Hello RootsChatters, a little bit of help required to see if I am on the right track or not. From what I can discover a brother of my G. Grandfather James Jefferson Thompson married an Ann ? in 1851 but I am trying to work out if I have the correct Ann.
Facts:
JJT is the 3rd child of 12 to parents Robert & Margery (nee Jefferson) Thompson, he was baptised 13 November 1829 (this is the only time I have seen his middle name, Jefferson used).
1851 census he is living (aged 21) with his parents and various other brothers & sisters at Westoe Village, South Shields (Westoe village is actually a street which had large houses and it seems numerous families lived in the houses), his occupation is listed as Labourer which it is for every other census he appears on.
1861 census has him living (aged 31) in Westoe village with his wife Ann (aged 36) who was born in Morpeth, Northumberland. They have 3 children Elizabeth (9, born Morpeth), Robert (7) & Jane Ann (4), the last 2 born South Shields. James parents R&M Thompson were still living in Westoe village (no. of schedule for R&M was 177 and for J&A was 181 so it could have been the same house). Do not confuse this with James & Maria Thompson who are also in Westoe village (no. of schedule 153). Maria Thompson was the sister of my James who married a James Thompson (why change a surname!!) who also lived with his parents George and Mary in Westoe village, they married in 1853. There is also another son of R&M Thompson called James but he was born in 1844. 2 James in one family!!!
1871 census, still in Westoe village (aged 41 & 47) with 2 of their children. 1881 finds them moved but not far to Wallis cottages aged 51 & 57 and 1881 finds them living with their son in law and his family, interestingly enough they are listed as aged 60 & 70.
This is where it starts to get a bit murky. I have picked Ann's surname to be Watson because their first daughter Elizabeth (baptised 25 May 1851 Morpeth) is Elizabeth Watson Thompson, parents names James Thompson & Ann (of course I could be totally off track but it was common to name children after the wifes maiden name eg. Jefferson). Looking through the Durham Bishops transcripts for Morpeth the only Ann Watson born around that period was baptised 6 August 1820 which made her 9 years older than James, but the 1881 census has them as 10 years apart, so it could fit in.
I had thoughts of Ann having been previously married and her married name was Watson, but you wouldn't name your child after your previous married name (would you?). Anyway there were 16 Ann's born in Morpeth between 1822 & 1825 and non married a Watson as far as I can see.
I can't find Ann Watson on the 1841 or 1851 census. Her parents William & Ann were living in Morpeth on the 1841 with 2 daughters, but not Ann.
Wedding. There is a wedding registration from Jan-March 1851 (vol. 25 Page 326 it lists 8 people in total) which includes both a James Thompson and an Ann Watson, in Newcastle (approx. half way between the 2 towns). I haven't been able to find a link between them to confirm this, however James was with his parents on the 1851 census (taken 30 March). A question, marriage registrations, what period of time from registration do they have until marriage? could they have easily got married after March?
Deaths: a James Thompson died South Shields Jan-Mar 1901, aged 72, age matches. An Ann Thompson died in South Shields burial 5/7/1893 at St Hilda's church, but no age given. I can't find either of them on the 1901 census.
I hope you are still awake after reading this request, I apologise for the length but wanted to include everything that I know. Any help in working all of this out would be appreciated. I know I can send off for the marriage certificate hoping that it was JT who married AW, if not it's back to square one.
Also why is Morpeth listed under Durham in the counties when it is in Northumberland? Mind you it comes in handy for this request for information!!!
Many thanks, Paul
