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« on: Saturday 13 August 05 18:51 BST (UK) »
Many thanks for your quick responses, Dave. The 1851 census is interesting and actually opens up more questions for me than it resolves. I had the 1861 census info (and Edwin was a private in the army at Regents Park Barracks in 1861). What is confusing me is that Sarah is listed as unmarried in both 1851 and 1861. I had thought the 1861 'unmarried' ref was a mistake, but I doubt both censuses would be incorrect on this matter. Given this data, I now suspect that Sarah was a single mother, although the 1871 census has her as a widow I wonder if she married between 1861 and 1871 and subsequently lost her husband...
Now, if she was a single mother, and Bentley was her maiden name, then she would seemingly be the Sarah Bentley who was the daughter of John and Mary, and twin of Thomas, who both were baptised Jan 6th 1811 in Welshpool.
I have the birth certificate for Harriet Sarah Bentley, daughter of Sarah, and it does not list a father, which may further prove Sarah was a single mother.
The one other piece of evidence I have is that Edwin's marriage certificate in 1878 (Welshpool) has his father listed as "Morris Bentley (deceased)" -- a policeman. I have not yet found birth or baptism records for Edwin (c.1837/8) or Maurice R (c.1841).
To move forward, I think I need to get the 1841 census for this family and/or see if I can find the birth records for Edwin and Maurice, although I suspect Edwin was borderline on being before BMDs began.
This has been a frustrating line for me!
Once again, thanks for your help.
Regards, Mike.