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But on the 1911 census Rhoda says she's been married 24 years, that would make the marriage 1887.

they sometimes 'stretch' the truth ! (or maybe can't remember exactly)

Marriage cert confirms Frederick Leary as father, occupation Labourer and James Baker as father and a chimney sweep

I wonder if the family came from Ireland and may have returned prior to 1871.

I did find this death in Chertsey which is probably a complete red herring for a possible sibling for John but couldn't resist it.

Deaths Mar 1871 (>99%)
Leary Frederick 0 Chertsey 2a 18

On the 1861 there are 3 Mary ann Rose's working as servants in Oxfordshire , one in Witney , of around 21 years old.... i wonder if one of them is John's mother, unmarried?

Think this may be Rhoda on 1881 census (all births down as N/K):

BAKER, James Jnr Head Married M 30 1851 Sweep
VIEW
BAKER, Eleanor Wife Married F 35 1846
VIEW
BAKER, Mary Ann Daughter Single F 12 1869
VIEW
BAKER, Roda Daughter Single F 10 1871 <<<<<
VIEW
BAKER, James Son Single M 7 1874
VIEW
BAKER, Jorcey Son Single M 5 1876
VIEW
BAKER, George Son Single M 3 1878
VIEW
BAKER, Emily Daughter Single F 1 1880
VIEW

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RG number:
RG11 Piece:
771 Folio:
68 Page:
28

Registration District:
Chertsey Sub District:
Chobham Enumeration District:
Ecclesiastical Parish:


Civil Parish:
Chobham Municipal Borough:
Address:
Gipsys Tents, Chobham County:
Surrey

I know the year is a bit out, but they appear to be part of a Travellers community, with her grandparents also on the site if you look at the original census image.

With no sign of John Leary, I wondered if his family were also Travellers, possibly their roots are in Ireland?

1871 census Rhoda's family?

Mary Baker [Mary A on original]
Age 2
Estimated Year of Birth 1869
Relationship to Head of Household Daughter
Occupation Juvenile
Address Stone Hill Occupation Road [Tent encampment on original]
District Chertsey, Chertsey
Parish Chertsey
Administrative County Surrey
Birth Place Hampshire
Birth County Hampshire
Others:
James 25 Sweeb b Bucks Slough
Ann S 22 b Hants [place illegible?]

On original another tent contains family Harris, born same place as Ann & Mary A. This is the mother:

Emma Harris
Age 47
Estimated Year of Birth 1824
Relationship to Head of Household Wife
Occupation
Address Stone Hill Occupation Road
District Chertsey, Chertsey
Parish Chertsey
Administrative County Surrey
Birth Place Hampshire
Birth County Hampshire

Poss marriage for James:

Marriages Dec 1869 (>99%)
BAKER James N Forest 2b 1127
Harris Ann N. Forest 2b 1127

James Baker death registered Chertsey Q1/1892 and Angelina Baker death reg Q2/1892. Looks like son Ernest in workhouse Croydon on 1901 census.

After posting the above I googled Chobham gypsy, this site could prove interesting - covers quite a bit about the family including John Leary:

http://gypsyjib.wetpaint.com/thread/4348592/gypsies+from+chobham+,+surrey+,+1870

Interesting, near the bottom of the thread they are suggesting Rhoda's sister Mary Ann also married a Leary - William born c 1866 Kingston.

Interesting that there appears to be 3 more Leary's in Chobham in 1891 as below. With Louisa and Emily listed as sisters of Mary Ann - all born Chertsey.

William Penfold was a Brush and? Hawker

1891

Name: Emily Leary
Age: 12
Estimated birth year: abt 1879
Relation: Sister
Gender: Female
Where born: N

Civil Parish: Chobham
Ecclesiastical parish: St Lawrence
Town: Chobham
County/Island: Surrey
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status:

View image

Registration district: Chertsey
Sub-registration district: Chobham
ED, institution, or vessel: 11
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
William Penfold 27
Mary A Penfold 25
Harriet Penfold 6
John B Penfold 2
Louisa M Leary 17
Emily Leary 12

Interesting, this is the same location as the gypsy site posted earlier - census form shows West Side, Holy Trinity on the side of it.

Looks like the Leary side of the family were also Travellers/Gypsies doesn't it?

Marriages Dec 1884 (>99%)
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Gosden George Chertsey 2a 57
Griffiths Catherine Chertsey 2a 57
Leary Mary Ann Chertsey 2a 57
PENFOLD William Chertsey 2a 57

Yes - I wonder if Mary's father was Frederick, but I can't see Louisa, Emily or Mary Ann pre 1891.

He may well be, there are the 2 others William & John (subject of the original question) none of which can be found on earlier census returns. If they are travellers they may not want to appear, or used another name, according to the web link this was common.