MILLINGTON and FOSH on 1861 census

[TracyL]

Hi

Trying to find James Millington and Margaret Fosh in the 1861 census.  James married Margaret Fosh in 1877 in Tring, Herts although I have them on the 1871 census staying at an Inn in Luton as James Millington and wife Margaret Millington already parents to Ellen aged 2!  Two of Margaret's brothers are there, Cornelious and William Fosh. (RG10/1573 f70 p26)

Can't find either of them in 1861.  James sometimes said place of birth was Maidstone, kent and other times Bedfordshire.  Margaret was born in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire. James' father was John, a hairdresser and Margaret's father was William, a Tinker.

Any help would be very much appreciated.
Tracy

[Tati]

Hi Tracy,

The 1861 census has only one Cornelius born Leighton ca. 1856. His surname is Barton, son-in-law to (I believe) a  Henry Wright. He has a brother William age 7 and a sister Margaret age 9.

They look like very likely candidates for your Fosh family.

[TracyL]

Hi Tati

I agree - it must be them!  But now I am more confused - Born with the name Fosh (and they revert to that name by 1871) then become Barton - living with Mr & Mrs Wright (their mother and step-father?).

So would the obvious chain of events be that Mary ? marries Mr Fosh and has three children, then marries Mr Barton, then marries Mr Wright?  Why would the children be using Barton rather than their birth names I wonder.  And why were they all together in Luton with Margaret pretending to be married to James Millington (ok - she had a child but why not actually marry him as she five years later?)  Odd also that they also went on to have more children but not for another five years or so, then married.

Any ideas?  Am I missing something?
Tracy

[trish1120]

Well to start with;
Margaret/William/Cornelius are all Reg on FreeBMD as FOSH in Leighton B 1851/1853/1856

[trish1120]

Marriage for a William Fosh to a Mary??

William FOSH, September 1852, Biggleswade, 3b 574
On the same page is only 2 Spouses including Mary Ann DONOGHUA
Biggleswade takes in Beds and Herts Border

[TracyL]

Oh that would work! 

I do think that William was still alive in 1877 (registrar was kind enough to let me have a look before ordering!) - might be wrong, but he was on there and I don't recall seeing that he was deceased.  Divorce ?

Just checked and the only death that fits is for William jnr in 1891 aged 36.  No other local death for a William.

[trish1120]

Do you have access to Ancestry?
There are a few Trees with William on them and Marrying Mary Ann Donaghue. He died 1876 according to 1 Tree and 1857 at Yardley Workhouse, Northamptonshire??

[trish1120]

OOPs all have 1857 for his Death.
No one seems to have the 1861 Census Tati so cleverly found.

[trish1120]

Sorry hopefully someone else can help now as its nearly 3.00am here and I'm off to bed!

Trish