Hi everyone,
My 3rd great grandmother was Mary Ann Symons, I know that her birth range was roughly about 1811 - 1817, I have had a lot of problems pinning her down since the start of my research.
In 1835, she married my 3rd great grandfather, John Richard Foot, in Mylor.
Between 1836 and 1842, they had four children, Richard Marshall Foot, John Henry Foot, and Mary and Elizabeth. There was a tradition in the family to name (usually) the firstborn after both grandfathers, paternal, then maternal in that order, in this case, Richard was the oldest, but named after an uncle of John R Foot and John Henry Foot took the grandfather's names, should my suspicions here be correct.
Sometime between 1842 and 1849, John sr has disappeared, possibly a sea death, but I've never found anything at all in regards to his disappearance/death.
Mary Ann then married (presumably) William Brooks and had two further sons, the youngest of whom, was born in Essex.
The problems I have had with Mary Ann is on the census records, the information given is as follows;
1841, living in Mylor, Cornwall, b.of this county, aged 25.
1851, now living in Brightlingsea, Essex, b.Falmouth, aged 38.
1861, Brightlingsea, b.Flushing, aged 49.
1871, Brightlingsea, b.Flushing, aged 56.
1881, Brightlingsea, b.Crediton, Devon!!, aged 65.
She died in Brightlingsea in 1890, the age given on the parish record I have from the Seax website is 77.
As you can see, there are quite a few inconsistencies here and has made any searches very problematic indeed.
If anyone can help me solving this, I would be ever so grateful,
Many thanks in advance,
Alex.