Sgt John Rothwell

[Valda]

The children's baptisms of an a soldier serving in the army overseas are often found in the overseas section of the General Register Office index at the Family Records Centre (baptised by the regimental chaplain), only usually baptised locally if the soldier was not Church of England or no regimental chaplain was available. Those records can be searched online at 1837online. The records begin in 1761 and the GRO will issue certificates for any reference found. They have the sort of information found on baptisms not on births.

Tasmanian BMDs can be searched here (this early parish records)

http://portal.archives.tas.gov.au/menu.aspx?detail=1&type=P&id=314567

Not sure but this seems to be indicating a marriage for these Rothwell parents - John and Mary Anne in Hobart in 1840, but children baptised 1840-1845 which would fit the time span.

439862  ROTHWELL MARY 1840
439874  ROTHWELL WILLIAM 1842
439847  ROTHWELL JANE 1843
439858  ROTHWELL LOUISA 1845

3 baptised Hobart, William baptised Green Ponds.

Baptisms  in India if not held by the GRO are held by the British Library (plus burials).

The National Archives has no record of a James Molineux receiving an army pension pre 1854 except one born in Warwickshire discharged 1853 aged 39.
No Rothwell/Molineux marriage on FreeBMD. Overseas/army marriages again will be held in the GRO overseas index.

The son born at sea in 1850 was still alive on the 1851 census

Deaths of FreeBMD
Deaths Jun 1851
Rothwell  John     Wigan  21 61[79]
Deaths Sep 1852
Rothwell  John     Wigan  8c 46   
ROTHWELL  John     Wigan  8c 56

You might be able to persuade Wigan registry office to check the ages at death and only issue you a death certificate if they find a man of the a right age, preferably an army pensioner.
There are also two James Molineux deaths registered in Wigna pre 1861.

Regards

Valda

[liverpool annie]

Excellent Valda !!

I was just getting there in Colonial Tasmania !! - you beat me to it !! 

Annie 

[collin]

Hi again , I have the baptisms for the children, William died in Hobart but not Louisa she must have been later. I found Mary Ann Rothwell wed James Molyneux at Tendring in Dec 1850, which is where she wed John in 1838. I know someone who works at wigan register office so will  get James checked out after Easter. I am going to have a look at the site you posted Thanks again  Valda& Annie Glyn

[Valda]

From TNA website

WO 97/649/94 JAMES MOLYNEUX Born WIGAN, Lancashire Served in 51st Foot Regiment Discharged aged 43 1826-1850

But still doesn't quite explain why Mary Ann reverted to her first husband's surname?

Regards

Valda

[collin]

Hi again, Thankyou for that, I am dumbfounded at finding all this today after years of searching, my friend at Wigan says Molyneaux is spelt many ways, but pronounced Mullinix in Wigan!just to confuse us. Many thanks again Glyn

[liverpool annie]

If it was a marriage of convenience - maybe she didn't feel married in the real sense of the word !! - depending on how she really felt about John !

Thought you might be interested in this site Collin - give you something to do - while you're waiting for the Wigan register office to open !!  

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~clday/misc.htm#harts

Annie  

[collin]

Certainly looks like that marriage was a means to an end, James was the same age as John and probably did their service together. How did Valda get that info from the NA site? Ive had a look at it  but cant see how to find it. Thankyou for the website I,ll have a look now Cheers Glyn

[Valda]

And only one death spelt Molyneux in Wigan

Deaths Dec 1858
Molyneaux  James     Wigan  8c 55

Even with a marriage of convenience you would expect that the convention of the time meant Mary Ann assumed the Molyneux surname - the least she would have been expected to do considering she and her children would be financially supported by James - otherwise I can't quite see the 'convenience' in it for James?.
It could be a mistake on the part of the 1861 census enumerator because the children were called Rothwell that there was a mix up on Mary Ann's surname, but you say she married for a third time? As you didn't know about James' existence until the 1851 census I presume you mean she married as a Rothwell?

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=-3963976&CATLN=7&Highlight=%2CJAMES%2CMOLYNEUX&accessmethod=0

If you press request it you can ask TNA for a quote for a copy of an electronic version of James' army record.

Regards

Valda

[collin]

Yes, Mary Ann married as a Rothwell in 1867, she died in 1886 soon after her husband, in 1861 it says
   Mary Ann Rothwell, 42 head, widow Dressmaker b. Harwich
 then all 4 children + Marys husband& 2 children. Most odd the husband James has vanished without trace.
  Thankyou for the site details Glyn