Hannah Boniston of Asselby died in 1848 leaving everything to her sister Catherine Lawton, widow, of Howden (who died in 1849). I have copies of her death certificate and her will. According to both, she was the widow of Jasper Boniston, who died in 1832 (I have a copy of his will too). Hannah's death certificate gives her age at death as 77: birth year therefore was about 1771.
From various circumstantial evidence, I believe that Jasper Boniston's wife was a Dalby (e.g. there were two nephews named after him).
In 1802 Catharine Dalby married Jonathan Lawton, in Howden.
I have no marriage record yet for Jasper Boniston and Hannah (his name was spelled 'Burniston' on his christening record, but doesn't help as no trace under that name either).
I have found only one Catharine Dalby of about the right age: born 1776, daughter of John Dalby of Yokefleet (and baptised in Laxton together with twin sister Ann).
Catharine did have a sister (or half-sister) Hannah, born in Wressell, 1774 (there was an earlier one born 1769 but I think she died in infancy). Unfortunately, this does not agree with the birth year calculated from the death certificate age.
However, there was a first cousin Hannah Dalby born Howden 1771, father David Dalby, who was the younger brother of John Dalby.
Question 1 - in 1848 could a "sister", as written in a will, have been taken to mean a first cousin ?
Question 2 - I have no idea how to begin searching for the marriage of Jasper Boniston and Hannah. It's not in Howden. I am told also not in Selby (which is where he ran his shipbuilding business), and not in anywhere indexed by IGI. Suggestions ?
