Why is it that some families seem so straightforward - and others are just a nightmare?
This branch of mine is definitely the second sort - having eventually managed to trace my great grandmother Mary Ann MARK, I was pleased to see her parents on the 1841 census too - THOMAS and ISABELLA MARK living with Isabella's father JOHN JACKSON in Haverbrack Westmorland.
I have tried to find out where John Jackson (born c 1784, married to Isabella and with children Isabella c1814 and George c1812)came from, but have failed miserably.
I decided instead to see what I could find about Thomas Mark - which is where I have hit trouble. The only FACT I have about him (from the 1841 census) is that he WASN'T born in Westmorland - no definite baptism record, no marriage that I can find, no death. Others have speculated that he might be the Thomas Mark who left for the Australian goldrush in 1859, having married a Jane Barnes in Liverpool. But is this him? And how can I find out? Any help at all would be appreciated.
Yup, that's them. George is Isabella's brother. John Jackson's occupation was Ferry Boat Man - there used to be a ferry across the River Kent back then, quite a tricky occupation I imagine - there was a famous accident in the early part of the last century when several people fell overboard and drowned!
ooops - sorry. George (Isabella's brother) was baptised September 1817, so yes was probably born 1816 or '17 not 1812. It was Thomas Mark (Isabella's partner - don't want to say husband, as I'm not at all sure they ever married) who was born in 1812.
I did attempt to find George - but there are so many George Jacksons................ I gave up.