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My Grand father, Joseph Conley (Connolly) born 1878 in Attercliffe, Sheffiedl, is shown as married to a Bessie Bennett Johnson in Lancaster, 1898. In the 1991 census, Bessie is in Lancaster, a Cotton worker, with her first daughter, Pyllis Maude, aged one year. She is with her Brother, Edward Johnson.. What is puzzling me is that she is shown as a widow. Yet she is still with Joseph Conley in Chorlton Cum Hardy, Manchester, with her children from 1904 onward. I have found a Joseph Conley from Sheffield in the 1901 census in Mansfield, Notts, as a lodger. It could be my Grand father but then Bessie would not be a widow?
If any one can help me I will be a happy bunny.
June

Just for reference :

Name:
Bessie Bennett Johnson
Age:22
Birth Year:abt 1876

Event Type:Marriage
Event Date:28 May 1898
Parish:Lancaster, St Mary

Spouse:Joseph Conley
Spouse Age:22

Father:Edward Johnson
Spouse Father:Peter Conley

The Joseph you found as a boarder in 1901 was a Boiler Slater, inside boiler worker and was single.

I think this is likely to be him in 1911

Joseph Connley 34 - Brick Burner - Sheffield
Georgina Conley 35
Faith Amelia Conley 6
Winifred Conley 2

What was your Joseph's occupation ?

How do you know Bessie was with Joseph from 1904 ?

Name: Bessy Bennett Johnson
Birth Date: 10 Sep 1876
Baptism Date: 5 Nov 1876
Parish: Lancaster, St Mary
Mother: Cleanor Johnson
Reference Number: Pr 3262/1/15

1901 for info of places of birth

1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription

First Name PHILLIS M
Last Name CONLEY
Relationship DAUGHTER
Condition -
Gender Female
Age 1
Year Of Birth 1900
Occupation -
Birth Town RETFORD
Birth County YORKSHIRE
Birth Place -
Street MASON STREET OFF NORTH ROAD
Town LANCASTER
Parish LANCASTER
City -
Country ENGLAND
County Lancashire
Vessel Name -
Municipal Ward BULK
Registration District LANCASTER
Archive Reference RG13
Piece Number 3988
Folio 36
Page 24

Household Members
First Name Last Name Relationship Age Year Of Birth Birth Town
BESSIE CONLEY HEAD 24 1877 LANCASTER Cotton Weaver
PHILLIS M CONLEY DAUGHTER 1 1900 RETFORD 99%) 99%) <<<<<<<<<

Original has Relford, Yorks but should read Retford which is North Notts not far from Yorks border

Births Mar 1900
Conley Phyllis Maud E. Retford 7b 16

You refer to JOSEPH as your grandfather.........so which of his children was your parent?

And who was your grandmother?

Lancashire Birth indexes for the years: 1910
Surname Forename(s) Sub-District Registers At Mother's Maiden Name Reference

CONLEY Terence Joseph Lancaster Preston JOHNSON LAN/117/37


Deaths Jun 1912 (>99%)
CONLEY Terence J 1 Chorlton 8c 924

Several post-1911 Conley/Johnson births in Chorlton district..........

connected..............

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards/board/ancestors/thread/1339343

And birth info...............

Births Sep 1876 (>99%)
Conley Joseph Sheffield 9c 409

For OCCUPATION..............as requested above

1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription

First Name JOSEPH
Last Name CONELEY
Relationship BOARDER
Condition SINGLE
Gender Male
Age 14
Year Of Birth 1877
Occupation IRON TURNER
Birth Town -
Birth County YORKSHIRE
Birth Place -
House Name -
Street BRITTANIA ROAD
Town DARNALL
Parish ATTERCLIFFE CUM DARNALL
City SHEFFIELD
County Yorkshire, Yorkshire (West Riding)
Registration District SHEFFIELD
Vessel Name -
Archive Reference RG12
Piece Number 3841

Name: Frances Counley
Birth Date: 10 Jun 1908
Age: 0
Baptism Date: 15 Jul 1908
Parish: Chorlton upon Medlock, All Saints
Parish as it Appears: Chorlton on Medlock, All Saints
Father's Name: Joseph Counley>>>>Labourer
Mother's name: Bessie Counley
Reference Number: GB127.M320/1/1/6

I can't make out the address unfortunately. It is 1 something Court.

Can't see ANY of them in 1911............weird!

I can't either Reggie.

This is bothering me. I can match all of the births to the Conley children apart from Joseph born 1911. They say married 14 years 7 children born 6 living.

Name: Joseph Savage
Age in 1911: 34
Estimated birth year: abt 1877
Relation to Head: Head
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Manchester, Lancashire, England
Civil Parish: South Manchester
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England
Street address: 1 Roscoe Place
Marital Status: Married
Occupation: Halker
Registration district: Chorlton
Registration District Number: 464
Sub-registration district: Chorlton upon Medlock
ED, institution, or vessel: 32
Piece: 23860
Household Members:
Name Age
Joseph Savage 34
Bessie Savage 34
Maud Savage 11
Agnes Savage 9
Maggie Savage 7
Elizabeth Savage 5
Fannie Savage 2
Joseph Savage 2/12

So I was wondering if there was a reason for the possible name change and I came across this!
No idea what he did but he is in HM Prison Lancaster in 1901.
This could be why Bessie is alone with her daughter and claiming to be a widow.

First Name JOSEPH
Last Name CONNELLY
Relationship PRISONER
Condition MARRIED
Gender Male
Age 24
Year Of Birth 1877
Occupation BLACKSMITH'S STRIKER
Birth Town SHEFFIELD
Birth County YORKSHIRE
Birth Place -
Street -
Town -
Parish LANCASTER
City -
Country ENGLAND
County Lancashire
Vessel Name -
Municipal Ward PARK
Registration District LANCASTER
Archive Reference RG13
Piece Number 3992
Folio 132
Page 1

'Joseph' 1911 would be Terence Joseph whose birth and death I posted earlier

Splendid work, Astra

Ah Terence! Of course.
Thanks so very much for that Reggie.
All of this is just a theory at the moment until Bessie comes back and confirms the names of the children but it is looking more and more plausible.

The births after 1911 are not recorded as Savage.
Name change appears to be just for the census


Births Sep 1913
Conley Kathleen -Johnson Chorlton 8c 1706

Births Dec 1915
CONLEY Winifred - JOHNSON Chorlton 8c 1336

Births Mar 1917
Conley Lily -Johnson Chorlton 8c 1308

1919
Conley Gladys - Johnson Chorlton 8c 1342
Conley May- Johnson Chorlton 8c 1342

1921
Conley John- Johnson Sunderland 10a 1365

-----------------------

Death 1915
Conley Kathleen 2 Chorlton 8c 1129
Conley Winifred 0 Chorlton 8c 1124

Thanks Mike. All of the births are correctly registered as Conley. It is just the 1911 census which can't be put down to transcription error because it is signed as Savage.