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Hi Roger

Are you part of the same Backway family mentioned in this thread?

I have very little information on this family, so I am unable to help you otherwise, but I hope Roger from England can 

From free BMD- I have deaths of Mary Ann Russell in St Thomas Sept 1842, and St Thomas Sept 1845, Plymouth 1847 ~~~ as well as Mary Russell in Chard June 1843, St Thomas Dec 1844,  Tiverton June 1845 and another 6 Mary Russell's before 1851. 

So that is impossible to find which one to choose as its a needle in a haystack. You could be right, Mary may have moved to somewhere else working as a servant.

Ben is in London in 1861 as a servant, and he emigrated within a few years after. Maybe his mother has died or remarried?

I just found a marriage of Charlotte Russell in Taunton in Dec 1861, on the free BMD so I will try following that up.  That would mean she married as her married name not her maiden name. Not sure if that was the usual way it worked.

Thanks for your help Tiggi!

Thanks Tiggi for those insights.

I guess you saw the birth certificate on ancestry?

I also noted that they seemed to be living in a lodging house in the 1841 census as well, so maybe they were moving around looking for work? Makes it a little harder. I also noted in 1841 census, just a few people down was a William Russell at the same address. Coincidence or connected ~ hard to tell even though probably related.

I may get the Ben death cert from Bideford, but the Mary Russell's are harder to pin down which one to choose as there are a few. The birth cert would be a better bet as you get more information I suppose.  And at least the year of birth is easier to ascertain.

Food for thought!

Do UK certificates of death give occupations? I haven't seen any UK death certificates. 

Now that is a good point Jamcar, as he wasn't born in the area per the 1841 census? Might be worth a wider look on the 1851 census, especially if I can find anyone same name that's a doctor or traveller.

Will follow up that idea next. Thanks!