Wife but no husband.....

[Puffin81]

So meet Mary duff, initially found in the 1841 census, in 1851 she was at the same address but now Mary mcclusky (Mary Ann on this census but later identifies as Mary Jane).  In subsequent census she is still Mary mcclusky but no husband she remains in her childhood family home along with other siblings who never marry.

I can’t find a marriage record either. 

She is of interest to me as her brother was a witness to a ancestors (Bartholomew keenan). Wedding, and his sister is also married to a mcclusky

[avm228]

What’s her birthplace, and where is she living in this census extract?

[Indiana.59]

So meet Mary duff, initially found in the 1841 census, in 1851 she was at the same address but now Mary mcclusky (Mary Ann on this census but later identifies as Mary Jane).  In subsequent census she is still Mary mcclusky but no husband she remains in her childhood family home along with other siblings who never marry.

I can’t find a marriage record either. 

She is of interest to me as her brother was a witness to a ancestors (Bartholomew keenan). Wedding, and his sister is also married to a mcclusky

She is living with family as married but no husband on the census - could be any reason for that . . .

I would widen the scope in looking for a marriage in case she married elsewhere eg: worldwide - USA - AUS - Scotland or Ireland - etc: . . .

Let us pinpoint them a little better . . .

England and Wales Census, 1881

Name:         Kate Mc Clusky (Catherine)
Event Place:      Carlisle St Cuthbert Without, Cumberland, England
Residence:      Sowerby St
Age:         26
Marital Status:      Single
Occupation:      Cotton Reeler
Relationship :      Niece
Birth (Est):      1855
Birthplace:      Carlisle, Cumberland, England
Page Number:      36
Registration No:   RG11
Piece/Folio:      5154/90
Affiliate Record Type:   Household
Household
Bridget Duff - Head - 56 - Carlisle, Cumberland, England - B: 1825
Mary J Mc Clusky - Visitor - 54 - Carlisle, Cumberland, England – B: 1827
Susanna Mc Clusky - Niece - 28 - Carlisle, Cumberland, England – B: 1853
Kate Mc Clusky - Niece - 26 - Carlisle, Cumberland, England – B: 1855
James Mc Clusky - Grand Son - 1 - Carlisle, Cumberland, England – B: 1880
Daniel Duff - Brother - 42 - Carlisle, Cumberland, England - B: 1839 – B: 1839

Mary Ann was born est: 1827 + 16 = 1843 - 1st daughter Susanna b: est: 1853

Looking for marriage between 1843 and 1854 - but would say around 1851/52 . . .

Clearly, there are 2 daughters between 1853 and 1855 - could they married in Ireland and Mary returned home leaving husband in Ireland . . .

No marriages found in Scotland between 1843 and 1855 . . .

Ditto off another research site as follows:

Mary Jane Duff - (1827-1904) - Fact Details - 1881
Botchergate, Cumberland, England
Relation to Head of House: Visitor; Marital Status: Windower - who died here - the husband or the window 

Next step I would say is to get the birth cert of one of her daughters - 1st daughter and see what information that brings up in regard to the father . . .

It all sounds Irish to me . . . ; )

Indiana

[avm228]

Have you traced the births and paternal details of her apparent daughters Susannah and Catherine McClusky who are with her in 1861 & 1871? 

[avm228]

Catherine McCluskey, mmn Duff, birth reg Dec qtr 1854 Carlisle 10b 338.

[avm228]

Perhaps a marriage (if there was one) took place in Scotland?

[Puffin81]

It’s the Carlisle Cumberland census, she remains Mary mcclusky throughout all censuses from 1851 at the same address, she states she is married until a later census in 1881.

Mary’s birthday place is Carlisle

I need to get a look in the parish records to identify daughters parents as I’ve spent my budget for copy certificates for the next few months 🤦‍♀️

[ThrelfallYorky]

I had one"Wife" without a husband on a couple of census entries. I must admit I rather assumed that she'd "assumed" wifedom to make her situation - with two, later three children - sound more respectable. Quite a long time later I found her on another census ... husband was a "Mariner", so perhaps he'd simply been at sea for the other censuses.

[Puffin81]

I had one"Wife" without a husband on a couple of census entries. I must admit I rather assumed that she'd "assumed" wifedom to make her situation - with two, later three children - sound more respectable. Quite a long time later I found her on another census ... husband was a "Mariner", so perhaps he'd simply been at sea for the other censuses.

I’ve some who have clearly escaped, but this one gets married and lives with her parents alone, then has children all while living there, he has to be some place & coming and going like you say