Genealogy Chat

Could you explain this to me.?

Mary J Christopherson has 4 sons listed with her in the 1891 census. She is a wife and head of the household (unnamed seamans wife). I do not know her maiden name, and believe that Christopherson was her 1st? husbands name.

In the 1901 census, she is widowed and her name is now Mary J Hampton, and her boys are listed as stepsons. she is still head of the household and 'living on own means'. I'm assuming she married a second time to Mr Hampton, who has now died.

If she remarried, why would the boys become listed 'stepsons'?
(they are aged from 17 to 12 years old in 1901).

Has anyone come across this scenario before.?
Any insight, or educated guesses would be appreciated.

Joe

Marriages Sep 1897 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Christopherson Mary Jane Liverpool 8b 157
Hampton John Liverpool 8b 157
Hayman William Liverpool 8b 157
Lewis Elizabeth Liverpool 8b 157

so what does it say in the 1881 census?

for reference purposes


is this the family on the 1891 Census?


Name: Mary J Christopherson
Age: 30
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1861
Relation: Head
Gender: Female
Where born: Ireland

Civil parish: Toxteth Park
Ecclesiastical parish: St Thomas
Town: Toxteth Park
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England

Registration district: Toxteth Park
Sub-registration district: Toxteth Park

Mary J Christopherson 30
Alice Christopherson 11 b.ca 1880, Liverpool
Christopher Christopherson 8 b.ca 1883, Liverpool
Patrick Christopherson 5 b.ca 1886, Liverpool
Charles Christopherson 3 b.ca 1888, Liverpool
Stephen Christopherson 1 b.ca 1890, Liverpool



sylvia

I wonder if she got a bit confused filling out the 1901 Census?


Her sons would have been stepsons of Mr Hampton, who would have been Head, so could she have been thinking that?


convoluted, I know




but also remember that most of our ancestors were not always literate!





sylvia

hi Sylvia,
yey that is the family that you have listed.

The 1881 census, lists her as the head, and her and the children share the Christopherson surname.

I can see your logic behind her listing the sons as stepsons of Mr Hampton.

I wonder why they did not all take on this name though...

thanks,
Joe

they possibly wanted to keep their own name

...................... we don't know what they did while he was alive, but by 1901, they were old enough to decide they wanted to stay Christopherson



and of course there was no legal adoption in those days, it didn't become legal until some time in 1927



sylvia

The census asks for relationship to head of household. If their mother had re married, the boys would be stepsons of her husband, who was head of household.

Marion

Marion


She is shown as a Widow and Head of Household ............. so logically the boys should be shown as sons



unless they weren't her children at all!!!!!




sylvia

Sorry, missed that. It´s still early here!!!

Could this be John Hampton's death??


Deaths Jun 1898 (>99%)

Hampton John 47 Toxteth Park 8b 139




from www.freebmd.org.uk




sylvia

is this her in 1881

Name: Mary J. Christopherson
Age: 21
Gender: Female
Birth Year: 1860
Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Marital Condition: Married
Profession / Occupation: Seamans Wife
Address: 34 Stanhope St
Census Place: Toxteth Park, Lancashire, England
Disability:
Record Type: Household
Family History Library Film: 1341870
The National Archives Reference: RG11
Piece / Folio: 3634 / 58
Page Number: 17

and the children

Name: Alice Christopherson
Age: 8 m
Gender: Female
Birth Year: 1880
Birthplace: Liverpool, Lancashire, England
Relationship to Head of Household: Daur
Marital Condition:
Profession / Occupation:
Address: 34 Stanhope St
Census Place: Toxteth Park, Lancashire, England
Disability:
Record Type: Household
Family History Library Film: 1341870
The National Archives Reference: RG11
Piece / Folio: 3634 / 58
Page Number: 17
Household Gender Age
Alice Christopherson F 8 m
James Christopherson M 3

Convoluted maybe, but it happened to me in my tree...

John married sarah, had two boys

Sarah died, John remarried (= Still sons)

Then John Died & the new wife continued to raise the two sons ( that were never hers in the first place.

Guess what? SHE then remarried and the boys remained and were raised by stepmum & her new husband

Thanks for the thoughts and ideas, Sylvia and Wisechild.

Yes Jeannie. that is her record from 1881.
Her Son James, is listed as 3yrs old, and in the 1891 there is no record of him. I guess he was doing his own thing at 14years old in Liverpool.. He turns up again married in 1901. His sister Alice is now living with him, while Mary J is widowed with 4 other children (christophersons).

I have considered that these boys were not her children, but it does not explain why they where listed as 'sons' in the first census. The legal adoption argument is also interesting.
I am very new to this research and find it endlessly fascinating. The more i learn the less i know.

Its frustrating that she is listed as a seamans wife, with no further record of her husband..I suspect that this guy was a Christopherson from Denmark, but have no proof. Plenty of neighboring Christophersons living in the next couple of streets, but have yet to find a missing link.

I really like Mary J. She seems to have had an eventful existence after her short hop from Dublin to Liverpool.. most 'scousers' are just a generation or two from Ireland so not much surprise there, and plenty of more Irish integrated into the family over the next couple of years.

Thanks very much for all of your help, advice and assistance.

Joe
:)

Hi

Have you got the birth certificates of the Christopherson children so you can find out more about their seaman father?

Jane

hello Jane,
I have a record for the eldest son.

James Christopherson
born jan/feb/mar 1878
volume 8B page 299.

It does not record the parents details of even date of birth.( as if you dont know)
Is my best plan of action, to go to the physical records, and will volume 8B, page 299 contain the full information that I seek?

Thanks
Joe

Hi Joseph - what an interesting family!

The birth details you have quoted above are the GRO (General Records Office) Index numbers. You wil need that to purchase James Christopherson's birth certificate. You won't be able to view it free of charge.

Apart from contacting the local registry office direct, the ONLY place to buy English and Welsh BMD certificates on line is

www.gro.gov.uk

It is a secure government site and charges £9.25 including P&P. Nothing extra for overseas despatch

The birth cerificate will give the date and place of birth, usually the father's name and occupation, mother's name and previous name if married, name of informant and usual address of the informant...this is more often or not either the mother or father.

You may be interested in the website
www.lan-opc.org.uk

They have a number of transcibed parish records.

Added - they give Christopherson marriages as early as 1545!!!!!

thanks for that, DetEcTive.

Penny, i dint see your post earlier.
I can see your argument, you have done a good job in working that out. thanks for the idea.
Joe