Sophia Coulson

[west]

Looking for Baptism and parents of Sophia, I have found her marriage to Samuel Hathaway in 1816 in the parish of Churcham also I have Sophia on the 1841 to 1861 censuses, and her death in 1865.

Her marriage transcript yielded no clues to her parentage though there are two witnesses a John Coulson and John Stephens, there is a John on the 1841 census in Churcham aged 70 Occ carpenter also again on the 1851 for Churcham aged 84 here he states Beckford as place of birth.Any help would be much appreciated.


West.

[avm228]

You haven’t told us Sophia’s approximate birthdate - how old was she in the census & death entries? 
Where was she born according to the 1851 & 1861 censuses?

[avm228]

The 1865 death date you have looks wrong, as she’s still alive as a widow in Churcham in 1871. 
Sophia Hathaway born abt 1795 Churcham. RG10/2605/55/3.

[avm228]

This death perhaps?

Sophia Hathaway aged 100, Jun qtr 1889 Westbury on Severn.

Newspaper reports confirm that the deceased lived in Churcham, and that there was a discrepancy between her age according to the relieving officer’s records (94) and the death certificate which stated it as 100.  She had been receiving parish relief for 40 years, and her intellect was “very much impaired” though no reason is given for this.

[west]

Thank you avm228 for your reply.

Yes you are right I missed my notes as to Sophia's death in 1889 and the date of birth of 1795 looks more likely, but I cannot find her baptism in Churcham, so i wonder if she is from Beckford which is now in Worcestershire.


Thank you.


West

[Capetown]

Using the Forest of Dean records for this family at Churcham - the surname COULSON is spelt in many various ways (even a note on Sophia's marriage in 1816)

There is this marriage at Churcham 9 November 1790 (again on the Forest of Dean records)

9 November 1790

John COLSON

Residence: Hamlet of Highnam


Mary DEE - Parish of Bulley

by banns:

witness 1: John Guise ?
witness 2: Ann BEAMAN


Memoranda:  The Banns of Marriage between John COLSON of the Hamlet of Highnam in this Vicarage and Mary DEE of the Parish of Bulley in this Vicarage were duly published on Sundays October 24th & 31st and November 7th 1790 (no one forbidding them) by me Thomas PARK.


There are a couple of baptism of this couple at Churcham - will add.

[Capetown]

There are 39 records of the surname COULSTONES/COLSTON/COLSTANT/ etc etc

Sophia's marriage says, the Vicar spelt the brides name coulstone and then wrote COULSON in the margin.

Baptisms at Churcham in 1791 Ann COLSTON - parents: John & Mary and then Comfort CONSTANT in 1795.
---

This ties up with the 1851 census: with John & Hannah - was this  John's second marriage

Marriage at Churcham: 26 July 1825

John COLSTON of this parish
Hannah HODGES of this parish

by banns

witnesses: Wm MERRICK and Sarah HOOK


Burial at Churcham - 13 December 1860 - John COULSTON aged 93 - residence: Churchman


There are records on the above website for this surname and variations of since the 16th century.

[Capetown]

Also there is at Churchman

7 June 1795,

Timothy CONSTANT, parents: John & Jane Jean

Memoranda: The entry reads Timothy CONSTANT son of John and Jane Jean.  It is not clear whether the surname is JEAN or CONSTANT

and then

5 March 1797

John CONSTANT, father: John mother Jane

[west]

Thank you Capetown for the information.

I had noted the variations in the spelling of Coulson and also viewed the records on the f-o-d website but had discounted many of them, yes the marriage to Hannah has to be a second marriage for John.

The marriage to Mary Dee in 1790 is a possibility as this would fit in with Sophia's birth in 1795, but with no proof of a baptism for Sophia its still open.

Why would John put Beckford down on the 1851 census as his place of birth, he must have some link to there.

Thank you for help.

West.