I have an odd problem, involving Kent people who "strayed" to Berkshire and then seemingly came back again.
In 1851 William Cornhill b approx 1826, married to Ann Fowler, was a baker in Oare Street, Oare in Kent. His father was William Cornhill. (He is my gggg-grandfather). In 1851, he had 3 children, William Jnr, Frederick and Eleanor. In later years he sired many, many more!!
In 1851 Joseph Cornhill b approx 1826, married to Sarah, was a baker in Seasalter, Whitstable in Kent. His father was probably also William Cornhill, although this is not confirmed. He has two children by 1851, Joseph and Adelaide.
Both were born in Wokingham, Berkshire. Neither of them appear in the 1841 census in any available county. (I subscribe to The Genealogist, British Origins, Ancestry and Stepping Stones)
In 1851, Thomas Cornhill b 1793 in Faversham was a labourer in Oare Street, Oare. His wife was Susannah. They had children including another William, Mary, Susannah, all born in Sheerness, and Thomas born in Oare. Thomas was the only one still at home in 1851. Susannah had married William Honess prior to 1841.
In 1847, my gggg-grandfather William Cornhill the baker married Ann Fowler in Oare, and his witness at his wedding was Susannah Honess, the daughter of Thomas and Susannah Cornhill of Oare. His father was given as William Cornhill deceased. The indication is that Susannah was his cousin.
In 1840 a William Cornhill (perhaps Wm Cornhill Snr) died in Faversham. (Certificate sent for)
In 1843 a Martha Cornhill, born about 1805 in Wokingham, married William Baker in Faversham. (Certificate sent for). I suspect this is the widowed mother of William and Joseph - the marriage cert should give her maiden name as well as confirming that she was a widow.
However, in the 1841 census, like her two putative sons, Martha Cornhill does not appear in any available county.
In Wokingham, a Richard Cornhill died in 1840 (Certificate sent for).
So we have a story - perhaps - about a Cornhill family in the Faversham region. Two sons were born, Thomas and William. Thomas stayed at home whilst William went off roaming, ending up in Wokingham, Berks, where he probably married a Martha. They had at least two children, William and Joseph, and may have had two daughters named Elizabeth and Adelaide. They could aslo have had a son named Richard. There are no established Cornhill families in Berkshire at all.
Adelaide and Elizabeth Cornhill were both born in Wokingham, in about 1830 and 1834 respectively, and appear to have remained in Berkshire.
In 1841 an Elizabeth Cornhill is in the Wokingham Union Workhouse aged 6. In 1851 she is a prisoner in Reading Gaol. By 1861 she is working as a servant in Coulsdon, Surrey.
In 1851 Adelaide is working as a servant in Mistley, Berks. She does not appear in the 1841 census.
So if William Cornhill who died in Faversham in 1840 is William Cornhill Snr, then where were his widow and his two sons (Joseph and William) and possibly a daughter (Adelaide) in 1841? They all appear in 1851, but in 1841 there is no sign of them at all. I have tried every possible combination of names and dates - and have even gone to the extent of looking them up by first name alone.
Does anyone who might also be researching Cornhills have any ideas?
