So I think I've found a reference to one of my first cousins thrice removed, Mary Ann Monckton, in the 1851 census for Wolverhampton. She seems to be doing housemaid service in a house in Darlington Street (although she is also apparently listed as a 'visitor' - as is everyone in the house apart from the Head of Household. Housemaids in other households on the same page are listed as 'servant', by the same hand).
In my research, I've mostly come across houses of related persons with maybe the odd friend or servant tacked on. This is the first time I've come across a household where seemingly nobody is related to anybody, and I was wondering if anyone had any insight here.
The inhabitants are as follows (many thanks to the rootschatters on the handwriting forum for helping decode this!).
Robert Crockett | Head | Widower | 77 | Rector of Nailstone-cum-Normanton, Leicestershire
Mary Davis | Visitor | Un | 54 | (Can't read occupation, looks like 'no' or 'mo' or possibly 'md')
Joseph Grinsell | Visitor| Un | 21 | Solicitor's Gen. Clerk
Mary Ann Monckton | Do. | Un | 18 | Housemaid Servant
Abiathar Hawkes | Do. | Un | 64 | Retired Officer - Army*
*Thanks to another rootschatter, I've learnt that this is Major Abiathar Hawkes, formally of the 39th Regiment.
So what's going on here? It seems like a very motley crew to have in one house. My first thought was maybe some kind of a boarding house, but Robert Crockett seems somewhat old and important to be running one of those. Any ideas?