Marston - Blacksmiths

[grah72]

My long lost grandfather who died in Gibraltar  at the age of 32 was born in Nuneaton in 1875,before entry into the army he was a blacksmith. his father was also a blacksmith and lived in Duke street. ::i have searched for Blacksmiths from Nuneaton but the warwickshire lists show most in the Leamington area. John senior was born about 1853 and his wife was called Mary ,at the moment i have hit a brick wall and would like some help if poss.

[Arranroots]

Hello Grah72

I went back to 1871 first

RG10/3169   33   13

MARSTON John boarder 18 - blacksmith - Nuneaton

boarding with a HALL family, head William blacksmith, in Abbey Street, Nuneaton, Warks

RG11/3059   78   7

MARSTON John H M 28 - blacksmith - Nuneaton
MARSTON Mary W M 28 - dressmaker - ditto
MARSTON John William son 5 - scholar - Nuneaton
MARSTON Ann E dau 2 - ditto - Chilvers Cotton

Address: George & Ddragon Yard, Chilvers Cotton, Warwickshire

RG12/2445   166   19

MARSTON John H M 38 - blacksmith - Nuneaton
MARSTON Mary W M 38 - ditto
MARSTON John W son 15 - blacksmith (assisting father) - ditto
MARSTON Ann E dau 13 - scholar - Chilvers Cotton
MARSTON Thomas G son 9 - ditto - ditto
MARSTON Austin son 7 - ditto - ditto
MARSTON Lilley dau 4 - ditto - ditto
MARSTON Mary E dau 2 - ditto
MARSTON Leah dau 1 - Nuneaton

Address: Duke St, Nuneaton

Hope this helps!

kind regards, Arranroots 

[Arranroots]

I don't see John snr in 1861, nor John jr in 1901

RG13/2902   167   59

MARSTON John H M 49 - blacksmith
MARSTON Sarah W M 53 - washerwoman
MARSTON Thomas W son 20 - blacksmith
MARSTON Austin son 18 - coal miner hewer
MARSTON Mary E dau 15 - shoe heel maker
MARSTON Leah dau 10
MARSTON Florence G dau 8

All born Nuneaton

Address: 10 Duke St, Nuneaton, Warks

 

[Valda]

There are two John Marstons born at roughly the sametime in Nuneaton. On the 1871 census this one is yours.

1871 census 3169 folio 33 Abbey Street Nuneaton  Warwickshire  
John Marston abt 1853  Nuneaton, Warwickshire, Boarder  Unmarried Blacksmith
in next household (though this may not be relavant as there were a lot of Marstons born in Nuneaton)
Ellen Marston abt 1847  Nuneaton, Warwickshire, Boarder  Unmarried Ribbon Weaver

Then there is the brickwall of the 1861 census where John does not appear despite all censuses after 1861 stating his year of birth and Nuneaton as his place of birth. He is always consistent with age and birthplace. I then checked the workhouses where often only intials are given

1861 RG9 2196 folio 129 Union Workhouse Chilvers Coton  Warwickshire  
J M abt 1852 Male Nuneaton, Warwickshire, Pauper Inmate  
Above him in the list is
F M 12 Male Nuneaton, Warwickshire, Pauper Inmate
This doesn't have to be a Marston in fact neither may be.
It is impossible to prove the census entry is John Marston unless the workhouse records or Nuneaton poor law records have survived this early.  If John was in the workhouse there may be poor law Nuneaton apprenticeship records. Warwickshire record office would be able to tell you what they hold.

http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/Web/corporate/pages.nsf/Links/DEEC2EB9DB9499B780256A330054CA30

I think your John Marston probably married twice? So you have two shots at his father (presuming he is telling the truth). His birth might be
Marston, John 1852 September Births Nuneaton volume 6d page 296
while Ellen's birth is probably
Marston, Ellen 1847 June Births Nuneaton Volume 16 page 455

If the worrkhouse did apprentice John Marston out to a trade, there is no reason to suspect his father's occupation would also be that of a blacksmith.

