

The first child born was Joseph .. born Jul 1873 mother Mary Freeman formerly Brown. next child was Jane Elizabeth born Jun 1875 mother Mary Freeman formerly Morris. My grandfather was next Robert Henry in 1877. The marriage to Mary Brown was Dec 26 1870 Darlington Durham. The only Henry I can find that sort of fits on the 1871 census is the one where place of birth is Darlington, which makes me think there could be 2 Henry's and 2 Mary's . The birth certificate for Joseph though makes me think that the Henry could be the same one !! Help !!

Joyce......... I've looked at 1871, and I can't see anyone matching the details you quote........these are all the results when I input Henry Freeman coupled with Durham Henry Freeman Elizabeth abt 1851 Yarmouth, Norfolk, England Son Bishop Wearmouth Durham Henry Freeman Jane abt 1854 South Shields, Durham, England Son Westoe Durham Henry C Freeman Henry Chamberlain, Mary Ann abt 1864 Sunderland, Durham, England Son Bishop Wearmouth Durham Henry Chamberlain Freeman Mary Ann abt 1830 Yarmouth, Norfolk, England Head Bishop Wearmouth Durham Henry G Freeman William, Ann abt 1856 Weston On The Green, Oxfordshire, England Son St John Durham Could you please give us the full 1871 details, including the name etc for the child............ Reg

The 1881 census states that Henry was born in Oxfordshire, it is unlikely that that he would have said in 1871 that he was born in Darlington.........unless, of course, the enumerator made an error. Reg

Is it possible you have the wrong birth certificate for Joseph? Is the father's occupation the same on his certificate as on the other children's?

It sounds to me like the man married two different Mary's. Have you looked for a birth for Mary Brown? (common name I know, but you're looking for a Mary Brown, father called George. Some registry offices will do the check on the cert for free before you purchase). If the first Mary didnt die then there is a chance they never divorced and his second 'wife' may not have been married to him. I can't think of a reason why a woman would change her maiden name part way through a marriage and change the name of her father. Look for birth entries for both Marys. Liz

What was the name of the child born just after the marriage? Reg