Genealogy Chat

I have a great grandmother Mary Jane Dudley (Nee Brown) see below

She married my great grandfather in 1883 in Foleshill, Coventry. I haven't yet got the marriage cert, but have found her in the 1881 census apparently living with a step-father and her mother. 1881 census - Mary Jane Brown Name: Mary Jane Brown Age: 19 Estimated birth year: abt 1862 Relation: Step Daughter Household: View other family members Family and neighbors: View neighbo Gender: Female Where Born: Coventry, Warwickshire, England Civil parish: Foleshill County/Island: Warwickshire Country: England Street address: Court House Green Occupation: Trimming Weaver Source information: RG11/3063 Registration district: Foleshill Sub registration district: Foleshill ED, institution, or vessel: 11 Folio: 38 Page: 6 (click to see others on page) GSU Number: 1341731 Her mother is given as Elizabeth Elliott. I tracked back to 1871 and Mary Jane and her brother Richard are listed - still as Brown although it has been transcribed variously as Buron and Broner 1871 Name: Mary J Broner Age: 9 Estimated birth year: abt 1862 Relation: Stepdaughter Household: View other family members Gender: Female Where born: Coventry, Warwickshire, England Civil Parish: Foleshill Ecclesiastical parish: Foleshill St Lawrence County/Island: Warwickshire Country: England Source information: RG10/3172 Registration district: Foleshill Sub-registration district: Foleshill ED, institution, or vessel: 11 Folio: 53 Page: 9 (click to see others on page) Household schedule number: 48 GSU Number: 839243 So far so good. As she is listed as b 1862 I searched for her mother in 1861 and found: 1861 census - Elizabeth Brown b Oldham Lancashire Name: Elizabeth Brown Age: 38 Estimated birth year: abt 1823 Relation: Wife Household: View other family members Gender: Female Where born: Oldham, Lancashire, England Civil parish: Coventry St John Ecclesiastical parish: St Thomas County/Island: Warwickshire Country: England Source information: RG9/2204 Registration district: Coventry Sub-registration district: St John ED, institution, or vessel: 30 Folio: 70 Page: 6 (click to see others on page) Household schedule number: 40 GSU Number: 542935 This seemed to match as Richard (now transcribed as Crown!) is still there. Then I searched for the step father - William Elliott in 1861 and found: Alfred Elliott abt 1858 Coventry, Warwickshire, England Son Coventry St John Warwickshire Ann Elliott abt 1853 Coventry, Warwickshire, England Daughter Coventry St John Warwickshire Elizabeth Elliott abt 1825 Farringdon, Hertfordshire, England Wife Coventry St John Warwickshire >>>>Mary Jane Elliott abt 1861 Coventry, Warwickshire, England Daughter Coventry St John Warwickshire The wife here is still Elizabeth, but is now born in Hertfordshire, not Lancashire, and the Mary jane is in as a daughter, not stepdaughter. Has anybody any ideas - Elizabeth can't be in two places at once (or can she?) Mark William Elliott abt 1825 Coventry, Warwickshire, England Head Coventry St John Warwickshire William J Elliott abt 1856 Coventry, Warwickshire, England Son Coventry St John

The obvious answer is the both of William Elliott's wife had the first name Elizabeth. Reg

If you get her marriage cert it might shed some light as to her father,and his occupation. Have you found any possible birth refs?Her birth cert would be of use seeing as her parents will be named,and might have the same address for place of birth as the family had in the 61 census. The census returns might vary for year and place of birth and should be used as a guide only,until you can say with any certainty who the parents are. Bearing in mind this is your direct line,it pays to be as thorough as possible. Glen

If Mary Brown was born in 1862, there is no way she'd be on 1861 census............... Reg

Reg, She was 'estimated 1862'- therefore she COULD have been on the 1861 census. Dea x

I'm ocnfused too, so I am taking the liberty of rearranging the info, which might help me, if not you!! 1881 - Foleshill Warwickshire William Elliott abt 1825 Coventry, Warwickshire, England Head Elizabeth Elliott abt 1823 Oldham, Lancashire, England Wife Annie Elliott abt 1853 Coventry, Warwickshire, Daughter Mary Jane Brown abt 1862 Coventry, Warwickshire, Step Daughter 1871 William Elliott abt 1825 Coventry, Warwickshire, England Head Elizabeth Elliott abt 1823 Prescot, Lancashire, England Wife Ann Elliott abt 1852 Coventry, Warwickshire, Daughter William Elliott abt 1856 Coventry, Warwickshire, England Son Alfred Elliott abt 1858 Coventry, Warwickshire, England Son Richard Buron abt 1851 Coventry, Warwickshire, Stepson Mary J Broner abt 1862 Coventry, Warwickshire,Stepdaughter 1861 - Coventry St John Warwickshire Elizabeth Brown abt 1823 Oldham, Lancashire, England Wife Richard Crown abt 1852 Coventry, Warwickshire, England Son John Epwell abt 1837 Lutterworth, Leicestershire, Lodger 1861 - Coventry St John Warwickshire William Elliott abt 1825 Coventry, Warwickshire, Head Elizabeth Elliott abt 1825 Farringdon, Hertfordshire, Wife Ann Elliott abt 1853 Coventry, Warwickshire, Daughter William J Elliott abt 1856 Coventry, Warwickshire, England Son Alfred Elliott abt 1858 Coventry, Warwickshire, England Son Mary Jane Elliott abt 1861 Coventry, Warwickshire, Daughter ************************************************************************ My first thought is that William had two wives, one born Herts, who died, and one born Lancs who was previously Mrs Brown. It's quite possible for there to be two Mary Janes, one an Elliott and one a Brown. I have a gt x 3grandfather who had several children by 1st marriage, including a son called William John and a daughter called Ellen. His 2nd wife had a son the same age, same name and a daughter same age same name. Only the different surnames and birthplaces helped me disintangle them. You need to find William's marriages to confirm this theory. nell

True Reggie, My theory being the info from the marriage and birth certs (hopefully) give more info about the father and where the family where in '62,which might help more with a positive '61 census result. I know certs are expensive,but with the common name and the fact it's the direct line,i wouldn't assume that the correct year and christian name on a census were correct without something to cross reference it against via a cert. Work back from known events to reduce possible errors? Glen

William appears to be unmarried in 1851, so you need to look for first marriage between then and the birth of his first known child. You could also try to find the elusive Mr Brown and his marriage to Elizabeth from Lancs.

Birth certs would have mother's maiden name on them: Mary Jane Elliott Year of Registration: 1860 Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec District: Coventry County: Warwickshire, West Midlands Volume: 6d Page: 381 Mary Jane Brown Year of Registration: 1861 Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec District: Coventry County: Warwickshire, West Midlands Volume: 6_ Page: 394

Possibly the death of the 1st Mrs Elliott. Elizabeth Elliott Birth Date: abt 1824 Year of Registration: 1869 Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep Age at death: 45 District: Coventry County: Warwickshire, West Midlands Volume: 6d Page: 267 I'd get the Mary Jane Brown birth cert though, as she's a direct relative and its the only one within a year of 1862 in Coventry reg district. nell

Thanks everyone (again!) In the time it has taken me NOT to find the birth you lot have done it for both possible Mary Janes Thankyou very much!