Hi there,
I know this is an old thread but Mr. Google led me here (where I should have looked first
) and I think I can add a little more.
I believe that Mary Ann Holden and her brother Charles are siblings of my 2xg grandfather William Holden. They are the children of George Holden and Mary Ann, nee White.
The GRO index entries of those children with the ever changing surnames are rather telling:
Births Jun 1869 Edmonton 3a 202
Holden, Edith Amelia Ward (mmn --)
Births Jun 1871 Edmonton 3a 217
Holden, Lilly Revina (mmn --)
Births Dec 1872 Edmonton 3a 241
Holden, Alice Mary Ward (mmn --)
Births Dec 1875 Edmonton 3a 258
Holden, William George Ward (mmn --)
There is also this birth and sad death of an earlier child:
Births Dec 1867 Edmonton 3a 207
Holden, Mary Ann Ward (mmn --)
Deaths Dec 1868 Edmonton 3a 130
Holden, Mary Ann Ward (1)
The 13 year old Thomas Holden, born Scotland, boarding with them in 1881 I think may be the son of Mary Ann's older brother John. If this is him he seems to have got himself counted twice on census night as he also appears with his parents at 1 Gowers Walk, Whitechapel (RG11 447 4 5).
I have seen your other post about William and Mary Ann with Mrs Ward still living nearby in 1891 and I can add that Mary Ann is still with William in 1901 at 10 Paradise Row (RG13 1276 25 2). William is still recorded as married - although I can't see Sarah Ann about - and Mary Ann is a 'boarder' in relation to the head of the household and her occupation is 'housekeeper'. None of the children are with them.
It looks like William died in 1902 and Mary Ann in 1906.
How interesting that whilst William was obviously happy to acknowledge his children, and it would have been known by all what the set up was, on census night Mary Ann could only be a 'housekeeper', 'servant', or 'boarder'. I have other cases of marital breakdown in my family tree where the new woman would quietly become 'wife' with no marriage taking place. I suppose this couldn't happen here with Sarah Ann always living close by.
Best regards, Tony.