Bowditch

[Lisajj]

Can anyone help shed any light or find missing people? Here goes..

I have a Mary A. Bowditch b.1841 in Ryme, Dorset
On the 1871 census, I have:
Mary A Bowditch, Head, Marr
Ellen Bowditch, 14, Step Daughter
James Bowditch, 11, step son
Thomas Bowditch, 10, step son
Frederick Bowditch, 8, son
Matilda Bowditch, 4, dau
Frank H Bowditch, 2, son

On 1881 Census:
Mary A. Bowditch, Head, age 42, marr
James Bowditch, 22, son
Frederick Bowditch, 18, son
Frank Bowditch, 12, son
Alfred Bowditch, 8, son
Amy Bowditch, 7mths, dau

On 1891 Census:
Mary A. Bowditch, Head, 53, wid
James Whittle, 32, son
Alfred Bowditch, 18, son
Amy Bowditch, 10, dau

On 1901 Census:
Mary A, Bowditch, Head 60, wid
James Bowditch, 40,son
Amy Bowditch, 20, daug

I can't find the 3 "step-children" before the 1871 census.
I don't know who the father is as he never appears on any census return.  There are a couple of possible marriages of a Mary Ann XXX to a Mr Bowditch, but not sure which one.
Can't find anyone other than Amy on 1911.
Why did she say they were step children on one census, but not any other and why did James have Whittle as his surname on 1891 but not the others?
Did Mary A Bowditch actually marry or was Bowditch her maiden name?

Any help would be fantastic!

Lisa

[groom]

Birth of JAMES WHITTLE

James Whittle
1859 Oct-Nov-Dec
Sherborne   Dorset
5a   370


Baptism

James Whittle
11 Sep 1861
Sherborne, Dorset, England
MOTHER:   Mary Anne Whittle

[groom]

Marriage of Mary Ann  - Elias was a widower and Mary Ann a spinster.

Elias Bowditch
9 Sep 1865
Upwey, Dorset, England
Father:   George Bowditch
Spouse:   Mary Ann Whittle
Spouse father:   George Whittle

[groom]

This looks as if it might be Elias and family in 1861
RG 9; Piece: 1348; Folio: 95; Page: 4
Poxwell  Dorset

Elias Bowditch           36     ag lab                        Netherbury, Dorset
Frances Bowditch   34                                     Wareham, Dorset
John Bowditch            12                                    Netherbury, Dorset
Elizabeth Susan Bowditch   9                               Netherbury, Dorset
Ellen Bowditch   5                                  Beaminster, Dorset
Jane Bowditch   2                                                Beaminster, Dorset
Mary Bowditch   34  visitor                                    Netherbury, Dorset

[groom]

I can't find any trace of Elias after his marriage to Mary Ann, but presuming the younger children were his, he must have been around somewhere.
 
If you do a search for deaths after 1865 and leave the end date open there is only one, a baby, so not him, but perhaps a relation.

March 1891    Bowditch    Elias Peach    0    Sherborne    5a   259 

[groom]

Frank Henry's baptism - father still a labourer

Frank Henry Bowditch
21 Feb 1869
Radipole, Dorset, England
Father:   Elias Bowditch
Mother:   Mary Ann Bowditch

[groom]

Frank Henry Bowditch married on 13th February 1899 and gaves his father as deceased.

Matilda Bowditch married 1st June 1889 gives her father as Elias Bowditch, labourer but doesn't say he is deceased.

So, if both were telling the truth, he died between those dates. Or did he leave the family and they either presumed he was dead or wanted it to appear that way? If he was alive in 1889 why isn't he on the censuses?

[groom]

Here is Thomas's baptism

Thomas Bowditch
11 May 1862
Poxwell, Dorset
Father:   Elias Bowditch
Mother:   Fanny Bowditch

A Fanny Bowditch died  Sep 1864  Weymouth    5a   210

[groom]

Here is Elias's baptism

 
Elias Bowditch
12 Sep 1824
Netherbury, Dorset
Father:   George Bowditch
Mother:   Phabe