On the 1851 census for Nuneaton the only Ellen Marston I can find is with this family.
HO107 2065 folio 114 Abbey Street Nuneaton
Thomas Marston Head married 36 Silk Weaver born Nuneaton
Ann Marston Wife Married 32 Silk Weaver born Bedworth Warwickshire
Leah Marston Daughter 12 Silk Weaver born Bedworth
Ellen Marston Daughter 3 born Nuneaton
Thomas Marston Son 1 born Nuneaton

The only member of the family I can find on the 1861 census is Leah who was boarding in Hume Lancashire and was a silk weaver.
As there are lots of Marstons in Nuneaton tracking deaths before ages come onto the death index is too uncertain, but there are potential deaths registered in Nuneaton for both Ann and the two Thomases before 1861.
Marston, Ann 1857 March Deaths Nuneaton
MARSTON, Thomas 1859 June Deaths Nuneaton
Marston, Thomas 1859 December Deaths Nuneaton  
FreeBMD is far from a complete index!

I think the Marston marriages (John and Thomases) may have all taken place in Coventry registration district and not Nuneaton?

Ellen seems to have done
Betteridge, John 1876 December Marriages Coventry
Marston, Ellen 1876 December Marriages Coventry
Volume 6d page 812,
extremely likely as she is on the 1881 census with her husband also born Nuneaton circa 1836 and her illegitimate son John B Marston born circa 1873.

The other potential Coventry marriages from FreeBMD are
Barnacle, Mary Ann 1873 June Marriages Coventry Warwickshire
Marston, John 1873 June Marriages Coventry Warwickshire
Volume 6d page 695

Betherage, Sarah 1896 September Marriages Coventry
Marston, John 1896 September Marriages Coventry
Volume 6d 903

and perhaps
Marston, Thomas 1842 June Marriages Coventry Warwickshire West Midlands
TWIGGER, Ann 1842 June Marriages Coventry Warwickshire West Midlands
Volume 16 page 367

but you would need to check these carefully as again there are lots of Marstons in the area and FreeBMD is not a complete index.

On the 1901 census John's second wife was Sarah born Nuneaton circa 1848. On the 1891 and 1881 censuses there is a Sarah Betteridge single with a young son in 1891 a charwoman, and in 1881 with her brother George's family, on both censuses living at George and Dragon Yard Chilvers Coton, the address of John Marston in 1881. On these censuses Sarah gives her birthdate as circa 1848 and circa 1851 (after her marriage). I cannot find a Sarah Betherage on the 1891 census.

On the 1851 census Sarah Betteridge is in Nuneaton aged 2 and has an older brother John aged 13.

Regards
Valda









Regards
Valda

[Arranroots]

Ok if we are doing speculation!   

I prefer this character for 1861

RG9/2196   81   2

MARSTON John H M 31 - wheelwright - Nuneaton
MARSTON Elizabeth W M 30 - ditto wife - ditto
MARSTON Thomas son 8 - scholar - Attleboro
MARSTON John son 7 - ditto - ditto

Address:  (looks like) Griff, Chilvers Cotton, Warwickshire

Attleborough is adjacent to Nuneaton and we already know there is a later connection with Chilver's Cotton.  Wheelwright and blacksmithing require similar skills.  John's age is only very slightly younger than we might expect.

As Valda rightly points out, a certificate would help to clarify.

kind regards Arranroots 

[Valda]

1871 census 3169 folio 6 Griff Chilvers Coton  Warwickshire 
John Marston 41  Nuneaton, Warwickshire,  Head  Married Wheelwright
Elizabeth Marston 40 Nuneaton, Warwickshire, Wife  Married
Thomas Marston 18 Attleborough, Warwickshire, Son Labourer
John Marston 17 Attleborough, Warwickshire, Son Labourer 

Rules him out I'm afraid

I forgot to mention I did check that Sarah Betteridge was missing from the 1901 census and that there was no death registration for her in Nuneaton (or marriage for her in Coventry or Nuneaton), but again I'm using the incomplete FreeBMD index.

Regards
Valda