Swain - Hit a wall!

[littleem1906]

I'm looking into the parentage of Esther Swain (1824, Karsley, Warwickshire). This is all I know of her:

From 1851 onwards she was living with her common-law partner Benjamin Mullis. I can't find a marriage for her so they likely never married. (Unless someone else can find a marriage that I've missed!)

She had 8 children that I know of. The first one is not Benjamin Mullis's child, as I found a newspaper article about Esther taking a man called William Hope to court over the parentage of her illegitimate eldest son (William Swain - 1846). Her other children include: Alfred Swain (1848-1848), Harriet Christina Mullis (1849), Elizabeth Mullis (1852), Fanny Mullis (1854), James Mullis (1856), Eliza Mullis (1858), and Ann Mullis (1863).

In 1891 she appears in census as 'mother-in-law', living with her daughter Ann's family. (Ann became Ann Newman). It would appear to me that perhaps Esther and Benjamin separated some time between 1881 and 1891, as he was still alive in 1891 and living with Elizabeth Eaglestone (who is listed as his sister). There is also a Lilly Mullis living there who is listed as a niece, but it's unclear who she belonged to.

Esther Mullis died in 1894, and Benjamin went on to marry an Anna Lisserman (nee Gardner) that same year.

I looked for Esther in 1841 and could only find the following Esther, living in Allesley:
Elizabeth Swain - 45
Charles Swain - 25
Esther Swain - 15

I found a baptism for an Esther Swain on 18 Aug 1824 in Allesley. Parents were John and Elizabeth Swain. There are also potential siblings: Joseph (1822), William (1827), Thomas (1828), Eliza (1833).

Having seen the 1941 census, I wondered if perhaps Charles and Esther were siblings but the baptisms above don't support this. There are three other baptisms of Swain children, whose parents are John and Elizabeth, but these are in Coventry, St John the Baptist. These are as follows and include a Charles who would be around the same age as the Charles in the 1841 census: Eliza Swain (1815), Charles Swain (1816) and Eliza Swain (1817). Is it possible this is the same family?

This is where I've hit a wall! I'd love to know who Elizabeth and John were and if it's possible they could also be the parents of the three earlier Swain children. Can anyone help me trace who John Swain and his wife Elizabeth may have been?

[Mabel Bagshawe]

1851 has an Eliza Swain aged 33, sister b Allesley, living with Benjamin and Esther

[mckha489]

None of those distances are very big. 

A Charles Swain married Hannah Randle in Coventry 14 Oct 1845
Father John Swain. One witness is Joseph Swain

Added…1851 for that couple  he is born Allesley

[littleem1906]

1851 has an Eliza Swain aged 33, sister b Allesley, living with Benjamin and Esther

Thank you! No sure how I missed that. I think I've gone census blind!

[littleem1906]

None of those distances are very big. 

A Charles Swain married Hannah Randle in Coventry 14 Oct 1845
Father John Swain. One witness is Joseph Swain

Added…1851 for that couple  he is born Allesley

Thank you. That's very helpful.

[Mabel Bagshawe]

John Swain
Elizabeth Beacham

Marriage    18 Oct 1814    Allesley, Warwickshire, England

Just to note the Eliza Swain baptised 1833 in Allesley to John and Elizabeth appears to have died in 1835

[littleem1906]

John Swain
Elizabeth Beacham

Marriage    18 Oct 1814    Allesley, Warwickshire, England

Just to note the Eliza Swain baptised 1833 in Allesley to John and Elizabeth appears to have died in 1835

Thank you! I believe Thomas and William also died.

[Mabel Bagshawe]

Moving to the later question

Lilian Mullis is with Elizabeth Eaglestone again in 1901, also niece. PLace of birth Corley. Living in Sowe (or Walsgrave on Sowe). She appears to marry in 1906, giving no father's name

Fits with this family on 1881, in Corley

Edward Mullis    48    Head
Mary Mullis              49
Arthur Mullis            15
Ann Mullis               11
Lillian Mullis

There's a birth registered in Meriden district with mmn Howe, which fits a marriage between Edward Mullis  and Mary Howe in 1859

Edward from Keresley, a tailor, father James a farmer

Following back Edward has mother Ann and a sister Elizabeth b c1835

And in 1841 they can be found in Keresley (as Mullir on Ancestry) with sibling Benjamin

[Mabel Bagshawe]

It looks quite likely that Edward Mullis died in 1881 (although age is a bit off) and Mary in February 1891, which would explain why Lily is with her aunt and uncle