The mysterious William Walker/Dawson

[janan]

Hi

Not direct line but this family has sparked my interest

My great grandad Frederick Farr's first wife was Eliza illegitimate daughter of Mary Clark. This is her family in 1861

Grange Cottages Ampthill

Wm Walker Head Widower 34 Ag Lab Ridgmont
Sarah Sharpe Dau 14 Straw plaiter Ampthill
Mary Clark Housek Unm 32 Housekeeper Clophill
George do Son 8 Scholar Clophill
Eliza do Dau 3 Ampthill
Lucy do do 6m do

RG9/1000/25 Pg43
 
And 71

Castle Hill Ridgmont
William Dawson Head Widr 44 Farm Labourer Ridgmont
Mary Clarke Unm 43 Housekeeper Clophill
Eliza do 13 Plaiter Ampthill
Lucy do 11 do do
Elizabeth do 7 Scholar Ridgmont
John do 3 do do

RG10/1558/46 Pg17

Mary remains unmarried living as William Dawson's housekeeper in Ridgmont
1881/91 and then marries William Dawson Walker in 1900. The couple appear as Dawson in 1901. Mary dies as Mary Walker in 1904 and William as Dawson in 1907.

I have Mary in Clophill 1851 with her mother Eliza Sinfield but cannot find any sign of William Walker/Dawson or his daughter Sarah Sharpe anywhere. Can anyone else see them please?

Also if anyone can throw any light on why he becomes Dawson (his mother maiden-name was Knight) or why he might have a daughter Sarah Sharpe or even if he was previously married and when/if his wife died, I would be very grateful.

Thank you
Jan

[wozzle]

possible
1851 HO107/1755/104/12.
william walker age 26. b. ridgemont. occ. labourer. head.
jane age 23. b. ampthill. occ. lacemaker. wife.
sarah age 3. b. ampthill. daughter.
living at peters row,ridgemont,bedfordshire.

[janan]

Thanks Wozzle - they look highly likely. Now how on earth did I miss them

Jan

[wozzle]

there is this death
jane walker.
y.o.r. 1855.
qtr. jul/aug/sep.
dist. ampthill.
county. bedfordshire.
vol. 3b.
page. 209.

[wozzle]

here you go
marriage
william walker.
y.o.r. 1850
qtr. apr/may/jun.
dist. woburn.
county. beds.
vol. 6.
page. 183.
also on the same page jane sharp

[janan]

Thanks again Wozzle, you're a star

I can see a suitable Jane Sharpe baptised Ampthill 1828. Can't see a birth for a Sarah Sharpe yet - there is a Sarah Walker born Ampthill district Mar qtr 1848.

If Jane died in 1855 so he really was a widower why wait till 1900 to marry Mary? And why Dawson?

Jan

[wozzle]

birth sarah walker
y.o.r. 1848
qtr. apr/may/jun.
dist. ampthill
county. beds.
vol. 6
page. 12.
do not know why she was regd as walker then used the name sharp
she is more than likely the illegitamate child of william walker and jane sharp
maybe she fell out with her father for whatever reason and used the name sharp
just a wild guess

[wozzle]

sorry did'nt realise you had already found the birth.

[janan]

It is a bit of a puzzle why she would be registered as Walker 2 years before the marriage. The whole thing is a bit odd though seemingly he and Jane had daughter out of wedlock but pretend to be married to register her, then do marry 2 years later. Then he is possibly having children with Mary Clark before Jane dies - George being born c 1853 at least he seems to be claiming him as son in 61 (actually Mary already has a baby daughter in 51 - wonder if she was William's? ) but they don't get around to marrying until 1900 and all the children take Mary's surname.

Jan