barnstaple birth c1858

[aderyndu]

Can anyone help please?  I'm looking for the birth of a child Elizabeth Jones.  The mother was Maria Jones, the father John Brooks but I'm beginning to think the child was born before the parents married.

I have looked on the GRO and there are an Elizabeth Jones, March quarter 1858, Elizabeth Jones Sept quarter 1858 and Elizabeth Ann Jones Sept quarter 1858 - all Barnstaple which is the correct area. 

Can anyone check any resources to see if either of these is Maria's daughter?

Thanx

Delyth

[PaulineJ]

Not possible; all you can do is order a certificate with the proviso that the mother is Maria Jones.
Local GRO offices are usually the more co-operative (cheaper) for this.

Pauline

[aderyndu]

That's a shame    I was hoping that perhaps some info would have been available from parish records.

[Daisypetal]

Hi,

This may help narrow it down, I found this marriage,

John BROOKES  Jun Q 1858  Barnstaple  v.5b  p.861

there is a Maria JONES with the same reference



Regards
Daisy

[aderyndu]

Hi Daisy,

Thanx for that. Those are my relatives - they married in Martinhoe in May 1858.

On the 1861 census they have a 3yr old daughter Elizabeth.  I've been unable to find an Elizabeth Brooks on the GRO even with varying the spelling of Brooks.

If she's given as 3 yrs in 1861 that would give a rough dob of 1858 so I was wondering if she'd been born before they got married...

The GRO has 3 Elizabeth Jones (I assume if unmarried the child would have her mother's surname) in the Barnstaple district at this time, altho I think the March quarter 1858 would probably be the one to look at as the parents would have been married by the Sept quarter.

Later in life Maria seems to hide her origins for no apparent reason and I wondered if a child born out of wedlock could have been the reason!  Idle curiosity 

[debbi2k]

Do you think that the child was born in Martinhoe?

If so I could look for a baptism in Martinhoe when I next go to the Record Office(although this will not be til May)

Kind Regards

Debbi

[aderyndu]

Hi Debbie  - I think its a good chance the child was born in Martinhoe, and could well have her mothers maiden name - Jones.

I would be very gratefull if you would take the time to look for me, your offer is really appreciated!

Delyth

[debbi2k]

Good news Delyth.

I checked the parish register for Martinhoe yesterday and found you the following

02/05/1858 Elizabeth dau of Maria Jones,afterwards known as Brooks,servant, of Mill Town,Martinhoe.

I then checked on a few years and found this which I thought you might like

18/04/1862 William John,son of John,a labourer and Maria Brooks of Woody Bay.

So I guess that Maria and John married after Elizabeths birth and the vicar went back to the baptismal entry and added the 'afterwards known as' bit to make Elizabeth a Brooks instead of a Jones.

I hope you are as pleased as I was to get the info.

Debbi

[aderyndu]

Hi Debbie,

That is brilliant 

But it does lead to another puzzler....

The situation is this - I couldnt find the birth of an Elizabeth Brooks and had suspected she'd been born out of wedlock in Martinhoe.  Debbie's brilliant detective work found the entry for her in Martinhoe, born as Elizabeth Jones, daughter of Maria Jones on 2nd May 1858, with a kindly parish priest going back and later adding onto the parish record that the child was later known as Brooks.

However I've got a copy of a marriage certificate from the GRO of the wedding of Maria Jones and John Brooks dated 1st May 1858, the day before the baby was born!! taking place again in Martinhoe.    Do you think the kindly parish priest put an earlier date on the marriage certificate to the day before the baby was born!! 

This lady has caused me so many headaches....

So Debbie, regarding the pm you sent me, yes I think I would appreciate you looking at marriage details next time you are in the Records Office!! 

Thanx,
Delyth