Hello there!
William Jones married Elizabeth Appleby in Sunderland in 1789. They had numerous children many of whom were baptised in the 1798-1812 period. On each of these William is from Boston, and Elizabeth 'of this parish', i.e. Sunderland. This couple are my direct ancestors.
I had presumed before I found Elizabeth's death reference that she was the Elizabeth Appleby born in Sunderland in 1762, daughter of Thomas A and Anne Bainbridge, however, when she died in 1811 Elizabeth was just 41, giving a date of birth of 1770 - she had also last given birth in August 1809 which would make the earlier date less likely.
After Elizabeth's death William married again to an Ann Linton (Lintell on the IGI). She was a widow - her maiden name was Appleby. She was still alive at the time of the censuses and age evidence points to her being the daughter of Francis Appleby and Mary Side b 1776. William had one Francis Jones with Elizabeth who died young, and another with Ann, who did too.
William died in 1831 aged 66 - buried on the same day from the same address was a Robert Appleby, aged 27 - he would be the one who is the grandson of Francis and Mary, via their son Francis. William and Anne's first daughter was named Mary.
I know if was common for a widower to marry his late wife's sister and I think this is what has happened here, but I cannot find a baptism for Elizabeth. Francis and Mary had a number of children but there are no baptisms for children belonging to them between 1768 and 1774.
I have never found a baptism for William Jones so I don't know what his parents were called.
Can I assume that Elizabeth is the daughter of Francis and Mary, and the sister of Ann Appleby?
What would you do?
Ashley
