the History of Marie Antionette Hancock (born Turton)

[JLH1965]

Hello
   I'm new to the Chat boards and hoping that this could be what helps break a mystery on my mothers family line.
   
   Marie Antionette Hancock (born Turton) (b:1863, m:1885)  is one of my Great Great Grandmothers, she was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, England and Married James Henry Hancock and died in London, England. I haven't been able to find any information that i can count on.
   
   Any help would be of great help
   Thank You

[Kay99]

There is a marriage of a John Hancock to a Marie Antionette Turton in Lambeth in 1885 and I wonder if this is the family in 1891 living in Lambeth

John Hancock 51 b Walworth, London - General Dealer
Marie Hancock 28 b Bradford
James Healey Hancock 8 Months b Lambeth
Annie Long Hancock    9  Niece  b Lambeth
Lilian Healey Hancock    4 ? Daughter  b Lambeth
Louisa Doggett    37 Boarder

[Kay99]

Details of the 1885 marriage are online

Marie Antionette Turton is listed as 22  with father Richard Turton - Musician 
John Hancock is listed as 45 a Bachelor - Fish Dealer  with father William Hancock (deceased)  Grainer?

[Kay99]

I wonder if this newspaper article might related to the Turton family??

May 20, 1865 - Hampshire Advertiser
RICHARD TURTON, musician, now travelling with Ginnett's Circus, WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE for any DEBTS his WIFE, MARY ANN TURTON (now keeping the Golden Lion Tap, Baok-of-the- Walls, Southampton)

[Kay99]

I  can't see a birth for Marie in Bradford but there is this birth in 1862 on the GRO Birth Index

MARRONETT  TURTON - Mothers maiden name      EDWARDS        
GRO Ref 1862  March Qter 1862 in BRADFORD YORKSHIRE  Volume 09B  Page 61

Also found a marriage online

Richard Turton age 24 Musician  father George Turton - Labourer
Mary Ann Edwards age 20  father Henry Edwards - Licensed Victualler
Marriage 1 Mar 1852    Liverpool, St John, Lancashire

Added -can't see them in a  census but they must have moved around a lot

[Kay99]

Looking at other possible siblings of Marie Turton there are a few options on the GRO Birth Index and I noticed the following -

William Henry Turtin - Mothers Maiden Name Edwards
Dec Qrter 1859 in HULL  Vol 09D  Page 211

I think I have found him in the Irish Census in 1901 listed a musician with birthplace Hull with wife Caroline.   A newspaper article in Liverpool Mercury - March 5, 1895 relates to  a court case about the cruel treatment of their daughter Caroline Marian or Marian Anette by people they left her with while they were on tour with the circus.  Four years before they had been connected to a circus  company in Belfast

So William may well have been a son of Richard and Mary Ann and worked in the circus as a musician like his father

[Jomot]

Great finds Kay 

I think you're right about William Henry as there is an article in The Era 18 April 1885 about a question being raised to the Home Secretary about an accusation that Ginnett's Circus trained their boys using whips, severely lashing them whenever they failed. Frederick Ginnett, proprietor, strenuously denied it, and the troupe signed a letter confirming this.  Amongst the signatures was William Henry Turton, a double drummer, who had been with them 25 years, ie since birth.

Also Leeds Times 04 May 1867 reported on a Mary Ann Turton 'connected with a travelling circus' being charged with stealing a sovereign, so it looks like she & Richard may have reconciled.

[Kay99]

Good find Jomet - I found the reference to Mary Ann but missed the article on William Henry which I  think confirms the connection to Richard and Mary Ann

[Millmoor]

The record of the Bradford Sessions in 1867 gives Mary Ann's age as 41 and states she is married with no trade . Verdict of the jury - no bill for larceny.

William