John King was I believe born in Corsham in c1844.
The most definite records I have of him are from 1871 and 1872. In the April 1871 census, he was aged 28 living with his wife Mary Ann King and her children in Islington. The actual marriage to Mary Ann did not take place until the February of the following year in Islington. At his marriage, he was a 30 yo bachelor and labourer. His father was named as George King, an agricultural labourer. Both of these known events point to a birth in 1843 or 1844, which according to the 1871C was in Corsham.
Tracking down his birth has proved more difficult, with all the available records - or at least the ones I can find - conflicting.
There is a birth in April 1844 in Corsham of a John King. The father being LUKE King and the mother Mary (née Harris). There is a matching marriage in Corsham for Luke and Mary on 10 Sep 1844. There is a non-matching marriage in Corsham on 09 Dec 1841 of GEORGE King and Rebekah HILLIAR.
The 1851C reveals five children named King in the Laycock Workhouse: Martha (
, James (6), Elizabeth (5), George (7) and John (5). All five were born in Corsham.
The 1861C has a George King (45), who was born in Corsham and is a widower and railway labourer, living in Clifton, Glos. There are six children living with him: John (16), b Corsham, George (12), b Devon, Sarah (10), b Corsham, Mary (
, b Corsham, James (4), b Corsham, and Henry (2), b Somerset. All carry the King surname and are acknowledged as being either a son or daughter.
I am not sure which if any of the above relate to the John King who married Mary Ann Connelly in 1872, a widow who's husband had died in 1866.
I would appreciate some help in trying to piece together the life of John King preceding his marriage to Mary Ann.
