Multiple maiden names Benstead, Bell Lamb

[crispyrice]

Hi this is my first post so please tell me if I'm in the wrong place.

I've been tracing the family of Nathan Benstead (born 1831 in Ely Cambs) he married Mary Ann Bell (B1835 Ricmond). they lived mainly in Middlesbrough.

On checking the childrens birth data their parents are listed as Nathan Benstead and Mary Ann Benstead but the maiden name of Mary Ann is shown as Bell for two of the children,Lamb for two of the children and an unknown name(still to be researched)for the other two, this Mary Ann Benstead died after the listed births of all the children with Nathan shown as the husband.

Any ideas how this could be the case ?

[SooCatt]

Hi Crispyrice

Are you sure that it is the same Mary Ann.  I had a Thomas and Margaret tracked all the way through censuses- seemingly the same two people.  On the two later censuses Margaret's place of birth changed - it wasn't far away but it seemed odd.  When I investigated further I found that the first Margaret died after the birth of the fourth child and Thomas remarried, another Margaret of the same age and from very nearby!  Eventually I found the burial of the first Margaret and Thomas's marriage to the second one to confirm that this was the case.

Do you have your Nathan and Mary Ann on censuses?

Susan

[SooCatt]

Freebmd has a marriage

Nathan Benstead  Mary Ann Bell Mar1/4 1856 Richmond Yks

Apologies if you have this already.

 

[crispyrice]

Hi Susan

Thanks for your reply,
The father Nathan Benstead appears to be one of only two people with that name at the time and the other is 15 years younger than this one.

I have the marriage certificate you mention above and the census data places Nathan and Mary Ann with the children over a couple of decades.

Also the change of maiden names happens intermitently between children.

I will keep searching although only via internet at the moment, I will have to find time to go to Middlesbrough and dig some more.

Chris

[SooCatt]

Hi Chris

That's that theory out the window then 

Do you have her birth details?  Maybe she had a stepfather - perhaps born Bell but became Lamb (or vice verse).  Depending on whether she was asked for her 'name at birth' or her 'name before marriage', she may have given a different answer.

Of course she may have been a serial killer trying to disguise her identity 

Happy hunting 
Susan

[Gaie]

Hello Crispyrice

Yes, this is a bit of a puzzle, isn't it?

You say you have the Census information on Nathan and Mary Ann with the children, so I won't add it all here, but it also seems a little confused, although that is not uncommon especially on earlier Censuses - some of our ancestors don't appear to know how old they are, and sometimes do give differing places of birth - but this could be down to the person who actually gave the information to the enumerator!

Looking at the 1861 and 1871 Censuses the information given for Mary Ann differs slightly in age (c 1838 b Streten? Westmoreland? Derbyshire?) and (c 1835 b Yorks Richmond).  Perhaps they are two separate Mary Anns.

When you say you have the children's birth data, where has this come from?  Do you have all the birth certificates?  If not I suggest you apply for them and see what extra information they give you.

Sometimes this genealogy lark is smooth and easy, sometimes we get stuck for awhile but enjoy what you're doing and keep going.  Do let us know how you get on - it encourages us all!

Regards

Gaie

[crispyrice]

Hi Susan and Gaie

I've been liasing with The Tees Valley Indexes online and had a lot of help from them confirming or denying the detail I give them, what I have is as follows;

Child (in birth order)                                               Confirmed parents

John James Benstead  1      Nathan and Mary Ann Benstead formerly Bell
Charles Henry Benstead  2   Nathan and Mary Ann Benstead formerly (not Bell or Lamb)
Agnes Benstead     3            Nathan and Mary Ann Benstead formerly Bell
Jane Ann Benstead   4         Nathan and Mary Ann  Benstead formerly(not Bell or Lamb)
Mary Elizabeth   5                Nathan and Mary Ann Benstead formerly Bell
Philis Benstead     6              Nathan and Mary Ann Benstead formerly Bell
Emily Benstead       7           Nathan and Mary Ann Benstead formerly Lamb


in 1861 Nathan and mary Ann were living with 1, 2 and 3
in 1871 Nathan and Mary Ann were living with 1,3,4,5, and 6 (2 died and 7 not born)
in 1873 Mary Ann died
in 1874 Nathan marries Ann Martin
in 1881 No trace of Nathan or Ann martin
in 1881 1 is married 3 is married and 7 living with 3
in 1881 4, 5and 6 are in the workhouse in Middlesbrough together.
in 1901 Nathan working in workhouse in Ely (his birthplace)


They appear to be a normal family except the change of former name by Mary Ann.

I have done all my research online and very little in the archives, will I get to see birth certificate entries if I go to Middlesbrough without having to pay £7 for each one ?

Nathan and Mary Ann Bell's marriage certificate shows her father as Thomas Bell and her as a spinster so I'm baffled as to why the name changes
 
Chris