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Well done Lorraine, I didn't know FindMyPast had released the Leicestershire records I fear I'm about to loose my half term holiday to research  . I went to st Johns with my parents last September so I know where you mean re the unmarked graves. I will ask my gt aunt who is George Neal's granddaughter (though she was born long after he died) she may know though she does get confused these days. We need to find what happened to Theodosisa, I have sessions searching but haven't got any further, you'd think looking for someone over 90 when they died would narrow it down!! Anyway happy hunting Lorraine and hope your Ok, same to you Trisha, I'm heading over to the FindMyPast website to loose a few hours, I mean do some research. Sarah x

She's living on her own - no address noted and is listed as a pauper

Hi Lorraine and Ted

Lorraine I think you are right about Rebecca Meadows, my mum remembers willoughby's daughters, they used to visit my Nan with their mother after willoughby died. I think Rebbecca died in Dec 1917, there is a death in Ashby for an Ann Rebecca Neal b1849, but I need to send for the death cert to check (I know she was baby used as Ann Rebbecca Coley). The John Lea d1927 aged 7 was the son of John Lea 1885-1967 and my Nan's brother he was known as Jack, all this calling children after parents in some ways helps you confirm things but in others is confusing. The Lea in John Lea is the maiden name of Ann Rebecca Coley's mother Catherine Coley nee Lea. John Lea had another child Vera who also died in childhood in 1922 aged 5. Thanks for all the baptism info. Keep digging 🙂

Ted I've got Ann and Benjamin Neal living as Kennys with a James Kenny in the 1891 census but nothing after that, though I will check again with fresh eyes.

My Nan used to tell us "Mrs Bird stories" when we were little in the 60's she said Mrs Bird was a relative but I'm not sure of the actual connection. My Nan, Mary Rebbeca and her father John Lea Neal both had red hair and Mrs Bird would tease my Nan that her mother had left her out I the rain and she'd gone rusty! Both my mum, my sister and I have red hair do found these stories funny, my daughter also has red hair, do either of you have red hair in the family? My Nan always said it came down the Coley side.

I'm off to do more hunting, I envy you Lorraine being so local to it all, I'm not far away in Birmingham but somehow there's never time for me to spend a day trawling round grave yards/record offices.
Take care both
Sarah

Thanks for that, I'll check it out 😊

Thanks Larkspur for all the info, I had a bit of it but not most, it's not been helped by the mix of Hannah and Anna. I've also had confusion over whether she was a Wilson or not (family tradition tells me she is) the 1851 census has a William Waddington living with the family in Newark and described as brother I can't find any other record for him other than a Chelsea Pensioner record. It's becoming a real brick wall for me!
Thanks again for your help