Mary Ann Smith ... it's complicated

[dtcoulson]

HELP!

Mary Ann Smith born Q1 1851, Newington, mother maiden name Gooch.

In 1901 she is living with Martha Smith (b. 1824), widow of William Smith in Wanstead, Essex.
The relationship is not shown.

William Smith's other wife (he had at least two) was Eliza Gooch, and it is plausible that Mary Ann was the daughter of this couple.

But here's the problem:
In 1851, Eliza Gooch was still married to Robert Younger and had a son to him in January 1851.
She did not move in with William Smith (so far as I know) until 1852.

How can Eliza have kids to different fathers at the same time???

There must be some mistake somewhere... but where?

-DC

[Wiggy]

Have you seen the baptism record of Mary Ann Smith - you might just find the answer there.  Might be worth looking up the OPR to see if it gives any clues.  (Can one see the OPR for those dates - not sure.)

e.g. could William have had an affair with Eliza, (who then had Mary Ann), and married her later after his first wife died taking in his natural daughter at the same time . . .just throwing it in for thought.  I think I have my thinking straight . . .   Mary Ann may have just taken the name Smith when Mum moved in with William. (or did they actually marry?)

Wiggy

[Kay99]

Don't know if this helps but based on the GRO Birth index -Mary Ann b 1851 Newington had a twin

Eliza Alice Smith June Qtr 1851 ST MARY NEWINGTON  Vol 04  Page 426
Mother's Maiden Surname Gooch    

Kay

[Kay99]

Maybe not relevant but there is a possible marriage of the parents of the twins in Newington in 1850 -  William Mansfield Smith to Anna Maria Gooch.    They are possibly below in Newington and I can't see them post 1851 at the moment

William Mansfield Smith 28  Grocer Assistant? - Braintree, Essex?
Anna Marie Smith 26 Suffolk

Kay

[rosie99]

Maybe not relevant but there is a possible marriage of the parents of the twins in Newington in 1850 -  William Mansfield Smith to Anna Maria Gooch.    They are possibly below in Newington and I can't see them post 1851 at the moment

William Mansfield Smith 28  Grocer Assistant? - Braintree, Essex?
Anna Marie Smith 26 Suffolk

Kay

Deaths Sep 1862 
Smith    William Mansfield       
Camberwell    1d   293
age 40

[Kay99]

I think this is the family in 1861 - living in Paddington with twins but do they fit in with your family     Children mostly born Camberwell

William Smith 34  Braintree, Essex
Ann Smith    30
Alice Smith 10
Mary Ann Smith    10
Gilbert Smith 8
Lillar Smith 6
Clara Smith 11
Frank Smith 2
F D Smith    1   (registered as Fourdrinier!)

[isobelw]

The 1901 census only gives her as M A Smith, age 50, born Wanstead, Essex. Relation to head of household has been scored through, but could say daughter ( originally the S for single has been written in that box then overwritten with another word).
Mary Ann ( born Wanstead) and Martha (born Berkshire) can be found together in Wanstead in 1891 and 1881 ( where a brother Edward is also listed, age 20, born Ilford). Possible 1871 listing in Wanstead for Martha ( with husband James, son Edward and other children).
I don't think this is your Martha Smith as you have previously posted alternative census entries for some of these years for the Martha you are following.
Isobel

[dtcoulson]

Right on target Isobel,

that's proof that the Martha Smith I have picked up in 1901 is not the same as the one I have been looking at in the 1800s. Thank you for sorting that out.

There are a surprising number of Smith-Gooch marriages, so much so that I am satisfied that Mary Ann Smith is not part of my ancestor's family.

Thanks, Kay. You and I were on the same William Mansfield Smith trail at the same time.
Now definitely a red herring.

I'll call this a closed case.
Thanks all.

-DC