Thank you once again Spendlove and Dizzifish. Your help is much appreciated.
The marriage of George Johnson and Mary Tomlinson at Duffield now makes more sense to me, given the information about Heage and Duffield parishes. That means both parties would be classed as 'of this parish' even if they were living in Heage.
Sorry, my comment about fewer questions being asked in Duffield was a bit 'tongue in cheek'. I do remember reading a generalisation that couples sometimes chose to marry in neighbouring parishes where the priest was reputed to be lenient. I think this was mainly in the context of a couple under 21 wanting to marry without parental consent, however.
I was thinking along the lines that George and Mary might have wanted to marry somewhere out of sight of their neighbours, if Mary already had a son, and possibly that they might already have been living as man and wife.
The information Dizzifish discovered about the Peach family was very interesting, especially the details of the marriage at Shirland. Elizabeth Johnson was christened at Pentrich on 10th June 1820 with her brother Thomas and my 2nd great grandfather Robert Tomlinson. Elizabeth and her husband Joseph Peach were living in Worsbro in 1841, with a daughter Ann aged 1 who was born in Milton.
Milton and Blacker Hill are different areas of Hoyland, although originally Blacker Hill came under Worsborough. The villages of Elsecar and Jump are also very close to Hoyland.
When civil registration began in 1837, the Ecclesfield registration district covered a large area of south and west Yorkshire, including Hoyland, Wombwell, Worsborough and Barnsley. Strangely, in 1838, the village of Ecclesfield was transferred to the newly created Wortley district so, after that date the Ecclesfield registration district didn’t include the village of Ecclesfield at all. In 1850, the Ecclesfield district was split up with much of it going to the newly created Barnsley district.
I haven’t been able to find a birth registration for Ann Peach, although I did find one for Ann Peech in Q2 1840 Ecclesfield, which would match. George Peach’s birth was registered in the Ecclesfield district in Q3 1842, while Mary Peach’s birth was registered in Belper in Q1 1844 and Sarah Peach’s birth was registered in Basford in Q4 1845. This shows that the family moved back from Hoyland to Derbyshire at some time between Q3 1842 and Q1 1844.
What leads me to think that the christening of Robert Tomlinson at Pentrich on 10th June 1820 is mine is through the association with George and Mary Johnson's family. In 1861, Isaac Johnson was staying with Robert and was described as a 'relative'.
In 1881, Isaac's sister Emma (married name Dean) was with Robert, but only as a 'visitor' i.e. no family relationship given. By showing that Emma married Edward Dean, had a daur Emma, and both of them were absent from home at the 1881 census, supports these being Robert's visitors. Christening information, and also now the marriage details of Emma and Edward at Hucknall, shows Emma Dean to be Isaac Johnson's sister, and hence also a 'relative' of Robert's.
Thirdly, there is Elizabeth who, after marrying Joseph Peach, lived near Robert in the Hoyland district for some years before moving back to Derbyshire.
Although Isaac, Emma, and Elizabeth are only known to be relatives of Robert, the simplest solution seems to me to be that Robert’s mother, Mary Tomlinson, married George Johnson after Robert’s birth, and had Robert Tomlinson as well as Elizabeth and Thomas Johnson christened together.
It is possible that Mary Tomlinson and Mary Johnson are two different people, but related in some way. However, in that case, I would have to find another bride, also named Mary, for George, and either this other Mary or George would have to be related to Mary Tomlinson.
I think that's the nub of the problem. I do hope it makes sense - it is getting late!
Rob
