This is an old problem that I have returned to once and awhile with no certain result.
My 2 x great-great grandmother, Mary was, according to her birth certificate, born on 5 May 1838 at 12, Riding School Lane, Brighton, Sussex. Father Joseph Hale, Shoemaker; Mother Susan Hale formerly Williams. Birth registration: Q2 1838, Brighton, Volume 7, Page 246.
Mary was married on 23 December 1857 at St Paul's Finsbury, Middlesex, to Alfred Cullmer of the Royal London Militia. The marriage certificate records that Mary's father was John Hale, Shoemaker.
Mary has not been found on the 1841 Census, but there was a John Hale aged 30, warehousman in Shoreditch, born within the county, with wife Elizabeth, but I don't think he is connected. Mary has been found in the 1851 Census she is recorded, aged 13 and born in Brighton, as the daughter of Sarah Hale, widow, Shoe Closer, born: "n K". Sarah also has sons aged 4 and 1 month, sugesting that she was only recently widowed. It is interesting to note that on the next line there appears " Harriett Healls", Head, unmarried, aged 29 born London, with daughter Ellen aged 10, born London. Harriett is described as a Shoe Binder. The following page was 'missing' it seems, as it was not sent to me out in Sumatra. Mary appears again, in the 1881 Census, as married to Alfred Cullmer with her place of birth confirmed as Brighton.
As there are several people in this tale named Hale in the shoe making trade, both in Brighton and in London it occurs to me that there may have been an extended family named Hale, in Brighton and possibly later in London, making shoes. Does anyone have any connection with Hale families or the shoemaking trade that might throw some light on this gordian knot? I would like to trace Mary's ancestral line back if that's possible, but for that I do need accurately to establish her parentage - no likely marriage found so far.
