Now you find him then he's Gone Henry WHITEHEAD and Martha BOYNETT and FUNNELL

[Kiwicol]

Henry Whitehead a baker of Brick Lane, son of deceased George Whitehead also a baker, was married in 1844 at St Mary, Haggerston, to Martha Boynett, one witness was his brother James Whitehead.
they had a daughter Martha Phoebe in 1846, she is baptised in 1850 along with two of her mother's brothers children at Brighton, Sussex.
Next the GRO has two Whitehead's mother Boynett, middle name of Funnell, in 1861 Alfred Funnell son of a Boynett. The Census at Frant, has the family of Henry Funnell and Martha, all as Funnell.
Phoebe Whitehead daughter of Henry Whitehead married Thomas Austen.
Had Henry gone overseas and failed to return?
Just upped and done a runner?
Any ideas?
Cheers Colin

[Mabel Bagshawe]

I'm guessing the marriage has broken down somehow. Divorce wasn't an option for most ordinary people in those days, so you find many couples split and go off and live as married with another person. Martha still says she's married on 1851, although she appears to be living with her mother and brother so guess the marriage may already be in trouble.

Henry may be around somewhere - do you have an idea of his age (beyond being over 21 when he married) and place of birth

[PrawnCocktail]

The other option would be that Henry might be illegitimate. So his "official" name might be Whitehead, but he prefers to be known as Funnell. One would be his mother's name, one his father's.

His father may have been George, but who was his mother, and when did his parents marry?

[Kiwicol]

Henry was born a baptised in 1824. St Leonards shoreditch son of George Whitehead and Frances
In 1844 he was a witness to his sister Eliza Whitehead's marriage with brother James and sister in law Rachel. Brother James is a witness to Henry's marriage.
1845 he was in court an employee had stolen from him in brick lane.
Henry Funnell was about 10 years older and born elsewhere.
Where did you find Martha in 1851? Was martha phoebe the only child with her?
many thanks

[Mabel Bagshawe]

3 Nile St Brighton

Martha Garrett    58, widow b Bethnal Green. fishmonger
Martha Whitehead    29, daughter, married, b Spitalfields, silk winder
Pheobe Whitehead    5, granddaughter b Shoreditch

HO107, 1646, 34, 2

same address - listed as separate household

William Boynett    37 - rail porter b Bethnal Green
Sarah Boynett    16, daughter b Bethnal green, dressmaker
Eliza Boynett    10, daughter b Mile End New town
William Boynett    8, son b Mile End New town
Emma Borynett    5 - daughter b Mile End New town

[Mabel Bagshawe]

Martha Boynett,     Widowed
Samuel Garratt        Widowed
Marriage 12 Dec 1837  St. Botolph Bishopsgate

[Kiwicol]

Says she is still married, it would be interesting to see if a father is on the birth certificates of Harry Funnell Whitehead, and Edward Funnell Whitehead. They drop the Whitehead on census and their marriages.
The indexed marriage for Phoebe Whitehead to Thomas Austen says her father was Henry Whitehead, be interesting to see what it says about him, (probably just deceased baker).
Thank you for that Census record

[jennifer c]

1841 census Brick Lane
Francis Whitehead 50 Baker
Eliza 20
Henry 15 Baker
All born in the county

Jennifer

[jennifer c]

1851 St Georges Southwark Frances Whitehead aged 60 is with Thomas ( a baker) & Eliza's family but Frances place of birth shows Diss Norfolk?

Jennifer