Genealogy Chat

In the 1881 census I have Mary Roberts living with her two sons, John R Roberts and William Roberts. Also living at that address is a George Massie, lodger.

Mary is recorded as "General labourers wife", Head, married.

Can I assume from this info that her husband was away from home at the time of the census???

Kathlyn

I think i would - if he was dead, she would have been recorded as a widow.

This looks like the family in 1891:
242 Marsh Lane, Bootle, Lancashire
George Massie, head, 50, baker, born Cheshire, Wanaton
Mary, wife, 47, born Kirby
John R. Ruberts, stepson, 17, baker, born Liverpool
William Ruberts, stepson, 15, assistant baker, born Liverpool
Jane Taylor, sister-in-law, widow, 39, general domestic servant, born Kirby

so she married the lodger??

Thanks Justine. I did think that, and have looked at the 1881 census for a John Roberts in the Liverpoo area.

On the marriage cert for Mary and John Roberts his occupation is.."Carter"

On their daughter Mary Ellen`s marriage cert in 1892 she records her father as being a.."Joiner"

Mary Ellen married again in 1905 and again lists her father as a "Joiner".

Do you think the family were doing a "Jones`s" or did the enumerator lump occupations under a general heading??

Yes Margaret, that is them.

Or lived in sin! I can't find the marriage.

He could have changed professions???

Married in 1894????

Name: George Massie
Year of Registration: 1894
Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun
District: Liverpool (1837-1934)
County: Lancashire
Volume: 8b
Page: 39 (click to see others on page

Name: Mary Roberts
Year of Registration: 1894
Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun
District: Liverpool (1837-1934)
County: Lancashire
Volume: 8b
Page: 39 (click to see others on page)

Oh, I missed that one, Justine, because I just looked up to 1891. They did say they were married then.

Margaret and Justine,

I have the marriage cert for the marriage of Mary to John Roberts in 1868 and the marriage cert when
Mary married George Massie.

I have found Mary`s family back to the early 1800s and the same with George Massie who was a widower when he lived in the Roberts houshold.

Because John Roberts is such a common name I am having difficulty sorting him out. He died sometime between 1881 and 1891 as in the 1891 census, Mary is recorded as the wife of George Massie, (living in sin happened in them days also)

Again, because John Roberts is so common, I cannot find his death.

Kathlyn

I can imagine - John Roberts is a common name. Apart from going through 10 years worth of death records, I can't think of how else to find him.

What a good story though - getting married to the lodger - wonder if they were "together" in 1881 when husband was away???

Could it be that John Roberts was still alive in 1891 and that's why George and Mary couldn't marry. Then John died shortly before 1894 so the marriage could go ahead?
Just a guess.

Justine,

Mary was a glutton for punishment. George Massie died in 1909 and Mary married again to a Percy Morris in 1915. I think she went to the Great Garden in the Sky about 1825, but I have yet to prove this.

I have a photo of Mary with George Massie and she is rather a stout lady. Family hand me down stories said that George massie was at one time a Mayor of either Bootle or Lancashire, but NO he was not as I have found a list of past mayors for both places.


As for trawling through 10 years of deaths, I have tried that one and have come up with a possible 20 or so.

Margaret,

There is sense in what you say but there has been no "stories" in the family that would lead one to think that.

It all boils down to the old saying......If only I had asked questions when granddad was alive. But then who would have thought at that time it would be so easy to trace your ancestors whilst sitting at home.