Hi whiteout
The only information that we have on William bn c1837 is from the 1861 census where he states he was born Westcombe, Somerset and his 1859 marriage where he gives his fathers name as Richard whose occupation is a Cordwainer.
The old occupations website
http://rmhh.co.uk/occup/c2.html gives the definition of a cordwainer as -
Shoemaker. Originally, a leather worker using high quality Cordovan leather from Spain for such things as harness, gloves and riding boots. By the 19c it had reduced to a shoemaker - as distinct from a cobbler, who repaired shoes I have many of my Northampton area family who fluctuate between being Cordwainers/Shoe makers
I suspect that the reason John was looking at the William born in the workhouse in Frome with mother Ann, followed by the 1841 census entry in Bristol with a possible Ann and two children was that the William was around the right age and born Somerset. These now appear to be 'red herrings' as the workhouse William has died thus eliminating the possible mother 'Ann'
This 1841 census is no longer relevant but I will answer the queries
*Did the 1841 census not give a place of birth for William or Alfred or Ann?
*What were William, Alfred and Ann listed as (guests, sister in law?)
*What were the names, birth dates and birth places of the Bailey couple?
* The 1841 census was Bristol - place of birth for the family was born in County (assumed Gloucestershire though some parts of Bristol are also considered to be Somerset.
* The Bailey couple were a Brewer and his wife - 1841 census does not give relationships - there were other possible lodgers in this household including another young woman with children.
I think that the family that I have found in Westcombe Road, Batcombe ticks all the boxes on the small amount of evidence we have for William.
Rosie
