Same couple with huge gap in baptisms?

[hilarykellis]

I am confused about the baptism of my ancestor, Joseph Turnbull. Per the 1851 census he was born in Heworth in about 1812. There is a baptism for Joseph Turnbull in 1812 in Windy Nook, Heworth to Richard Turnbull, quarry man, and Anne Anderson. There is a daughter born to the same couple in 1814.

I go back to 1803 and I can find a Richard Turnbull quarryman and JOANNE Anderson baptizing a 7th child (if memory serves).

No children were born between 1803/4 and 1812 which makes little sense. I found a marriage for Richard Turnbull and Joan Anderson in 1788 in Eglingham, Northumberland but if that is correct, Joseph and Joan would have had Joseph 24 years after they married. Possible, but seems they would have needed to marry very young?

Any idea what is going on here?

[cristeen]

If it is the same couple, the gap in baptisms coincides with the Napoleonic Wars, maybe the husband went away to fight

[arthurk]

Or did Joanne/Joan die, and Richard married Anne, who was younger and happened to share a surname with Joanne?

It's also possible that there are two separate Richard Turnbulls.

[Mart 'n' Al]

It was only three years ago, in my late 50s, that I realised that the large gap between my two aunties being born and my dad being born were because he was born to one of my aunties, which actually made her my grandmother. Since I found this out just about everybody I speak to about it says they know somebody in their ancestry in similar circumstances. I've got another relative who supposedly gave birth aged 54. She isn't mentioned in the Guinness Book.

Martin

[Creasegirl]

Do the death certificates in England give parents names as that might help you.  could also be a child of a teenage daughter and they have written as child to keep up appearances

[Marmalady]

Do the death certificates in England give parents names as that might help you.  could also be a child of a teenage daughter and they have written as child to keep up appearances

No, they don't

[Jebber]

Another reason for the long gap between children may be still births, I have come across instances that being the cause.

[JenB]

No children were born between 1803/4 and 1812 which makes little sense.

There is also the baptism of a Richard Turnbull to Richard Turnbull, quarryman, and Johanna Anderson, residence Windy Nook, in 1807. Richard born 4th June 1807
He is their 9th child.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6WLK-8R?i=363&wc=9K5S-7MQ%3A13618101%2C27752001%2C27752002&cc=1309819

[Chris Doran]

Another reason for the long gap between children may be still births, I have come across instances that being the cause.

WDYTYA or somesuch a while back explained such gaps by certain diseases (I will spare your ancestors' blushes by not elaborating) which cause miscarriages and sans antibiotics took about 7 years to clear up.