Hi,
Enjoy your holiday.
Frances Eastwood was not married to Alfred Arnold. They were together as a couple, from the 1861 census taken for Frances and at the latest 1863 when their Daughter Esther Arnold was conceived and remained together up until they both died in Chatham, Kent at the Ash Tree Lane Gypsy Camp. Frances 1916. Alfred 1927.
Betsy--was born Betsy Eastwood 6 March 1858 at the Wanderings, Kingston, Surrey--her parents were Frances Eastwood & Frank Page. Frances first born child.
Mercy Eastwood was Frances second born-Father unknown-23 Sep 1860 Old Place Farm, Sandhurst, Kent.
Alfred Arnold was the step-father to both girls and the Arnold children that he and Frances had together were their half-siblings.
In the 1861 census taken at Leigh, Kent Frances, Elizabeth & Mercy are living with her parents George & Phoebe Eastwood. Frances was age 21 and single, surnames nominated for all 3 was Eastwood.
In the 1881 census Elijah and Polly Arnold are visiting Betsy and William--Alfred & Frances were at the Penenden Heath Gypsy Camp in Boxley, Kent at that time with Betsy and William Ackleton`s daughter Mercy, age 3, visiting them, its really not that far from where they were living in Chatham. Esther Arnold is their Sister and could have been living with Betsy & William.
John Arnold and Mercy Huckstep are the parents of Alfred. Alfred is not a twin.
Alfred was christened (CR/) 22 March 1840 and although I have not yet pinned down his birth GRO I do believe that he was also born in 1840, probably the Canterbury area, because Mercy and John CR/ their children quite soon after they were born. The problem with finding his B/GRO is that there are too many same named boys within a 3 year plus or minus age group to choose from.
His known Brothers were;
William CR/ 13 March 1836 St. John the Baptist, Margate, Kent.
John born 24 Jan 1838 at Nethergong, Chislet, Kent. CR/ 25 Feb 1838 Chislet.
Edwin born 23 Feb 1842 Chislet. CR/ 25 Feb 1838 Chislet.
I hope this helps you in sorting out who belongs to who.
