Help with the mysterious William Shield

[Purple Badger]

Hi,

I have hit a stumbling block tracing William Shield.

His son John Shield was born 1815 in St Mary's, Leicester.  On John's Marriage certificate from 1839 in All saints, Leicester, his father is listed as William Shield, Wool Bonder. He is not listed as deceased so I am assuming he was alive at this stage. 

I know that William Shield was married to Sarah and I believe her maiden name was Durrance. She ran a grocers shop on North-gate Street in Leicester.  I have found the family on the 1841 census.

Name:   Sarah Shield
Age:   65
Estimated Birth Year:   abt 1776
Gender:   Female
Civil Parish:   All Saints
Hundred:   Leicester Borough
County/Island:   Leicestershire
Country:   England
Street address:

Occupation:

.
Registration district:   Leicester
Sub-registration district:   West Leicester
Neighbors:   View others on page
Piece:   605
Book:   3
Folio:   9
Page Number:   9
Household Members:   
Name   Age
Maria Meller   4
Sarah Shield   65
John Shield   25
Mary Ann Shield   20
William Shield   1

William Shield is not with the family on the 1841 census. I presumed he had died between 1839 (son's marriage) and 1841 (the census) but I am struggling to find a record of death. If not dead he could be elsewhere but i can not find him.

William Shield's wife Sarah appears to be from Oakham, Rutland originally and although she live in Leicester and all her children were born there she had them baptised at Oakham Baptist Chapel. I believe Sarah and William got married in 24th June 1805 at Oakham.

William Shield is just a name as this stage as I can not find his birth, his death or any idea what happened to him. Can anybody help me with this mystery?

Many Thanks 

[chempat]

Have you got Sarah's death and her death certificate for further information about her, which could confirm death of her husband?

[Purple Badger]

Hi,

I have Sarah's death notice from the Leicester Chronicle newspaper 23 Oct 1847. There is no mention of William. I have also seen articles about shoplifting in Sarah's shop etc and there is no mention of William or that she is a widow. Always gives the impression it is just her. 

[Bunnygirl]

Hi
This maybe your William?
NBI CD3
William Shields aged 54yrs All Saints Leicester Burial 13 October 1829
Regards

Bunnygirl

[Purple Badger]

Hi Bunny,

Certainly right area of Leicester and right age so seems promising. I have his name on the wedding cert of his son in 1839 so assumed he was alive, as on previous wedding certs I have seen they have stated deceased after the name if the father is dead. Any idea on whether stating that somebody was deceased was a universal practice of just pot luck?

Cheers 

[chempat]

Pot luck, really.

If they are not actually asked if their Father is alive, then they will not necessarily volunteer the information.

Did William and Sarah have any other children?

[Purple Badger]

Oh good looks like your record could be the one.  Yes there were four other daughters that I have found. Last born in 1819.

[willsy]

Sarah was buried at All Saints 24 Oct and I can see that John had children baptised in Oakham surname Shields

[Purple Badger]

Oooh I knew Sarah and William had children baptised at Oakham but didn't realise John did too. Do you have the details?