Thomas and Mary Peacock

[quest40]

Hi,
Having seen the post from Mike (xpq194z) about his Peacock family reminded me about the Thomas and Mary Peacock with whom my great grandmother Louisa Crowsley was living in Bedford on the 1851 and 1861 censuses.  Thomas was born c.1814 and Mary c.1810, both in Elstow.  Several years ago I got help with finding out more about Thomas, for which I was very grateful.

However, I never solved why Louisa was listed on the censuses as "niece", I couldn't find a connection, except that they all came from Elstow (Louisa was baptised there in 1842).  I have recently been looking again at the Crowsley family and noticed that Louisa's father William, baptised 1821 in Elstow, had a sister Mary, born c.1808? Elstow, and wonder if it was she who married Thomas Peacock, making Louisa their niece.  But I haven't been able to find such a marriage.  Can anyone help?

[bedfordshire boy]

Mary Crosley married William Batterson Prigmore at Elstow on 10 Jun 1831 (IGI extracted).

There's a burial in Elstow in 1832 of William Baterson Prigmore age 23

An IGI member submission (unreliable) shows a marriage in Elstow on 7 Aug 1836 between Thomas Peacock and Mary Prigmore. If this entry is substantiated from the parish register microfilm,  and if Mary is described as widow, then it would explain the relationship with Louisa.

[quest40]

That's interesting, and if confirmed could be the explanation.  Thank you very much indeed.  Ann

[johnP-bedford]

To confirm David's findings..... from Elstow parish records;

marriage 10 June 1831
William Batterson Prigmore, bachelor, otp to Mary Crosley, spinster, otp
witnesses Ann Makeham & John Eltham

.... after William Batterson Prigmore's burial on 6 May 1832 at age 23 **, there's....
** baptism on 11 Dec 1808 of William Batterson son of William Batterson & Mary Prigmore

marriage 7 Aug 1836
Thomas Peacock, bachelor, otp to Mary Prigmore, widow, otp
witnesses Thomas Burditt Wood & Hannah Peacock

Afterwards on that same day is another marriage....
Thomas Burditt Wood, bachelor of St Pauls Bedford to Hannah Peacock, spinster, otp
by licence, witnesses Thomas Peacock & Mary Peacock

Hannah is Thomas's sister both children of William & Sarah Peacock baptised at Elstow.
Thomas on 24 Apr 1814 & Hannah on 22 Sept 1811

Mary Crosley was baptised Elstow on 19 July 1807 to William & Elizabeth Crosely. They also had her brother William baptised on 15 July 1821. He married Catherine Ashwell spinster of St Marys Bedford at Elstow on 29 Oct 1841 and baptised their daughter Louisa there on 6 Nov 1842, at that time William was a labourer at Kempston. 

Going back one generation, William Crowsley of Lewes, Sussex married Elizabeth Smith by licence on 14 Dec 1797. From the marriage licence transcript, William was a private in the Bedford Militia aged 21 or over while Elizabeth was a minor, daughter of John Smith, tailor of Elstow who stood surety for them.

Regards John

[quest40]

John, that's wonderful!  As you say it's confirmed David's findings and more!  Thank you so much, I'm very grateful.  It never ceases to amaze me how much help is forthcoming after posting queries on Rootschat!
Ann