Thank you all for those responses. I don't think the Arthur born in Wolstanton is my Arthur, even though the date and Mother's name adds up. My Arthur is consistently living with his mother in Cleobury Mortimer and he married an Elizabeth, not a Mary. So it seems that Arthur was most likely illegitimate, and Elizabeth Parton was her real name. I suspect that she was the daughter of this George and Mary Parton seen in the 1951 census, as she is then living with mother Mary in 1961. However I can't find any record of birth for her around 1821 in that parish. I've been mostly looking on Ancestry, which i have a subscription for, and the FreeBMD, and Family History IGI. Does anyone know where I can find other birth/marriage records online for this area or do I have to send away for them from the town records office? Will the IGI for Stottesdon ever be updated for later than 1812?
And yes, I am sure that Arthur is Elizabeth's son as I had all that info passed down through my own family sources. No mention that he was illegitimate of course. Seems unlikely that I'll find the real story of Arthur's father. So now perhaps I will just concentrate on verifying Elizabeth's parents and their background.
Thanks, jackie
PS: Thanks Valda for pointing out the middle name "Massie" clue. That's definitely something for me to persue, especially since I don't know a lot about the widow Elizabeth Gittins either! I found a marriage for a Job Gittins and Elizabeth Mapie in Bridgnorth in 1851, but now can't find anything more for an Elizabeth Mapie! Perhaps it was really Massie? Anyway, thanks again.