Genealogy Chat

This is a census entry for Margaret Preston in 1861.. Sarah Duncan is apparently her Daughter in law and Son in Law is apparently Edward Duncan age 6... This is the first think that i can't work out, secondly all of Margaret's Children are Prestons... Any one with any Ideas? Sarah Duncan Age: 19 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1842 Relation: Daughter-in-law Gender: Female Where born: Bilston, Staffordshire, England Civil parish: Wolverhampton Ecclesiastical parish: St John Town: Wolverhampton County/Island: Staffordshire Country: England Street address: Occupation: Condition as to marriage: View image Registration district: Wolverhampton Sub-registration district: Wolverhampton Eastern ED, institution, or vessel: 41 Neighbors: View others on page Household schedule number: 198 Household Members: Name Age Edward Duncan 6 Sarah Duncan 19 Betsy Preston 12 Margaret Preston 53

Hi Julie Sometimes the term 'in law' was a bit confusing. It could be used for step children, partners of married siblings or children etc. It might be worth seeing where the eldest of the Duncan's is on the previous census to see if she tallies up with the Preston family in any way. I would imagine that the 19 and 6 year old are brother and sister. Having said that I cant find Sarah Duncan on the 1851 census....

In 1851, Sarah is down as Preston: Name: Margaret Preston Age: 44 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1807 Relation: Head Gender: Female Where born: Bilston, Staffordshire, England Civil parish: Wolverhampton Ecclesiastical parish: St John County/Island: Staffordshire Registration district: Wolverhampton Sub-registration district: Wolverhampton Eastern ED, institution, or vessel: 1bb Neighbors: View others on page Household schedule number: 103 Household Members: Name Age Edward Preston 8 Elizabeth Preston 2 Jacob Preston 18 Margaret Preston 44 Sarah Preston 10 Thomas Preston 2 Mo Margaret is a widow, so judging by the youngest child (Thomas) who is 2 months old, her husband must have died 1850 or early 1851.

1841: her husband was Isaac Preston: Name: Isaac Preston Age: 35 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1806 Gender: Male Where born: Staffordshire, England Civil parish: Wolverhampton Hundred: North Seisdon County/Island: Staffordshire Source information: HO107/1001/13 Registration district: Wolverhampton Sub-registration district: Bilston ED, institution, or vessel: 29 Folio: 31 Page: 21 Ann Preston abt 1834 Staffordshire, England Wolverhampton Staffordshire Isaac Preston abt 1806 Staffordshire, England Wolverhampton Staffordshire Isaac Preston abt 1830 Staffordshire, England Wolverhampton Staffordshire Jacob Preston abt 1832 Staffordshire, England Wolverhampton Staffordshire Joseph Preston abt 1837 Staffordshire, England Wolverhampton Staffordshire Margeret Preston abt 1811 Staffordshire, England Wolverhampton Staffordshire William Preston abt 1839 Staffordshire, England Wolverhampton Staffordshire

Hi Richard, Yes i thought that too, However it would appear that Isaac died in 1846. Which leaves the burning question who Elizabeth and Thomas's Father or Fathers are. I am not impressed with my ancestors one little bit... lol

Hi Alex, Do you think Duncan could be the mysterious Father of Thomas and Elizabeth? its all so confusing nothing is ever simple when it comes to my family... Lol Julie

Julie Find the refs and order one of the birth certs - you never know they might have told the truth!!!!!! Looby

Theer is a Sarah Preston birth at the right time & place - no Sarah Duncan though: Name: Sarah Preston Year of Registration: 1841 Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep District: Wolverhampton County: Shropshire, Staffordshire, West Midlands Volume: 17 Page: 278

Think I agree with Alexandra on this - but trying to think laterally - is it possible that Margaret was married to a 'Duncan' but was widowed again, and these are his children, she may well have gone back to her previous name of 'Preston' Scrub that - forgot that there is a 'Preston' child right in the middle - is is possible that a sibling of Margaret's married a Duncan, both parents were killed and she adopted the children? clutching at straws now!!! Looby