Major Headache

[ijl]

Hi everyone,

if you enjoy a problem that gives you a headache then please read on.
This was first posted back in June 2005 so some may have read it
before. Iknow Paul E tried to help. Only recently gone back to this line
of my family. Iwill post all the info and hope someone can help in any way.

Here goes

My mothers maiden name is Bradbury-Harrisonand she was led to believe
the Harrison was added so as to recieve an inheritance.

Heres what i have found.

1901

George Bradbury widow 50 Fishmonger b. Hanley, Staffs
Ralph son 25 Fishmonger b. Hanley
Mary J daughter 20 b. Hanley
Maggie daughter 19 b. Hanley
Alice daughter 15 b. Hanley
Fred son 13 b. Hanley

Fred is my grandfather and Maggie and Alice are who my
mother is named after.

1891

George Bradbury head 39 Fishmerchant b. Hanley
Mary A wife 38 b. Hanley
Ralph son 17 Fish merchants assistant b. Hanley
John son 14         :                                       :
Sarah A daughter 12                                   :
Jane daughter 10                                        :
Margaret daughter 9                                   :
Alice daughter 5                                           :
Fred son 3                                                   :

1881

George A Harrison head 29 fishdealer b. Hanley
Mary A wife 28                                          :
Samuel son 5                                            :
John son 4                                                :
Mary J daughter 2mths                             :

note the name has changed to HARRISON?

1871

Samuel Bradbury head 44 fishmonger b. Hanley
Sarah wife 41                                            ;
George son 20                                           :

back to BRADBURY

1861

Samuel Bradbury head unm 34 fishdealer b. Hanley
Sarah Harrison servant 30                             :
George Harrison nephew 9                           :

The address is 30 Piccadilly, Hanley for the 1871,1881,
1891,1901 census and 25 Broad St, Hanley in 1861

Back in 1881 2 children , Ralph andSarah are missing and after
searching the census found them living with a family named Urwin,
they are down as grandchildren.
So Urwin is Mary A Harrison/Bradburys surname?

Looking for a marriage between Mary A and George threw up 2
possibles,

Mary A Urwin, George Albert Bradbury DEC 1871 6B 422 LEEK

Mary A Urwin, George Albert Harrison DEC 1871 6B 389 STOKE

Ihave recieved the marriage certificates this morning which read
as follows,

George A Bradbury 22 fishdealer, f. Samuel Bradbury , fishdealer
Mary Ann Urwin 21 , f. Ralph Urwin , ground bailiff

married in Leek by license Oct 13th 1871

George A Harrison 21 fishmonger, f. Isaac Harrison, potter
Mary Ann Urwin 21, f. Ralph Urwin, ground bailiff

married in Stoke after banns Nov 6th 1871(witnessed by Sarah Bradbury)

sorry to have gone on a bit but could someone shed light on the
change in surnames and the marriage certificates?

Is it the same George and Mary, is the witness ,Sarah, Georges
mother, is Isaac really named Isaac?

Hoping someone can help

      regards   IJL
,

[janan]

How very peculiar
Looks as if Mary A might have married the same man twice - but why Assume you have already checked for George A Harrison on all other censuses and George Bradbury on the ones where you already have Harrison? What about the mysterious Isaac - any sign of him anywhere?  What's going on with Samuel Bradbury and Sarah Harrison in 51? Have you found a birth for George Harrison and/or Bradbury? Looking again was he born to Sarah Harrison when she was married to Isaac? Or is she listed as unmarried in 61? Can you find a marriage? Death for Isaac?

 
Jan

[northern_rose]

Very strange!

Can it be two separate families? I know I have similar in my family with two Elizabeth Birketts both born in 1837 in the same village!

All VERY confusing. I am no help but offer my sympathy!

Good luck

[casalguidi]

Definitely looks like the same couple ...................... the first marriage not being so public with it being by licence perhaps and it certainly does look like there could well be some element of truth behind the story passed down through the family.

Casalguidi

[janan]

Isaac Harrison potter born c1830 is alive in 1881 livng in Burslem with wife Eliza - I think I can see him in 1871 and 91. I'll have a look in 41 for you. Really think you need the 51 though plus George Harrison's birth certificate.
Jan

[suey]

Someone shoot me if I have this wrong  

1861 - Sam Bradbury is living with Sarah Harrison - nephew George

1871 - Sam Bradbury has married Sarah Harrison and George takes his name.

October 1871 George now calling himself Bradbury and naming Samuel B as his father marries Mary Unwin

  in the meantime a Harrison relative is near to death and promises the Harrison's a divvy  '
OOps George is now calling himself Bradbury - better change back a bit quick and so marries Mary Ann again in November under his proper name
George Harrison and naming his real father as Isaac Harrison

witness Sarah is probably his mother, she was Sarah Harrison but married Sam B.

I think you need to look closely at Sarah Harrison - what is her connection with Isaac.

[janan]

First

Brian St, Shelton, Stoke on Trent
Ann Harrison 30 Ind
Charles do 14 Pottery Haulage a/c
Isaac do 12 do Figure M
John do 9 do Mould  ???ner J
Sarah do 7
Emma do 5
Joseph do 2
All born in county
HO107/992/8 Pg5

[RJ_Paton]

Could it be that George was illegitimate .... and his biological father was the elusive Isaac ?

[behindthefrogs]

I will offer you a solution which Looked obvious to me.

George Harrison is the son of Sarah Harrison possibly by Isaac Harrison.  She marries Samuel Bradbury and George takes on his new father's name.  Whether she married Isaac needs investigating but she seems to call herself Harrison before marriage.

Alternatively George is base born but regards Isaac her father as his father.

The inheritance business comes in because he intends to marry in his original name but is told that unless he takes his new father's name he won't inherit the business.  He later marries under his correct namee by banns so that it is all legal.

The family later sorts this by combining the names.