another Watson mystery: who is Mary Ann Page? COMPLETED thanks!

[Marmalady]

 The elderly Thomas Watson and his wife Mary of Nether Heyford seem to have brought up a child that I cannot fit into the family

In 1841 she is Mary Page age 2 Thomas is 55 and his wife 65
In 1851 she is Mary Ann Page age 10 Thomas is 64 and his wife 74. Mary Ann is described as "neice"
When she married in 1858 she used the name Mary Ann Watson Page
In 1861 she a "visitor" in the Watson household with her baby son.
In later censuses she is living in Weedon with husband & children

Thomas had 2 brothers and a sister (that i have traced). I have not traced any children of Thomas & Mary. One brother died aged 17 in 1795, the sister died unmarried age 22 in 1811. The other brother, my Joseph (subject of my two previous posts) was bringing up his own family of children including another Mary Ann in Heyford and Weedon at this time.

So who was Mary Ann Page and why was she being brought up by the childless Thomas & Mary rather than Joseph & Ann who had other children about the same age and would seem the more logical choice?

[patrish]

There could be a few reasons but I think this is the most likely.

She may have been the illegitimate child of a relative, these were often brought up by childless couples and called "niece" on the census's.

Its obvious by Thomas's wife's age on the 1841 that she cannot be the biological mother.

When she married in 1858 she used the name Mary Ann Watson Page

Did she give any fathers name and occupation 

Where does it say she was born on the census's 

[Marmalady]

i only "found" her last night, and have taken the marriage details from freeBMD.
I think i will have to put this certificate on the "to-buy" list

Unless either Thomas or Joseph were indulging in extra-marital affairs, I am at a loss to think who's child she could be. None of the children from Joseph's second marriage were old enough to have fathered any. It is possible that there were some as yet untraced children from Joseph's first marriage - or even of Thomas's -  that could be her parent.

Her birthplace on the censuses is Weedon

[patrish]

Weedon Lois in under the Towcester registration district and there is a birth record of A Mary Ann Watson March q. 1838 Towcester 15 - 386

I am not suggesting that you send for this as it may not be her
but its worth noting down if you make further progress on this.

[mgeneas]

The 1837-1861 Northants marriage index has her marriage

Edwin CLARKE otp, bachelor age 21, viewer? of cloth at govt works at Weedon, father Robert William Clarke, ledger keeper at the Tower, London
Mary Ann Watson PAGE of Heyford Wharf, spinster age 21, father William, carpenter
4 May 1858 at Heyford

She was baptised in Weedon Bec 30th Jun 1839, parents William PAGE a carpenter and Elizabeth, as Marianne PAGE

[Marmalady]

Many thanks for this info!

Now to track down Elizabeth's parentage!

[Marmalady]

Have now got the will of Thomas Watson (written 1862) , and he leaves property to "Elizabeth Burton Page wife of William Page", and if she pre-deceases him to her daughter Mary Ann Page.

I still havent found William & Elizabeth's marriage but have tracked the pair through several censuses. Interestingly, Mary Ann is listed as being at home with her parents in 1851 as well as with the Watsons.
Mary Ann was the eldest of 9 children - and one of her brothers is Thomas Watson Page

Maybe she wasnt being brought up by the elderly couple but was merely visiting on 3 consecutive census nights!


Am still curious how the Watsons and Pages are connected tho!

[mgeneas]

This marriage looks helpful [again from the 1837-1860 CD]

William PAGE of this parish bachelor, age 21, carpenter, father John a carpenter to
Elizabeth BURTON of this parish spinster, father William, boatman
22 Apr 1838 at Stowe IX Churches

[Marmalady]

Thanks again! 

Have finally solved the puzzle!

Thomas Watson married Mary Narmon in 1812 in Foleshill Warwickshire (Mary's place of birth on one of the censuses)  As Mary is 10 yrs older than Thomas , i looked for an earlier marriage - and found Thomas Narmon married Mary Moore in Foleshill in 1805.

William Burton (father of Elizabeth Burton Page) married Elizabeth Moore in Heyford in 1815

So Mary and Elizabeth are sisters ( tho i havent got absolute proof i am 99.9% sure!) and therefore -- to answer the original puzzle Mary Ann Page is great-neice to Thomas & Mary Watson.