5
« on: Tuesday 05 June 18 08:32 BST (UK) »
This is a bit "long winded" - apologies. Citing the Rolvenden Church Register in 1992 I found, Mary Bishop, the daughter of Nicholas Bishop as being baptized 3-12-1856. (I shall call her Mary 1) Her sister Elizabeth baptized 24-8-1858 and sister Albina baptized 14-8-1861. So, I know this is correct as according to the church records. Mary appears in the 1861 Census as a daughter aged 4 living with Nicholas and Fanny Bishop at Lowden Farm in Rolvenden. In the 1871 Census there is a Mary Bishop, born in Rolvenden aged 14 as a pupil at a boarding school in Beckley, with the household head being John and a wife Clementine, who is also the Governess of Boarding. 1881 Census has Mary Bishop aged 24, a grandchild of Harriet Bishop (mother of Nicholas was Harriet and widowed by this time) living with Harriet at Church Yard Rolvenden. Then Mary Bishop, daughter of Nicholas, marries Harry Cockett in 1889 in Folkestone Kent and the 1891 Census has her living with said husband at Ivy House Rolvenden. They have children and Mary dies in 1900 aged 43. All seems very straight forward. Nicholas married Fanny Hughes in 1854 - they supposedly had 3 daughters - Fanny died in 1866. Nicholas then marries Fanny Mills in 1868 and they have 8 children. The 1st being daughters Fanny and Harriet Elizabeth and the others are all boys. All documented and verified.
Now the problem arises. Rolvenden MI's entry no 218 has Fanny wife of Nicholas Bishop jnr of this parish died 7 June 1866 aged 32. Entry 218 goes on
MARY DAUGHTER OF NICHOLAS BISHOP jnr. DIED 15 APRIL 1863 AGED 3years 11months
This implies Mary being born between 16 May 1859 and 15 April 1859, when Mary(1) born 1856 is also alive,
and the MI record has Fanny Hughes and 2nd Mary together impyling they are mother and daughter. This Mary(2) is not at their house in the 1861 Census nor at the house of Nicholas' parents. I know Mary(1) record in the church record is correct (1856) because the register was in chronological order.
Harriet, mentioned in the 1881 Census, had 3 children and Nicholas was the only boy, so she did not have any other Bishop family grandchildren. (other grandchildren would have been Dunk)
HELP!!! Is one of the records incorrect, is one of the Mary's illegitimate or adopted? Is there some sort of clue in MI inscription being so specific as to Marys (2) age?
I knew of a connection between the family Cockett and the family Bishop from a note I found about a photograph which said "Ethel Cockett, daughter of Polly Bishop (Cockett)" in 1950. Is Polly Bishop the nickname for Mary (1)? The people in the photo are well aged, probably 60ish.
I cannot confirm this but I think I saw a probate list where a Mary had a will in 1886 and the estate was granted to Nicholas Bishop, as was Probate from the Estates of Albina and Elizabeth.
I am at a complete loss at this point and any help would be fantastic. Thank you.