Mellor/Dransfield confusion

[alllegs]

Hi,

I am hoping someone can help to un-confuse me....?

I have come across a section of my family where half the children have their father's surname and half have another surname - whats going on there??  I found this info on the 1881 census.

The family in the spot light are:-

James (b c1829) and Mary E (b c1836) Mellor.
They had 8 children.
George Dransfield (b 1864) (my great great granddad)
Nathan Mellor (b 1864)
Wright Mellor (b 1868)
Hannah Dransfield (b 1868)
Sarah Dransfield (b 1870)
Chas Dransfield (b 1876)
William Mellor (b 1877) and
Joseph Mellor (b 1879)

All were born in Almondbury, Yorkshire and James was an outdoor labourer.

Why did the children have 2 surnames??  Could the parents have been married before and the Dransfield's be from Mary's previous marriage?? I have no other information on James or Mary E so further info about them would also be greatly appreciated as well.

I hope thats enough info to trace this family.

Thank you in anticipation

Legs
xxxxx
 

[Paul E]

Hi

Its quite possible that mary was married before.  On the information in the 1881 census, I would be looking for:

- a marriage of a Male DRANSFIELD to a MARY female sometime before 1868
- a death of a Male DRANSFIELD of the same name sometime from 1875 onwards to 1876

- a marriage of JAMES MELLOR to a Mary DRANSFIELD or a Mary same name as earlier marriage from 1875 to 1876

- an earlier marriage of JAMES MELLOR to unknown female sometime before 1864
- a death of unknown MELLOR wife sometime between 1868 and 1876

If someone can find the two familes in 1871, all may become clearer!

You could look on the FREEBMD website for marriages and deaths.

Good hunting!

Paul

[VAT]

Hi Legs

1871 Ash House,

Dransfield........

Mary E    widow   head   35  farmer,
George                son       7
Joe                      son       5
Hannah               daugh   3
Sarah A               daugh   1
Edna KAY    unm  aunt     58 

all born Almondbury
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1871 Ash House Comon

Mellor ........

Rachel        unm    head      69. Farmer
James        m        son         32, Labourer
Sarah         m       wife         31
Nathan                  son          7
Wright                   son          3
William               not stated  30, Labourer
Sykes BUCKLEY  not stated   4

All born Almondbury
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My guess would be that Sarah Mellor died, and James Mellor married Mary Dransfield.

Hope this helps.

VAT 

[alllegs]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Thank you both for replying to my post so soon, I am now much less confused about my ancestors!

So now I have to find out who Mary E's 1st husband was as he was the father of my great great granddad George.....Any ideas??

I can't believe how my family seem to confuse things so much - but at least you have cleared up one mystery for me.

Thank you again

Legs.
xxxxx

p.s: just to add a little more confusion......I believe Rachel Mellor married William Mellor in May 1827 and her maiden name was Dransfield....could this be inter-family marriage or something along those lines??

[KathyM]

VAT just beat me....

James Mellor's age threw me at first...i had it down as 32 too !  but it is actually 42 on the original..the 4 is the same as the 4 of Sykes Buckley's age.

The Dransfields -

in the next house - address also Ash House

Thomas DRANSFIELD   Head  Unm.  50     farmer  15? acre
Betty          "             sister in law   widow   58     washerwoman
Mary AINLEY             housekeeper  48                  housekeeper


I have 1851 & 1841 - would you like me to look for the same address ?

[alllegs]

Thank you Kathy,

I would be most greatful if you could check the address for the other census's.

I am currently trawling through FreeBMD looking for all the things which Paul suggested.  So far I have found the marriage of James Mellor and Mary Ellen Dransfield which took place in the December quater of 1876.  I have also looked for Mary Ellen's previous marrige but I haven't come up with anything that fits with her age or location and now FreeBMD has frozen on me - oh the joy of researching the family!!

Thank you again

Legs.
xxxx

[KathyM]

In 1851 at Almondbury

the (I am sure) same houses - listed as Ash Houses

George DRANSFIELD  Head  M  53  Farmer 15 acres
Mary             "            wife    M  54 
John             "             son         24     Ag Lab
Sophia          "            dau         22     power loom weaver
Walter?         "           son          20     Ag Lab
Edna             "            dau         16     worsted reeler
Alfred            "     grandson       10   scholar
Adam Botheroyd   lodger           


next door

Thomas DRANSFIELD  Head   Unm   30   Farmer 12 acres
Mark DRANSFIELD       Bro      M       50   Fancy weaver
Betty       "                  wife     M       40      "          "
Ann         "                   dau               18  power loom weaver
Tom        "                   son                14  worsted spinner
Luke       "                   son                5     scholar


all born Almondbury


At Ashes Common there are three families of Mellors and then
Joseph DRANSFIELD 40 frmer with wife Ellen 34
children  Ann, Martha, Elizabeth, Eliza, William, Joe & Ellen

There are quite a lot of Dransfield's in the area.......probably all related in some way !!

Perhaps Mary E married John or Walter ??

[Paul E]

Hi Alllegs

The Mellor - Dransfield marriage you have found sounds about right: if you were to obtain this marriage cert it should give you her maiden name.

Kathy - did your 12.19 post miss out the Dransfields in 1861, by mistake?

Paul

[KathyM]

I am really really sorry - but I don't have access at home to 1861 census !!

However - have had a look at 1841 - and got myself in a real tiz !

Found Ashes Common.....

Loads of Mellors of course....

and :

Joseph DRANSFIELD  60  Delver
Thomas     "              15  Fancy Weaver
Mark          "              35   Fancy weaver
Betty          "             25   fancy weaver
Ann HOBSON            7
Tom DRANSFIELD      4
another boy.....looks like Green ?  surely not - maybe Greaves.... age unclear - either 1 or 2

I've been backwards and forwards like.....I don't know what....and I cannot find Ash Houses......maybe is wasn't built pr had another name....and I couldn't remember who I was looking for in the end....going for a lay down in a darkened room !