Mary Ann Peters B,c1837 Henfield, Sussex.

[buzzard200]

I,m trying to find out when Mary's husband Patrick Heffern B c1839, married 1864, left her. Also what happened to him afterwards. In the 1871 census Mary was living with Henry Holder B.1832 (my great grandfather).

[groom]

Welcome to RootsChat. Do you have the marriage certificate as that will give additional information such as age, occupation and father's name? I can't see him after the marriage, but there are a few with similar names eg there is a Patrick Heffernan who died in Bengal in 1864 and another Patrick Heffernan who was a soldier in 1871 stationed in Winchester. 

[buzzard200]

Hi groom
I hope this the correct way to reply to your post/reply. Thanks for your interest in my post. I know I should get the marriage cert for Patrick, but trying to avoid the cost. FamilySearch shows Patrick's father as James Heffern and Mary's father as John Peters. I have searched Ancestry and Findmypast and found more info, but nothing to tell me exactly when Patrick left Mary, or when and if she married Henry Holder. This makes the parentage of her children difficult to ascertain as I cannot tell when she started a relationship with Henry. Mary is shown as servant/housekeeper to Henry in the 1871 census, but the children are named Heffern, due to her not having married Henry, they are later changed to Holder, also Mary states her name as Holder in later censuses.
Regards buzzard200

[groom]

Hi

I've search three different sites and can't find a marriage for a Mary Ann Heffern to Henry Holder. So perhaps they didn't marry, especially if Mary Ann and Patrick just split up. Divorce was expensive then, so a lot of people didn't bother.

Looking at the censuses, I would guess that the oldest child, James is definitely a Heffern as he was born in 1865, a year after the marriage. I would also say that the three youngest have Henry Holder as a father.

There is a four year gap between James and Elizabeth and only a year between Elizabeth and John. I would guess that Elizabeth and John are also Henry's children and that Patrick disappeared between 1865 and 1868.

Unless he died, I cant see how you will be able to tell when he left. It might be worth getting Elizabeth and John's birth certificates to see who is given as their father. However, if a woman was married, I believe it was assumed that the husband was the father, so he may be named on it even if he wasn't around.

[avm228]

As you have probably seen, Familysearch has several Heffern baptisms at Woodmancote, Sussex 1868-1878.  In each case the only parent named in the extract is Mary Anne Heffern. It is possible that additional information would appear in the register.

[groom]

Interesting that only the eldest is born in Steyning, the rest are all born in Woodmancote with no father given. That leads me to suspect that what I said early is right.

[groom]

Here is their marriage -
Patrick Heffern
Birth  abt 1839  Age:   25
Father    James Heffern
Spouse     Mary Anne Peters
Spouse's Age:   26
Father's Name:   John Peters
10 Mar 1864 
Marriage Place:   St Nicholas Brighton, Sussex, England

And the baptism of James. proving he is Patrick's son, no date given.


Name:   Patrick Heffern
Spouse:    Mary Anne
Child:    James Herbert Heffern

There are a lot of trees online that have people named Heffern, most seem to originate from Ireland and a lot emigrated to America. Perhaps he either went back to Ireland or emigrated.

[omega 1]

Hello Buzzard

Welcome to RootsChat.

Found this for you.

Baptised at Henfield,St Peter

James Herbert Heffern,8 Jan 1865
Son of Patrick Heffern & Mary Ann
Patrick a Soldier

Kind regards
omega

[groom]

Patrick a Soldier

That's a great find, omega.

So I wonder if he is the Patrick Heffernan who was stationed in Winchester in 1871?

RG10  Piece Number   1212  Folio   74   Page   17 Barracks Winchester

Patrick Heffernan 31  unmarried    Private      Ireland