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This must be the most heart-wrenching story I have come across when researching my tree. Mary Richardson Mann was born 1847 in Leeds. She married George Watson in 1864 in Leeds. They had three children between 1864 and 1867. They all died. Mary had another four children with no father's name on the birth certificates between the dates of 1870 and 1874. Two of them died. On the 1881 census Mary is shown as married to Thomas Stephenson, however, I am unable to find a marriage for them, and therefore, believe that they never married as George Watson was still alive. Mary and Thomas had eight children and six of them died. I do believe that at least two of the children that Mary had without a father being named on the birth certificate were Thomas's as in 1872 she had a son (my great grandfather). His birth certificate shows no father but his given names are Charles William Stevenson, and birth name Watson (although George isn't shown as his father). Charles' future certificates i.e. marriage and death show his given names as Charles William, and his surname as Stephenson. Charles had a younger sister named Ann Elizabeth born in 1874. Her birth certificate shows no father, and her mother Mary Watson. The next child born was in 1877 and that certificate shows the father as Thomas Stephenson, so I believe that Mary and Thomas started living together between 1874 and 1877, but that Mary and George Watson had stopped being 'man and wife' between 1867 and 1870. In all, Mary had 15 children and 11 of them died. So sad. Hope all this makes sense. Joanne.

June, Yes, that's Mary on the 1891 census. Joanne.

1891 census Name: Mary Stephenson Age: 43 Estimated birth year: abt 1848 Relation: Wife Spouse's name: Thos Gender: Female Where born: Leeds, Yorkshire, England Civil parish: Leeds Ecclesiastical parish: St Simon County/Island: Yorkshire Country: England Street address: Occupation: Condition as to marriage: Education: Employment status: View image Registration district: Leeds Sub-registration district: West Leeds ED, institution, or vessel: 64 Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Louisa Clark 35 Matilda Clark 7 Chas W Stephenson 18 George Stephenson 6 Louisa Stephenson 4 Mary Stephenson 43 Thos Stephenson 57 is this Mary June x

June, I too looked at this entry on the 1871 census, however, it isn't them. This same family is on the 1881 census, and Mary is shown on the 1881 census as married to Thomas Stephenson. Thanks for looking though, I'm at a loss where to look next. Joanne.

Georgina, I have ruled out the June 1872 marriage in Pontefract, it isn't them. 1881 census for Thomas Stephenson and Mary (formerly Mann):- Name: Mary Stephenson Age: 33 Estimated birth year: abt 1848 Relation: Wife Spouse's name: Thomas Gender: Female Where born: Leeds, Yorkshire, England Civil parish: Leeds County/Island: Yorkshire Country: England Street address: 39 Dover St Condition as to marriage: Married Education: Employment status: View image Registration district: Leeds Sub-registration district: West Leeds ED, institution, or vessel: 47 Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Ann E. Stephenson 6 Charles W. Stephenson 8 Mary Stephenson 33 Thomas Stephenson Name: Thomas Stephenson Age: 47 Estimated birth year: abt 1834 Relation: Head Spouse's name: Mary Gender: Male Where born: Leeds, Yorkshire, England Civil parish: Leeds County/Island: Yorkshire Country: England Street address: 39 Dover St Condition as to marriage: Married Education: Employment status: View image Occupation: Gen Labourer Registration district: Leeds Sub-registration district: West Leeds ED, institution, or vessel: 47 Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Ann E. Stephenson 6 Charles W. Stephenson 8 Mary Stephenson 33 Thomas Stephenson 47

1871 census maybe Name: Mary Watson Age: 23 Estimated birth year: abt 1848 Relation: Wife Spouse's name: George Gender: Female Where born: Holbeck, Yorkshire, England Civil parish: Wortley Ecclesiastical parish: Leeds and Wortley County/Island: Yorkshire Country: England Street address: Occupation: Condition as to marriage: Disability: View image Registration district: Bramley Sub-registration district: Wortley [Near Leeds] ED, institution, or vessel: 2 Neighbors: View others on page Household schedule number: 25 Household Members: Name Age George Watson 25 Kirkby Overblow, Yorkshire Mary Watson 23 Walter Watson 1 Wortley, Yorkshire cant find them in any other census June x

Joanne can you post the details of Mary & Thomas on the 1881 census? Georgina.

Joanne could this be a possible marriage for Mary & Thomas Stevenson... Marriages Jun 1872 (>99%) Sawyer Atkinson Pontefract 9c 114 Sawyer Love Pontefract 9c 114 STEVENSON Thomas Pontefract 9c 114 Watson Mary Pontefract 9c 114 Georgina.

Thanks June. Yes, the 1861 census is definitely him. The 1891 census looks promising but I can't find him on the 1871, 1881 or 1901 census. Any ideas? Joanne.

1861 census for ref Name: George Watson Age: 14 Estimated birth year: abt 1847 Relation: Son Mother's name: Mary Gender: Male Where born: Bolton, Lancashire, England Civil parish: Leeds Town: Leeds County/Island: Yorkshire Country: England Street address: Occupation: Condition as to marriage: View image Registration district: Leeds Sub-registration district: North Leeds ED, institution, or vessel: 42 Neighbors: View others on page Household schedule number: 77 Household Members: Name Age George Watson 14 Mary Watson 39 June x

1891 census Name: George Watson Age: 45 Estimated birth year: abt 1846 Relation: Lodger Gender: Male Where born: Bolton, Lancashire, England Civil parish: Chesterfield Ecclesiastical parish: St Mary and All Saints County/Island: Derbyshire Country: England Street address: Occupation: Condition as to marriage: Education: Employment status: View image Registration district: Chesterfield Sub-registration district: Chesterfield ED, institution, or vessel: 8 Neighbors: View others on page there is this one says single June x

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I have George Watson born 1846. On the IGI it states he was christened in Wigan. His parents were James and Mary, both born in Cumberland. On the 1851 census he was living in Leeds and he has his place of birth as Wigan. On the 1861 census his place of birth is shown as Bolton. In 1864 he married Mary Mann and they had children but they all died. I am unable to find George or Mary on the 1871 census, but I know that Mary had a child to another man in 1873. On the 1881 census Mary is shown as married to this other man (Thomas Stephenson) but I am unable to find a marriage for them, which leads me to believe that George was still alive. Can anyone find either a death for George Watson, or find him on a later census than 1861? Thanks, Joanne.