Maria Jane Ruff

[Philldw]

 I am looking for a record of the first marriage of Maria Jane Ruff born 1848 in Portsea. She remarried on 22nd April 1900 to George Williams as a 'Widow' . Her name on the cert was Maria Jane Matthews Any assistance greatly appreciated. David 

[avm228]

So she’s Maria Jane Ruff, mmn Hickox, birth reg Mar qtr 1848 Portsea.

Have you looked for her in any census pre-1900?  Did she have children predating the marriage to George Williams, so far as you know?

[avm228]

I see that her parents were William (labourer) and Mary, per 1851 census.

She’s still with them in Portsea in 1861 - William (stone mason) and Mary.

[Philldw]

I can find her aged 3 in the 1851 census. Aged 13 on the 1861 census. Not with her mother on 1871 census. I do know if she had any children pre marriage to George.

[avm228]

Some flexibility about surnames gives the following possibility in the missing years:

1881 (Portsea)

Maria MATHEWSON Wid 33 Staymaker b Portsmouth
Margaret M do Daur 5 Scholar b Chatham (reg Dec qtr 1875 as Margaret Mary MATTISON mmn RUCK).

1891 (Portsea)

Maria MATHEWS Wid 43 Staymaker b Portsmouth
Margret Mary do Daur 15 b Chatham
Kate Elizebeth do Daur 14 b Portsmouth

[avm228]

Margaret Mary “Matheson” marries in Portsea, 17 Aug 1896, naming her father as David Matheson, Quarter Master R.N.

One of the witnesses is Catherine Elizabeth Matheson, presumably her sister “Kate”.

[Mabel Bagshawe]

Wondering if this is the father?

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7947410

Appears on 1851, b Lydd, with parents Archibald (in the Coastguard) and Catherine

Birth 22 Oct 1842, joined up 1873 and died 27 August 1876 in Melville Hospital

[Mabel Bagshawe]

Wonder if they did marry, given this birth registration

RUFF, CATHERINE  ELIZABETH      
Q4  1876  PORTSEA ISLAND  Volume 02B  Page 489

No mother's maiden name listed

[Mabel Bagshawe]

Here she is in 1881

Mary Ruff    62
Eliza Henwood    40
Daniel Gawn    15
Katherine Ruff    4 - granddaughter

RG11; 1139; 11; 15