The elusive death of Joseph Thacker

[Nigel Porter]

My G G Aunt Elizabeth Porter (1835 - 1907) was initially married to William Wilson with whom she had 4 children before he died in 1868.  I have all their details and have checked the GRO so I'm fairly sure their were only 4. In 1871 she is living in Heckington as Elizabeth Wilson laundress, with 3 of her children and a visitor, Joseph Thacker.  Between 1871 and 1881 Elizabeth has 4 more children, Mary Ann Thacker Wilson b. 1871 in Heckington, William Wilson b. 1873 Gillford Hill, Yorks,   Margaret Wilson b.1877 Wortley Yorks and Sarah Thacker b.1879 Market Deeping and they all have the mothers name as Porter in the GRO index.  Obviously with William Wilson long gone it's fair to assume Joseph Thacker was the father and they all have Thacker as their surname in the 1881 census.  I have their baptism details, but have so far not researched them in later life.

So far so good, but in the 1881 census Elizabeth is recorded as head of the family, so where is Joseph?  I've looked, but I can't find him for certain in any census after 1871, neither can I find a death registered, so what happened to him?  I also can't find a marriage between Joseph and Elizabeth, so I'm sure they did not get married.  Finally if he was the father why are the first 3 children born post William Wilson's death given Wilson as their surname?

[CaroleW]

and a visitor, Joseph Thacker.

No birthyear or birthplace given - 1871 shows 1841 Ewerby Lincs

[Nigel Porter]

Apologies, forgot all about Joseph himself!  He was born in Ewerby in 1840 (bpt 12th April 1840) with parent William Thacker and Ann Neal.  He was still in Ewerby in 1851 and 1861 and then he appears in nearby Heckington in 1871 and that;s about all I know.

[CaroleW]

Can't see anything either.  Different birthyears or birthplaces for other Joseph Thackers on the 1881 onwards.  He may not have died pre- 1881 - may have gone off with somebody else as they weren't married

[jonw65]

THACKER, SARAH       
Mother's Maiden Surname: PORTER 
GRO Reference: 1879  M Quarter in BOURN  Volume 07A  Page 387

Info from FreeReg and FamilySearch
Baptism of Sarah Thacker at Market Deeping, 2 March 1879
Parents William and Elizabeth
Father a Labourer
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL1G-ZT2R

Same day, same place
Margaret, age ?, parents William  + Elizabeth Thacker
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL1L-17HN

That could be Margaret Wilson born 1877?

[jonw65]

Same day, same place
Margaret, age ?, parents William  + Elizabeth Thacker

Looking at the image on Lincs to the Past it says Aged 2 years in the margin
I needed to enable Flash to view
https://www.lincstothepast.com/Records/RecordDisplayTranscript.aspx?oid=545638&iid=359667

No father named on the baptism of Mary Ann in Heckington, 11 Feb 1872. Mother Elizabeth Wilson
https://www.lincstothepast.com/Records/RecordDisplayTranscript.aspx?oid=551305&iid=378915

Yes, she was registered Sep qtr 1871. Wilson, Mary Ann Thacker - mother Porter

[jonw65]

William Wilson b. 1873 Gillford Hill, Yorks

Is he the chap baptized 9 July in Whiston?
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G964-XSHS?i=1540

Parents William + Elizabeth
Abode Guilthwaite
Father a Labourer

[..claire..]

Is it possible Joseph was a bit younger than you thought ?

You have Joseph Thacker baptised 12 April 1840, this Joseph Thacker ‘infant’ was buried Ewerby 15 April 1840.

The Joseph you want  is the one born in 1841 - baptised 28 August 1841 son of William & Ann (at Ewerby)

Claire

[Nigel Porter]

Thanks Claire I had seen the two baptisms and missed the death, so I think you're correct.  I assume that William and Ann are the parents of both, as I have several births where the parents named successive children with the same name.