SHELDON (Willcock?)

[baggygenes]

I've been trying to trace a lady called Martha Sheldon

1851 she born sudbroke lincs - unmarried servant and visiting the Woodwards in Lambeth
1861 she is born Ancaster, widow in Woolwich with son William age 10  (I guess he is William Sheldon born Jun 1851 Lambeth)
1871 she is born Ancaster, widow in Woolwich with son William age 20
1881 she is born Ancaster, widow in Woolwich with son William age 20 (again) and a lodger from Nottinghamshire
1891 she is born Ancaster, widow a patient in Woolwich  (this is year she dies  1891 Jun Woolwich)

(William marries a Catherine Putland in Jul 1881 Woolwich and appears with her and children in 1891 - 1911 census in Woolwich, he died 1931 .. so he is all accounted for)

I'm guessing the "widow status" is for respectablity - UNLESS the "unmarried" 1851 was incorrect (but family stories suggest he was born out of wedlock)

I can't find her in 1841 -  I am leaning towards a house servant in Nottinghamshire unless any of you clever people can come up with any other suggestions

In baptisms there is a likely Martha Sheldon baptised Wilsford 1818 parents William and Elizabeth
- they seem to have baptised a child called Ann on the same day and may have also baptised a William Sheldon 1823-1825 and Jane Sheldon 1821-1822 also in Wilsford
and possibly
Henry Sheedon 1813 in Ancaster and  Charlotte Sheldon 1825 in Ancaster

I can't find another likely Martha but again can anyone else?

Looking at William and Elizabeth there are marriages on FindMyPast on 25 Feb 1811 in Wilsford
and in Folkingham on 25 Aug 1811 for a
William Sheldon to an Elizabeth Reynolds with a note added to them
saying "WW Balderton/ WILLCOCK alias SHELDON/ Remarried at Folkingham 25 Aug 1811
as SHELDON" and "Earlier marriage at Wilsford 25 Feb 1811 as WILLCOCK alias SHELDON"
There is a William Willcock to Elizabeth Reynolds marriage 25 Feb 1811 in Wilsford with the same note

Any ideas where I go from this to find William? am I looking for a Sheldon or Willcock?
and can anyone find a William or Elizabeth Sheldon death that might fit them?

There seems to be a distinct lack of Sheldon's in Lincolnshire for 1841 census and I seem to be going round in circles

Sorry - lots of asks but any help or pointing in right direction gratefully received

*Added
IF Charlotte Sheldon is her sister I may have found Charlotte with her dad in Newark Notts making William born c1781

[Geoff-E]

In baptisms there is a likely Martha Sheldon baptised Wilsford 1818 parents William and Elizabeth
- they seem to have baptised a child called Ann on the same day and may have also baptised a William Sheldon 1823-1825 and Jane Sheldon 1821-1822 also in Wilsford
and possibly

Wilsford baptism register here http://www.lincstothepast.com/Records/RecordDisplayTranscript.aspx?oid=623483&iid=148567

Burials http://www.lincstothepast.com/Burials/628862.record?pt=T

Marriage http://www.lincstothepast.com/Records/RecordDisplayTranscript.aspx?oid=556510&iid=148984  "William WILLCOCK alias SHELDON of the parish of Balderton"

Signed William WILCOCK (should be SHELDON)

Note that the marriage has been deleted.



I can't see burials for William or Elizabeth in Lincs, suggesting they moved away.  You mentioned Nottingham ... I see there was a William SHELDON there in 1841.

[baggygenes]

Thanks very much for the link! (I've been trying to work out how to find stuff on lincstothepast and not doing very well with it)

Yes I think this is going to take me to Nottinghamshire for deaths etc .. which now makes my Martha Sheldon 1841 even more a favourite (may also even have a link to her 1881 lodger perhaps?)
and also to Notts for William Willcocks or Sheldons birth maybe

the 2 marriages in 1811 are puzzling I'm guessing they married as Willcocks.  Remarried as Sheldon then had registrations changed at original marriage place

cheers