Help finding the correct Imms Ancestor

[Annette7]

In 1851 William and wife Ann are in Bermondsey - transcribed on Ancestry as 'Panns'!

in 1851 in Newington we have what is transcribed as Caroline Heins born Islington with children Eliza, James and Edward (dittoed to show born Islington too???) - I think this is actually Edward with mother Caroline and siblings - Caroline shown 'U'.

In 1861 Caroline - now shown as widow - has a daughter Mary Ann 8 (as already mentioned) although can't see relevant birth entry in name of Imms.

Also in 1861 there is an Edward 'Inman' of right age with a William Hinton and wife Sarah shown as 'nephew'?    Can't see an Edward Inman birth so is this actually supposed to be Imms?

I also believe that William Imms and Caroline were never married.   Caroline states on census that she was born in Islington so this baptism perhaps - Caroline Harding bp.25/12/1820 together with a sister Maria, dau's of John (chimney sweep) and Ann.

William Imms bp.17/4/1814 Merrow, Surrey, son of James (huntsman) and Sarah.

Annette

[jim1]

That's a good find.
Proves it's the right family.

[garstonite]

William Imms bp.17/4/1814 Merrow, Surrey, son of James (huntsman) and Sarah.

I wonder if this is James in 1841 census - no Sarah though - it is in Merrow


James Imms was a man born in 1781. During the 1841 UK Census he was 60 years old and lived in Surrey.
LAST NAME:   Imms
FIRST NAME:   James
MIDDLE NAME:   
BIRTH YEAR:   1781
BIRTH PLACE:   Surrey
COUNTY:   Surrey
AGE:   60
GENDER:   Male
RESIDENCE:   2140
Merrow, Surrey
HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS:   
James Imms (60, Male)
George Imms (25, Male)  is this a brother of William b 1814 to James and Sarah ?

[jim1]

I don't think the Edward Inman in 1861 is the same Edward as
there's an Edward Inman right age & place living in the same street in 1851.
So far it looks like William Imms & Caroline Harding had 2/3 children together.
Then leaves her & marries someone else in 1845.
Caroline goes on to have another child, Mary Ann in 1853.
So Edward would probably not know his name when he got married as has
been suggested.
It's possible he just made it up.

[TiaMaria9]

Thank you all for your help. 

I can confirm that Edward’s wife and daughter were called Julia and his occupation was down as a currier and later as a leather merchant.

The birth certificate I have for Edward does list his mother as Caroline Harden (but believe this should have said Harding as I cannot find anything for Harden).  The father is listed as William Imms who was down as a painter in 1845, although in the 1841 census was list as a japanner!  They lived at 12 Church Place, Newington in January 1845.

I cannot find a marriage for Caroline & William or Caroline & James and you may be right in that they never married.

I had found the 1841 census showing Caroline with William and the two children - Eliza & James and then on her own with Mary in 1861/71 and wondered if this could be the same family.

I have since looked at the 1851 census suggested for Caroline Heins with Eliza, James & Edward and agree that this seems to fit but wondered how you knew to look at Heins?  If this is correct, why would she then revert back to Imms in 1861/71 with Mary - is this common?

Once again, thank you for all your help 

[jim1]

I think Heins is a transcription error.
It looks like Himms to me. An enumerator misspelling of Imms.
In 1851 Caroline states she is unmarried & as divorce was out
of the question you can safely assume they didn't.
Caroline appears to have died in 1867, 6 years before Edward married
so couldn't ask her for his father's name.

[TiaMaria9]

I think Heins is a transcription error.
It looks like Himms to me. An enumerator misspelling of Imms.
In 1851 Caroline states she is unmarried & as divorce was out
of the question you can safely assume they didn't.
Caroline appears to have died in 1867, 6 years before Edward married
so couldn't ask her for his father's name.

Hi Jim

As I have been unable to find a marriage certificate for Caroline, would it have been usual for women to take their potential husband’s surname as opposed to using their maiden name on a census as Caroline was Harding if unmarried?  I currently have Caroline down as dying in 1876 as Imms and was on the 1871 census with daughter Mary and the condition said ‘W’  if I’m reading it right, although daughter said ‘unm’ and the entry below that said ‘widow’ so what does ‘W’ mean?

[jim1]

Yes 1876 it was. Memory fading.
In 1851 she says unmarried, 61/71 she says widowed (W).
It wasn't unusual for women to take their partners name.
Even after he left & married someone else she still called herself
Imms.
It wouldn't have been considered that important if it's what most people knew her as.
The children could legitimately call themselves Imms if the father was at
the registration & gave his permission.