Read emails between you and Annette re: Henry Newson/Mary Robinson. You described them as fun and intriguing to research. Would you be willing to share some details?
My Family Tree
My 3 x gt grandparents:
Henry Newson, bapt. Aldeburgh, St. Peter and St. Paul, Suffolk, Jan. 6, 1761
(s/o Wm. and Sarah Newson).
Mary Robinson, bapt. Orford, St. Bartholomew, Suffolk, Jul. 3, 1763
(d/o John and Mary Robinson)
Henry N. married Mary R. Jul. 11, 1787 at Orford Suffolk.
Henry Newson died Feb. 25, 1840 at Orford, 81 yrs (Source: Cert. of Death GRO)
Their dau. Mary (Ann) born Feb. 3, 1800, bapt. Dec 5, 1802 at Orford, St. Bartholomew
Mary Ann Newson Marital History
Marriage No. 1: Mary Ann wed James Hook Aug. 25, 1822 at St George the Martyr, Southwark
(Source: GLRO entry #547)
1841 Census, Clapham, Surrey – Head: James Hook (40 yrs), Wife: Mary Hook (40 yrs)
James d. 1848 age 47 yrs (Source: GRO Cert. entry of Death #490)
Marriage No. 2: The widow, Mary Ann wed James Potter Dec 27, 1849, Parish Church, Battersea. Father’s occupation: “Officer”; Witness: Esther Hook her dau. (GRO Cert. of Marriage, No. 435)
1851 Census, Lachmere, Battersea – Head: James Potter (24 yrs), Wife: Mary Ann Hook (“43 yrs”) born Orford, Suffolk. Newson Hook, Step Son, age 10 yrs, born Clapham, Surrey. I think Mary is fibbing here! Reason much younger husband.
Questions raised:
1) What type of “Officer” was Mary’s father, Henry?
2) How do I find her actual death date with the discrepancy in her age on the 1851 Census? She should be 50.
3) Under what surname was she buried: Newson, Hook or Potter? We ruled out Mary Ann Newson, Kingston upon Thames, Sept 17, 1890, age 89 yrs.
Re: Officer
I have military records for 3 of Mary Ann and James Hook’s sons. Two were 13th Light Dragoons and one was 58 Regt. Of Foot. This could point to a family tradition of military service.
Research fails to find any military record for Henry Newson. Some correspondents have suggested a Custom’s Official, Coastal Guard, Prison Guard, a militia? Some suggested he may have enlisted in the service of a foreign army?
As you say, very intriguing. Perhaps your research can fill in some of the blank