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Hi, yes I have that 1841 census in my head as being my Joseph as it fits so well x I've been trying to figure out why he might have been living with this William Thornhill , but cant join those dots yet x 

Hi
I am still looking to find some more information regarding Joseph France and who his parents and siblings were(if he had any siblings).  I have found his 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871 and 1881 census and have his birth, marriage and death info. The brick wall I'm still hitting is finding out about his pre married life ie parents and siblings etc. 
Here is the info I do know -
He was born on 10th Feb 1819 in Manchester (according to some prison records I found about him).  In April 1843 he married Elizabeth Preston and was a pattern card maker. He was married in Manchester Cathedral and his father is listed as Richard France who was a joiner. He was living in Cross St,  Chortlon Upon Medlock in this period.  In 1851 I believe he is living in Chester St, Hulme with his wife Elizabeth, daughter Maria and son Thomas and he is a warehouseman?.  In 1861 he is living in Chester St (different number) with wife Elizabeth, son Thomas and daughter Elizabeth and he is a Pawnbroker. In 1871 he is a convict in Millbank Prison (for laundering stolen goods) and still listed as a Pawnbroker.  In 1881 he is back living with Elizabeth (his wife), along with son Thomas, and grandaughters  Alice and Maria and is listed as a Broker.  He died on 28th Oct 1886 and is buried in Southern Cemetery, Manchester.
It's really frustrating me that I cant seem to find out who his parents were.  On his marriage parish record he lists his father as Richard France, although this might be incorrect, as his wife Elizabeth Preston listed her father as Giles when in fact her father is called Richard and its her brother who is Giles. It has been suggested that Joseph may have been illegitimate and that someone might be able to do a search of the bastardy records for me involving a female with the surname France, and a male child born on or around 10 Feb 1819 in Manchester. Many many thanks in advance if anyone can help
Nikki

Hi Jomot Many thanks for your input into my mystery France family.  It's an interesting theory to consider that Joseph may have been illegitimate but if this was the case, would his father Richard France have been present at the wedding? and named on the marriage parish record?      I seem to have more questions than answers at the moment and maybe the only way forward would be to get Josephs birth certificate?  That would at least hopefully have the mother on there.

Thanks Mabel - you've helped me make a bit more sense of the 1881 census now - I had Maria and Alice down as Josephs children as well as Thomas's children not realising the birth dates were duplicate  . Doh! -silly me  Now just need to work out this pesky Josephs life - he is a puzzle at the moment.

Hi Rosie99 - his birth date was taken from his medical record attached to his Millbank prison record of all places 
Mabel - I'm quite confused by the entries for Maria as well - its perfectly possible that I have the 1851 census wrong (I'm quite confident with all the others). I'm guessing that maybe Alice was visiting elsewhere on the previous census - hence her absence from it.  I cant make out Thomas DOB on the 1851 census either 
Marysco - I'm fairly certain that Joseph was from Manchester according to all his censuses.