A real conundrum !!

[aidansrest]

Hi

Wondering if anyone can help solve this mystery!!

George Thompson married Mary Dunn in All Saints, Newcastle on the 25th December 1868 - his father confirmed as Thomas Thompson, hers as Robert Dunn.
He was 30 years of age - her age was given as 23 years.
A son, Thomas was born in Alnwick during the March quarter of 1869, and they can be found on the 1871 census living in Mitford, Northumberland, where George was a 'game watcher.'

A further three children appear to have been born - twin daughters, Margaret Ann and Mary Elizabeth were born during the March quarter of 1872 and George William, was born during the March quarter of 1875 - all these children's birth registrations give their mother's maiden name as 'Dunn.'
However, it would appear that Mary had died on the 31st October 1871 - there is  family headstone in St Maurice Churhyard, Eglingham which confirms her death, the transcription also confirms that she was the wife of George Thompson.

George remarried to a Margaret Nicholson during the December quarter of 1879 - Margaret had been born in Farlam, Cumberland in 1859, daughter of Robert Nicholson and Jane Bell.
To confuse matters further, as George was almost 20 years older than her (born c 1838 in Cambois, Northumberland), he then 'knocked' off 10 years of his age, I suppose to bring it more in line with hers.

The 1881 census seems to prove the complicated family lives as related above; George and Mary's son, Thomas Thompson, was staying with his maternal grandparents, Robert and Ann Dunn, whilst the twin girls and George William, were staying with Margaret's parents, Robert and Jane Nicholson. All of these children as listed on the census as 'grandchildren.'
George and Margaret were residing in Ritton Whitehouse, near Rothbury, with their two children, Catherine Jane and Sarah Isabella.

So, who is the mother of the twins, their births registered after the death of Mary, and George William, born in 1875??
Margaret Nicholson is too young to have been the twin girls mother, and would have been only around 16 years old when George William was born.

Any ideas?

Many thanks
Sue

[Tickettyboo]

Deleted, incorrect info, sorry

[aidansrest]

Hi
I have a photograph of the headstone from the 'Findagrave' website - however, this is the transcription, and looking at the photograph it looks as though its been transcribed correctly.

In Memory of MARY, the beloved wife of GEORGE THOMPSON who died at Beanley October 31st 1871, aged 2[5] years.
Also of JOHN DUNN, who died in infancy, son and daughter of ROBERT and ANN DUNN.
Also of ELIZABETH DUNN who died Octr. 10th 1870 aged 18 months. Granddaughter of the above.
Also of WILLIAM DUNN who died Jany. 31st 1873, aged 93 years.

The death may have been registered within the Alnwick RD - a Mary Thompson died December quarter of 1871, aged 25 years.
The Dunn family lived at Beanley for many years - so it must be her I guess.

Sue

[Tickettyboo]

Sorry I misunderstood, so deleted my post.

So the 3 younger children's births were registered in Rothbury District?

Boo

[Kay99]

Did George and Mary have another child and she was living with George's mother in 1871??

THOMPSON, AGNES  ANN  mmn DUNN     
GRO Reference: 1871  S Quarter in MORPETH  Volume 10B  Page 301

However the twins would only have been born 6 months later in Rothbury??  Could they be the chidren of the possible marriage below

Marriages Jun 1871   
DUNN    Isabella   THOMPSON    George         Rothbury    10b   624   
 
Kay

Added - 1881 Agnes Ann

Elizabeth Thompson    68 b Embleton, Northumberland,
Mary A. Thompson    45
Esther Thompson    41
Agnes A. Thompson    9  b Mitford, Northumberland Granddaughter

[Milliepede]

How about getting a birth certificate for one of the twins to see what information is on it?

Something has to be wrong unless the twins were born earlier (obviously when mum was still alive) but their births weren't registered until the next quarter?  That could make sense.  I think.

[aidansrest]

Certificates seem to be the way to go!
Thanks folks
Sue

[tazzie]

 George William Thompson baptised 21March 1875 Cambo Northumberland
 Father George mother Isabella.


Tazzie.

[Tickettyboo]

A Mary Elizabeth Thompson and a Margaret Anne Thompson were both baptised 07 April 1872, Rothbury.
parents were George Thompson and Isabella

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGTR-YP37
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGTR-YP3H

Boo