Thomas Henry Colman or Coleman b Q1 1862 Waldron, Sussex

[jonw65]

Possible for spouse
Birth, Sep 1863 Spalding 7a 291
Coleman, Mary Elizabeth     
mother Leusley 

Could be the 7 year old Elizabeth Coleman in the workhouse in 1871
Place of birth Quadring
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VRXT-RRX

And in 1881 could be a domestic servant, age 17, in Newborough. Birthplace now Gosberton
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27C-CY9P

[jonw65]

Also in the Spalding union workhouse in 1871
Isaac and Jacob Coleman
Both age 10, both born Quadring
Appears they were twins
Births registered March 1861, Spalding 7a 291
Although GRO index has the mother as Leusley on one and Lensley on the other.

Should be able to find in the 1861 census...
John

[Geoff-E]

Possible for spouse
Birth, Sep 1863 Spalding 7a 291
Coleman, Mary Elizabeth     
mother Leusley 

Could be the 7 year old Elizabeth Coleman in the workhouse in 1871
Place of birth Quadring
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VRXT-RRX

And in 1881 could be a domestic servant, age 17, in Newborough. Birthplace now Gosberton
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27C-CY9P

Good find!

I have in an index a marriage of John COLEMAN to Elizabeth LEUSLEY (6 Dec 1855 at Quadring, fathers' names John C and Joseph L)

but FreeBMD has this
Marriages Dec 1855
COLEMAN    John        Spalding    7a   705   
LINSLEY    Elizabeth        Spalding    7a   705

Deaths Mar 1871
COLEMAN    John    44    Spalding    7a   248

Deaths Dec 1865 
Coleman    Betsy   36     Spalding    7a   211

[Cockneyrebel]

If Edith May was born in Lambeth to Ashley, I presume that is Mary Elizabeth's maiden name or else why would Edith be with the family in 1891-1901? Why do you think that Gertrude isn't  his daughter, she appears on the 1891 census too?
Cr

[avm228]

Perhaps have a look at the fertility info in the 1911 census which you found - for number of children born to the marriage.   Gertrude is much older than the next child, and the format of the GRO entry for her birth registration is consistent with illegitimacy.

[Cockneyrebel]

Good thinking avm, she said that she'd had 7, 6 living and 1 had passed away; we know the 1 but which of the other 7 wasn't her's when the whole lot of them were living with their 'parents?' during the censuses?
Cr

[avm228]

The fertility questions in 1911 don't ask how many children a married woman has had, they ask how many children of the present marriage.  So it doesn't mean any of the children aren't hers, but rather that one wasn't born to the marriage.  I'd suggest it is highly likely that the relevant one is Gertrude, born before the couple got together (as you say it's not clear whether they were actually married to one another, but they presented as a married couple).

[dcbnwh]

Some related items?

Joseph son of Samuel and Rose Lieusly baptised on 6 Nov 1804 in Gosberton

1851 Census, Eudike, Quadring:
Joseph Luesby (Luesly) Head b 1804 Gosberton, Ag Lab
Mary Luesby (Luesly) Wife b 1802 Holbeach, Ag Labourer's Wife
Mary E Luesby (Luesly) Grand Child b 1851, Quadring

Mary Elizabeth Lucsby (Luesly)
Baptism date: 4 Aug 1850 Quadring
Mother: Elizabeth

David

[Cockneyrebel]

Which leaves the mystery of Edith born in Lambeth? If Gertrude was born illegitimately could they have eloped to Lambeth for the birth of Edith and returned later? Or they were never married?

Cr