Hi,
I am the great great granddaughter of Mary Ann Beer who was born in Elham, Kent round about 1840. Her father was Henry Beer and her mother Mary Ann Smith. (Family Search.org, which is our church's site, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints) but all are welcome to use it for free. Mary Ann gave birth illigitimately to my great grandma Martha Ann Beer, who later gave birth illegitimately to my grandad Ernest Beer. The birth certificates show a cross in the father's name area. Mary and David Ewart got together somehow, married I don't know as I can't find their marriage date neither, but I know they had their first child Mary Ewart in 1870/1871 (the 1881 census says she was born in Aldershot, Hampshire, and she was 10 yrs old, but the 1891 census shows her as being born in Farnham, Surrey.
Their next child John Ewart was born in Bury, Lancashire, so obviously they moved to Bury, then they moved to Middleton, Manchester, where they had Catherine, who was born in Bury, and she died 6th November 1897 aged 21 in Middleton. Their next daughter was Ellen, shown as being born in the 3rd quarter 1878. She was two on the 1881 census. The next child Frances (shown as Ewert) in the national register was born 4th quarter 1880 and was 6 months old on the 1881 census. I knew Aunty Frances very well. She was my grandfather's aunty really. There was 12 years between them. She use to come to our home every week with her beautifully made wimberry and apple pies. I thought she was my grandad's sister at first, they looked so alike. She died in the 2nd quarter 1960. I went to her home as she lay in bed, just before she died. David Ewart died in Middleton, Manchester 10th January 1906, aged 71 and Mary Ann died in the Oldham Union workhouse, was buried 17th July 1902, aged 61. Mary's daughter Martha, my g grandma, did marry eventually, a Frank Ashton. Their son Albert was my Grandad's half brother, who had another Frank Ashton, my dad's cousin who sadly died about a month ago aged 93. His daughter Pam told me at the funeral that she thought Martha lived with Frank for a long time before marrying him. She said she thought David Ewart might have had two son's before he married Mary Ann. My grandfather Ernest took on his mother's maiden name, Beer, which was her mother's name (her father was Henry Beer) but eventually he changed his name by deed poll to Ewart, as he lived and was brought up by David Ewart and Mary Ann. His step father Frank didn't treat him kindly. Martha and Frank had quite a few children too, and Martha was born 11 Dec 1863 in Elham Kent and died 4 JaN 1940. I don't know anything about Mary Ann or Martha really. I have a little snapshot of Martha, but nothing of anyone else. If you know any history of Mary Ann Beer and David Ewart, I would love to know it. I have researched their marriage, if any, for many years. I would love to hear from you people researching this same line. I am not sure if I really have anything to do with David Ewart, he was my grandad's step grandad, and my dad suspected that one of the son's he's said to have could be my grandad's father, but we don't know. If that is the case, then his name would rightly be Ewart. A long story, but hopefully some of it will put you in the picture a bit more.
Regards, Chris Bushnell (nee Ewart)