1861 & 1871 Censuses - SHELDRAKE

[lizdb]

1871
RG10 1573 69 4
 29 Burr Str
John Harvey 39 Bricklayers Lab bn Suffolk
Julia 39 bn Hatfield
Susannah 19 bn Hatfield
Lizzie 12 bn Luton
Alice 7   "
Arthur 4   "
Alice Moore 15 visitor

[lizdb]

Birth
Ap/May/Jun 1859
Luton reg distr
Lizzy Harvey

so it looks like she was from the Harvey marriage rather than the Sheldrake one.

[delta]

My thanks to both of you for all your hard work.
I agree that it could well be that Joshua died and Julia remarried John Harvey.  She was Julianna Mardling, born Roe Green, Hatfield, bp 5.2.1832 and she married Joshua Sheldrake 4.1.1852.  Susannah was bp 28.3.1852.
Next time I get a chance to visit the Archives office in Hertford I'll have a look through the Hatfield parish records to see if I can find a death and possibly a marriage between John Harvey and Julianna.  As you say, there doesn't seem to be anything on the bmd site.
It strikes me as a very strange coincidence that John Harvey also came from Hemminstone (as did Joshua).   
Many thanks
delta

[Tati]

So are we thinking John Harvey and Joshua Sheldrake are one and the same person? I must say I can't see a matching John Harvey on earlier census!   

[delta]

Hello Tati
Yes, I was beginning to wonder if they could be one and the same, but why would he change both his first and surnames?  Incidentally, I've just realised that Joshua's mother's maiden name was Harvey!  The plot thickens.
Delta

[Tati]

Oh, that's interesting! Were his parents married before he was born?

[delta]

Yes, they were married in 1824 and there were 3 other children before Joshua was born, and 3 more afterwards.

[lizdb]

IF it is the same guy who changes his name - it appears he did it between 1854 (Sarah Shaldrake's birth) and 1857 (Lizzy Harvey's birth)
Certainly form the census entries it appears that the children were k/a Harvey too - he has not given their surname as Shaldrake nor called them step children. But that is not really eveidence in itself - many step families are listed in this way.
And you say Susannah uses Sheldrake in a later census when she is grown up.
So (if it is the same guy) whatever reason promted him to change his name was not soooo important to Susannah that she remained with the new name.

If he is not the same guy, it seems highly likely he was a rellie -given the surname Harvey and place he came from. Could be a cousin on Joshua's mums side or something.

[delta]

I am now convinced that John Harvey and Joshua Sheldrake are one and the same.
Looking through the Luton marriages I could find none for Harvey but I found 3 for Sheldrake.  Sarah M1877, Lizzie M1878 and Alice S1884. 
Then I found Louisa Sheldrake Harvey S1889.
I think that Julia (Harvey) died J1883 aged 51.  Could you find John/Joshua in 1891 for me please?
Could you also double check the 1871 for the visitor Alice Moore - she was possibly his niece, born South Mimms.