Thomas James and Mary Read marriage 1/8/1808 St Thomas Dudley

[amandar]

Hi 

On the above marriage says Mary Read was a Widow.  On the 1841 census says she was born circa 1791 in staffordshire.  How will I find out her maiden name?

[amandar]

If Mary was born in 1791 like the census suggests she was only about 17, strange if she was a widow then?  A friend of mine as been to the record office and the birth of the children didn't given the mothers maiden name

[Jool]

Don't forget the ages in the 1841 census were rounded down, so if she is noted as being 50 in 1841 she could have actually been up to 4 years older than that.

Quote from Ancestry re. 1841 census:

"The ages of people over 15 years old were usually rounded down to the nearest 5 years. For example, someone who was actually 24 years would have their age listed as 20, and someone who was actually 27 years old would have their age listed as 25."

[ColC]

1841 Union Street, Tipton, Dudley, Staffordshire

Thomas   James   Male   50   1791   miner
Mary   James   Female   50   1791   
John   James   Male   15   1826   

1851 Waterloo Street, Tipton, Dudley, Staffordshire
Thomas   James   Head   65   1786   Butty Collier   Broseley, Shropshire,
Mary   James   Wife   66   1785   -   Amblecote, Worcestershire

It would appear that they both died before 1861?

Dudley is in the county of Worcestershire but certain records are noted as Staffordshire.

There are a number of Mr Read Marriages to a Mary and deaths before 1808, it would be worth checking them out.

Colin