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Can somebody please help or point me in the right direction. I have a relative that married a woman in c1873. In the 1881 census they are listed as living with there 3 children and 3 step children (Mothers maiden name). How would i go about finding out if she was married or if the children were illegitimate????If the father ran off or died etc !!!!! The details are Walter short b 1832 west chiltington,sussex (Son of samuel and leah Short) sarah geal b c1840 West Chiltington,sussex Thanks in advance guys. Mark.

when was she born and where? one way would be a birth cert - father named? Name: Jane Geal Year of Registration: 1867 Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar District: Thakeham County: Sussex Volume: 2b Page: 301

Just for reference 1881 census Jane Geal abt 1867 Thakeham, Sussex, England Step Daughter Sullington Sussex Rose Geal abt 1870 Wt Chiltington, Sussex, England Step Daughter Sullington Sussex Walter H. Geal abt 1872 Wt Chiltington, Sussex, England Step Son Sullington Sussex Edmund Hoad abt 1797 Thakeham, Sussex, England Lodger Sullington Sussex Anne Short abt 1880 Sullington, Sussex, England Daughter Sullington Sussex Edward Short abt 1878 Sullington, Sussex, England Son Sullington Sussex James Short abt 1876 Sullington, Sussex, England Son Sullington Sussex Sarah Short abt 1841 Wt Chiltington, Sussex, England Wife Sullington Sussex Walter Short abt 1831 Wt Chiltington, Sussex, England Head Sullington Sussex

Walter and Sarah married in 1873 Marriages Jun 1873 GEAL Sarah Thakeham 2b 519 Short Walter Thakeham 2b 519

Hmmm.... 1871 Walter Short abt 1841 Chiltington, Sussex, England Head West Chiltington Sussex Peter Short abt 1858 Washington, Sussex, England Son West Chiltington Sussex Frank Short abt 1861 Washington, Sussex, England Son West Chiltington Sussex Herbert Short abt 1863 Chiltington, Sussex, England Son West Chiltington Sussex Sarah Gearl abt 1843 Chiltington, Sussex, England ***Servant*** West Chiltington Sussex Jane Gearl abt 1867 Chiltington, Sussex, England West Chiltington Sussex Rosa Gearl abt 1870 Chiltington, Sussex, England West Chiltington Sussex Sarah is unmarried. Walter is a Widower. I'd guess at the children being Walters. In brackets, by both their names, it says Illegitmate! It's then crossed out.

This looks like her baptism from IGI SARAH GEAL Female -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Event(s): Birth: Christening: 09 OCT 1842 West Chiltington, Sussex, England Death: Burial: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parents: Father: JAMES GEAL Mother: JANE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Messages: Extracted birth or christening record for the locality listed in the record. The source records are usually arranged chronologically by the birth or christening date. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Source Information: Batch No.: Dates: Source Call No.: Type: Printout Call No.: Type: C070221 1571 - 1712 0918463, 0416750 Film 6901880 Film C070221 1571 - 1712 0416755 Film NONE C070221 1587 - 1672 0918463, 0416750 Film NONE C070221 1587 - 1672 0416755 Film NONE C070221 1711 - 1879 0918463, 0416750 Film NONE C070221 1711 - 1879

Yep, that is them. As you can see there is listed 3 step children to walter. (I am guessing they are Sarah`s children)

do you think this is the married Sarah in 1891 1891 England Census Record about Sarah Short Name: Sarah Short Age: 46 Estimated birth year: abt 1845 Relation: Prisoner Gender: Female Where Born: West Chiltington, Sussex, England Civil parish: Portsea Ecclesiastical parish: St Mary County/Island: Hampshire Country: England Street address: Occupation: Condition as to marriage: Education: Employment status: View image Source information: RG12/860 Registration district: Portsea Island Sub registration district: Kingston ED, institution, or vessel: Her Majestys Prison Kingston Portsmouth Folio: 144 Page: 5 (click to see others on page) GSU Number: 6095970

Orangeblossom Thanks, but that does not make sense??????????? (Not to me anyway..

What doesn't make sense?

he has a wife in 1861 View Record Mary H Short abt 1836 Washington, Sussex, England Wife Washington Sussex View Record Peter S Short abt 1858 Washington, Sussex, England Son Washington Sussex View Record Walter Short abt 1832 West Chiltington, Sussex, England Head Washington Sussex View Record Walter F Short abt 1860 Washington, Sussex, England Son Washington Sussex View Record William Short abt 1857 Washington, Sussex, England Son Washington Sussex

Jess.... That walter is closer to mine... View Record Mary H Short abt 1836 Washington, Sussex, England Wife Washington Sussex View Record Peter S Short abt 1858 Washington, Sussex, England Son Washington Sussex View Record Walter Short abt 1832 West Chiltington, Sussex, England Head Washington Sussex View Record Walter F Short abt 1860 Washington, Sussex, England Son Washington Sussex View Record William Short abt 1857 Washington, Sussex, England Son Washington Sussex The trouble is, it now looks like i have been chasing the wrong WALTER for the last week.................. I think i am going to shoot myself......

It's the same Walter... ? So what didn't make sense about that I posted?

It is the same walter?????? Ok, ok, now i am confussed....

Jess posted him in 1861. I posted him in 1871. You have him in 1881. It's definitely the same guy :)

Orange... I was not picking holes when i said it did not make sense to me. You posted the 1871 census and it had walter as being born around 1841........That is what did not make sense as i know he was baptised in 1832. Sorry if i offened.

Ahh, no... the transcription is wrong. That's all :) It had Peter down as being born 1832 lol I'll go read the image :) Ok... Walter is down as being 30 or 39 - there's a big line through the 0/9. Peter is 13. Frank is 10. Herbert is 8. (PS - you didn't offend. I just couldn't see why it didn't make sense lol)

so basicly, he was married and for some reason in 1873 he married his servant?.........have i got this right? So, the kids by the name of Geal cant be his???????

Ok, thanks. Is there any chance of seeing the transcript? (A bit of a cheek i know) So, to answer my inital question at the top of the threat. You think that the Geal kids are walters? Thank you very much for your help Orange and Jess, Elaine and Teresa. Mark.

Walter is looking after, though not acknowledging, the children in 1881. I should have thought that the youngest Geal was his as almost certainly born under his roof. The birth certificates for the elder two may provide circumstantial evidence: like address, or Walter being the informant, but you may never know for sure. It would be interesting to find out why she was in Kingston Prison in 1881!