mckha489, BumbleB & Capetown - Thanks! Damn. I was hoping to get away without that, considering how long it takes international post to get here in Oz these days (and the cost!). Because of his circumstances I'm not surprised it's a register office marriage.
ciderdrinker - thank you for all that info! I didn't think that some might have chased him up so didn't add anything about them. I'm surprised you found that 1851 census since I sure can't. Other census returns put his birth in Cheltenham? Looking at the map I suppose you could say it is, heh.
Just to make sure we're looking at the same Joseph Holland, I better put more of what I know of him -
Joseph Holland married Sarah Fossett in Cheltenham in 1834. Both are listed as widows, but I can't find another marriage for him (her maiden name is Bowles). They had three/four children: George (b 1840), Louisa (b 1846), Emma (b 1846 in the 1861 census but nowhere else... possibly Louisa?) and Sarah (b 1854).
Joseph is a bit of a bad boy because he's had two children with Pricilla Brooker while married. Joseph George Holland (b 1846) and Frederick Holland (b 1848) but both go by Brooker in census records. Priscilla lists herself as married.
Joseph's wife Sarah dies in 1869 and he marries Priscilla the next year. Joseph dies in 1880 and Priscilla in 1889.
It's exciting that you found a Rachel! At least the name runs in the family, if that's not mine. My Rachel married Robert Hoskin in Newgate in 1807 and had her last baby in 1826. Not impossible, but for the 1780 baptism it doesn't seem likely
Might be a cousin then.
I only found this through four DNA matches (two from Louisa Holland, two from Joseph George Brooker) who are close enough matches to my mother and aunt. They match with known Hoskin & Holland cousins.
