There appears a simple explanation for this anomaly, but is the easyy answer the correct one?
In the hope that it will better help others to help me, and also open up my rationale to scrutiny, I will give a quite detailed account of this family.
Mary Ann Rendle was baptised at Stokenham, Devon on 3 May 1835. Between 1855- 1870 (approximately) she was cohabiting with a married man, James Wheaton Raymond (b c 1800 Sidbury). During that period she had three children - Richard (1859), Mary Ann (1864), and Sarah Ann (1867). All were rgistered in the name of Raymond and were born in Devonport.
In 1870 she married Thomas Hall, a R N seaman. In 1871, when Thomas was at sea (?), she was recorded as living in Coomb Park, Antony, with daughters Mary Ann Hall and Sarah Ann Hall. Also included in the household was Richard Hall, aged 11 months, born Antony.
It seems unlikely that Mary Ann would name a second son Richard when her first son Richard was still alive. Although I cannot find him in 1871 I believe he was still alive. ( see below). It is also impossible that he could be her grand child.
I have searched all baptisms registered in St Germans, 1869/70, all Richards born Devon and Cornwall over the same period, and all baptisms in name of Rendle, Raymond and Hall likewise and can find none that appear to relate. Neither can I find him in any subsequent census nor any obvious record of his death.
My first ( and only thought) is that it is an erroneous entry for Richard (1859), but whilst it easy to understand 11 years being entered as 11 months, it less easy to explain why he was recorded out of chronological sequence and I can think of no reason why his place of birth should be given as shown. Who was he? Have I missed some important detail? Is their a flaw in my logic or conclusion? Is there another explanation?
Richard Raymond married Harriet Stevens, Newton Abbot , 1879. In 1881 Richard Raymond, aged 22, born Devon port, was living with wife Harriet at 1 Hoxton Road, Torquay. In 1883 Richard and Harriet were witnesses to the marriage of his sister, Mary Ann Raymond and Frederick Saunders.
Thomas Hall died in 1879 and in 1880 Mary Ann Rendle/Raymond/Hall (of 1 Hoxton Road) married James Sanders, of 7 Hoxton Road, father of Frederick.
Any observations or suggestions that might help me straighten out this tangled family any further will be greatly appreciated.