Wow! You guys never cease to amaze me. Thank you so much!
I'll take the replies as they came in:
1861 census (transcribed as Soney!): - thanks! I already have this.
1871 census: - and this!
Are you sure about this marriage date? I wonder what the source is. In Dec qtr 1841 I can see a Thomas Honey marriage in Totnes, but others on the page are Jane Blumpey, John Bolt and Ann Gilbert, according to FreeBMD. - I took the marriage date from someone's FT on ancestry. I see they've got it wrong. I had seen an earlier reference to an 1830 marriage, but the gap between that date and the arrival of Ellen gave me some doubts. However, the link with the Caledonia (and John Honey!) does solidify this. Thank you!
Very few parish registers from Devon are online, so finding the baptisms is going to be difficult? - thanks for the links!
After his nonconformist baptism he was baptised in the C of E at Stoke Damerel on 18 December 1831, as Thomas Honey. Parents: Thomas (mariner) and Margaret, of Devonport. - I did have this reference, but had dismissed him due to the gap before 1845. However, the father's occupation does confirm this for me. Thank you!
They went on to have another Thomas, born 4 Feb 1838 and baptised 8 July 1838 at Stoke Damerel. Parents: Thomas (mariner) and Margaret, of Devonport. - and again, thanks!
At the same parish in 19.11.1820 a John Honey marries a Mary Ann Spargo ,the couple you have already found on the 1861 censuswith Ellen Margaretta Honey. - great! This helps confirm the uncle/niece link for me.
It looks like Mary Ann and Margaret Spargo were sisters both born in St Neots Cornwall daughters of John and Mary Spargo.Baptised Mary Ann 30.12.1798 and Peggy 20.9.1807 at St Neots. - thanks!
There is a burial for Margaret Honey aged 45, of 1 Chapel St, at Stoke Damerel on 13 May 1852 (death was on 8 May). - This seems likely to be her. I wonder where she was on the 1851 census? I've searched, but haven't found her yet. Ah, she's been found (see below!) Thank you!
Slightly earlier than expected from the naval record (c1803-4 birth), but a Thomas Honey born 6 Sep 1802 was baptised at Stoke Damerel on 1 Dec 1802, son of John & Sarah. - Looks feasible, but I thougth most of these records weren't available yet?
How is it known that Thomas was deceased by 1851? - Thomas sailed with Sir John Franklin to Northern Canada in 1845 and - like the rest of the crew - was never seen again.
I see that an intestate estate of a Thomas Honey of Devonport was administered by a John Honey in 1854. - Could well be the right one. It took several years before people were convinced all the crew were dead.
It seems he was still alive in 1851 - He was certainly assumed to be alive, and he might have still been at the time, but word didn't reach England for a while longer that the crew had been wiped out.
