Why didn't he??

[topmarx]

Ah. I see where you are now.

I did not go any further with the Allwoods maybe I should

I have Henry bc it does not name the father just Sophia.

There were 3 more children born to her by the way whilst she was living in Johns house.
On the 1871 census the youngest was 7 weeks.

I am waiting for Henry's mc to see if he names a father on that.

[topmarx]

 ::)Just a finishing touch to this topic.

I have today received the marriage certificate for Henry Mellors.

It states his father was John Hemstock (Castrator)

It starts another puzzle though.

Henry was born to Sophia BEFORE John married his invisible wife.

[janan]

Hi Tomarx,
You don't know for certain that the John Hemstock who married Elizabeth Paxton is your John - he is 65 in 1861 so his marriage could have been back in 1815. Hopefully the results of the 1851 lookup will have him living with this mystery wife.  Happy searching Jan

[topmarx]

Hiya

1851 census
HO107 2139 33 28
Flintham
John Hemstock head mar 54 castrator Notts. Flintham
Mary wife 61 Notts Shelton??
??Sarah dau 30 at home Flintham

and this marriage entry   
John Hemstock and Mary Ross 05/02/1816 at Shelton

No Sophia found as yet on the census for this year.

So did Johns wife die or what I wonder for as you all know Our Henry was born 1857

[janan]

Hi Topmarx,
It is a puzzle.    If she died why doesn't John either list himself as widower or marry Sophia  If she is alive in 1871 where is she. I've had a good search for a possible Mary in 1871 but not found anyone definite.  There are a couple of widows about the right age one a Mary Henthstone the other a Hogsgersthorpe but that's it. Regards Jan

[topmarx]

:- :- I wonder could she have been in an asylum or some such place??

Would such a list be available for a census 

Its all very intriguing_

[janan]

I also wondered about that and searched for Mary of the right age as inmate and also patient  anywhere in the country and born anywhere but no-one popped up with a surname that was remotely like Hemstock.    Jan

[topmarx]

  Oh Heck

The only other thing I can think then is that she could have started using her maiden name of Ross??
Did they do that then?? Do you know.

I think the best thing to do with this is to try to get a copy of John's will (If he left one).

It is just that Sophia seems to have stayed on in the house after his death. He was not young when he died (late 70's early 80's) and there is a chance that Mary was already dead but she just MAYBE mentioned in the will.

  What do you think

[janan]

Good thought about her reverting to her maiden name but nothing doing I suppose she could have been living with someone as his wife which would make her impossible to locate. You could ask for a lookup for her in 1861 but since that is unindexed you would need to know where she was living.  I suppose a will might mention her. It is all very strange.  Jan