Help with a marriage lookup

[nong43]

Any help with this one would be greatly appreciated...

I have recently discovered that my ancestor William EVANS married for a second time, to a woman rougly twenty years his junior, named Matilda. I an only assume his wife Sophia, from whom I descend, must have died, since William named his eldest daughter - by Matilda - Sophia.

The problem is that being travelling people, surprise surprise, I don't know where they got married. William was born or baptised in the Wantage area (some censuses say East Hendred, others say Cholsey - both in Berkshire until 1974, now in Oxfordshire) in about 1804, and Matilda was born or baptised in Oakley, Hampshire, in the mid-1820s.

I was wondering, therefore, if anybody who has access to full transcripts of the Berkshire and/or Hampshire marriage records could have a look and see if they can find anything. I've exhausted the usual sources, and the IGI isn't much help as it doesn't list occupations, witnesses, fathers' names, etc. - basically, I'm trying to use this marriage to take the Evanses back another generation.

Of course, it' possible they didn't get married in Berkshire or Hampshire - I have records of William in Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Buckinghamshire as well, but one has to start somewhere. If it is any help, William is usually listed as being a travelling basket maker or chair bottomer.

Sorry for such a long-winded post!

Thanks.

Martin

[nanny jan]

Hi,

Do you know roughly when the marriage is likely to have taken place?  When do they appear as a couple on a census?


Nanny Jan

[nong43]

Hi Nanny Jan

Sorry for not mentioning a timeframe...I always seem to forget something.

It would have had to have been after 1833, as this is when William and Sophia had my ancestor Abraham baptised, but before 10th November 1851, when William and Matilda were listed as witnesses at Abraham's brother Joseph's wedding to Mary Skerry, in Shipton-under-Wychwood, OXF.

They are recorded as husband and wife in Chinnor, OXF on the 1861 census. Their eldest son together, Edward, is recorded as being 12 on this census, so he was born around 1849.

My guess is that they married some time in the mid-1840s at the earliest (any earlier and Matilda would have been too young). I could, of course, be completely wrong.

Thanks

Martin

[nanny jan]

Hi,

A copy of Edward's  birth registration would confirm Matilda's maiden name. Can you find him on 1851 census?  Does it give a birthplace?

Found this on FreeBMD:

Marriages:

William Evans  MarQ 1847   Madeley   18   129  (Madeley is in Shropshire)

Possible bride:  Matilda Skelton

Nanny Jan

[nong43]

Hi Nanny Jan

Here is Edward's birthplace as recorded on various censuses:

1851 (Cannot find family)
1861 Penn, BKM, D.o.B. c1849
1871 Amersham, BKM, D.o.B. c1853 - visiting his half-brother Abraham.
1881 (Cannot find him)
1891 Little Missenden, BKM, D.o.B. c1851 - living with his wife Silvetta and young son Edward, next door to Abraham and family. His occupation is recorded as a 'railway labourer and tinker', while Abraham is a tinplateworker.

Penn, Amersham and Little Missenden are all very close to each other.

I cannot seem to find a register of Edward's birth on the GRO indexes, but then it is not unusual for travelling people not to bother registering, at least in those days. Or at least that's how it seems with mine...

Re the Madeley marriage, I'm not aware of Shropshire being on William's circuit, but it can't be ruled out.

Thanks

Martin

[nanny jan]

Hi Martin,

The other children born to William and Matilda;  any registrations for them?

Nanny Jan

[nong43]

Hi Nanny Jan

Using FreeBMD and searching 5 years either side of their supposed ages on the 1861 and 1871 censuses, this is what I have found:

Benjamin Evans, born Penn BKM c1855 - not found
Maria Evans, born Penn BKM c1857 - possible find - OND 1857 Wycombe 3a 376
Sophia Evans, born Penn BKM c1852 - not found, but found a Sophia born in Eton in 1854 (don't think this is her, though).
William Evans, born Winnall (Chinnor) OXF c1860 - possible find - AMJ 1860 Wycombe 3a 410
Rachel Evans, born Chinnor OXF c1865 - possible find - AMJ 1865 Wycombe 3a 455
John Evans, born Chinnor OXF c1868 - possible find - JFM 1868 Wycombe 3a 500

Looks like I'll be taking a trip to the GRO website...

Thanks

Martin

[deb usa]

Hi

In 1881 there is an Edward Evans, lodger, 80, wid, ag lab, b Oxon lodging with the GREEN family ...  Albert Green a basket maker and his wife Thirza (plus children). head of House is edwin White, publican off the Fountain Inn, crown and Crescent, Ensham, Oxfordshire.still looking for marriage ...
deb

[nong43]

Hi Deb

Thanks, but this is too old to be William's son Edward. However, it might be William's brother (not that I know how many, if any, William had).

Martin