Thomas BRITTAIN

[Greaves]

Frances FAVELL (c1799-1871) from Huntingdonshire married James GILBERT in 1818. They had a number of children together in the Southwark/Bermondsey area, before James died in 1845.

In 1851 Frances is living with her youngest son William at 24 St Georges Place, Southwark, which had long been the family home. She is described as a widow, which makes sense given the date of James' death in 1845. However, she is named as Frances BRITTON, suggesting that she has re-married.

Indeed, there is a death of a Thomas BRITTAIN in 1855, a "fitter" who died at 24 St Georges Place, Southwark aged 50 yrs and the informant is Frances BRITTAIN of the same address.

I am puzzled on a number of accounts. Why was she described as a widow in 1851, if she had re-married to Thomas BRITTON? And why wasn't Thomas on the census form as living at the address?

I can find no evidence of a marriage between Thomas and Frances. Nor can I find a birth for Thomas or indeed any trace in the census returns for 1841 and 1851.

All help gratefully received.

[lizdb]

 I would suggest that she wasn't married to Brittain, thus was still a widow.
But she obviously lived with him at some stage and took his name. But he wasn't at the same address on census night. Either didn't live there permanently at that time, or did but happened to be away on census night.
That is what it appears, just based on what you have said.

[Greaves]

Yes, I have come to a similar view.

I would, however, like to find out a little more about him. At a minimum some trace in census records or a birth registration.

[ShaunJ]

Actually in the 1851 census she is listed as Frances Gilbert at 24 St Georges Place South. She has 4 children with her: Eliza, Marian, George James and William. I think you must be looking at the 1861 census.

[Greaves]

Yes, you are right. I was looking at 1861.

By the way, I have the four children listed for 1851 as Eliza, Maria, James and William. I assume we are looking at the same entry.

[ShaunJ]

Yes sorry "George" should be James. A slip of the brain between reading and typing.

"Marian" is quite clear though.

[Greaves]

Agreed, though her real name from her baptism was Mary Ann.

[Jolee]

As a point of interest
Thomas Brittain (wrongly transcribed) as Boritheom on the 1841 census he came from Ramsey Huntingdonshire and was a farmer, born 1795 but on this census married to Elizabeth and had 3 children.
If she came from the area she may well have known him

[lizdb]

So, if it is the 1861 census you were looking at, and you have Brittains death in 1855, then she would have been a widow!  Either widow of Gilbert (if she didnt marry Brittain) or widow of Brittain if she did.

No question as to him just not being there on census night, if he had died at that address 6 years earlier.