Hi all. I've got myself into a right palaver.
I identified Rennard Mawson (b. abt. 1837, Shipley) as the husband of Lydia Hollis through the 1861 census, Shipley, Yorkshire. In the same household is a son called Rennard Hollis - I assumed he was their son, born before their marriage. There are several other, Mawson, children.
I have found no other reference anywhere to this man. Couldn't find a marriage, or his birth, or any other census entries, although Lydia is quite easy to find.
I started to follow up his children and was thrown to find that at least a couple of them give their father's name as William Mawson on marriage entries. I initially dismissed it and decided I was looking at the wrong people, but then I peeped at someone else's tree and saw that they had Lydia's husband as William and not as Rennard. So, I decided it might be worthwhile treating him as a William, just to see...
I found a marriage dated 2 Nov 1857 (right time) between Lydia Holles, daughter of John Holles, tailor (all correct) and William Mawson, which took place in Shipley (correct).
In the 1871 census, Lydia was alone at an address in Shipley, married but husband not present, and I've never been able to find him. By 1881, she's calling herself widow, although I can't find his death.
Using the name William, I've now found someone in the 1871 census that could be him, in very much the right place, a weaver, living with a widow Mary Ann Baldwin and her daughter. His age is pretty much right, born Baildon, which I think is part of Shipley. I still haven't found a death for him, and I can't find him in the 1881 census.
Could he have changed his name, or had two names? I can't dismiss the name Rennard as it was his son's name, and also a grandson's name. His children presumably knew about both names, so it can't have been a secret identity.
That's all a bit long-winded but can anyone help? Has anyone come across Rennard/William Mawson? Or a similar situation? Or am I totally barking up the wrong tree?!
Hope so
