Desperately seeking advice

[noody]

I have a family of Bennett on the 1851 Census in Shadwell. The wife Rebecca states she was born in Rotherhithe. Going by the age stated, she was born c. 1800.
This is the only information I possess. 

I am desperately hoping this is my family, but I cannot "claim" them until I know her maiden name. 
I am searchin for a Rebecca Harding born Rotherhithe, is there some one who can suggest where I can get more information regarding Rebecca?

many thanks in advance.

Noody

[sillgen]

Hi
My maths is not brilliant but looking at the image for the 1851 census she is age 40 so that puts her birth at about 1811.   They do not have children with them, other than a nurse child.   If you are lucky they will have married after 1837 so you can look for a marriage in the GRO index.  If not then it means searching the parish records - not easy if you do not know the parish.   I should ask for an 1841 look up for them and hope to find some children, possibly born after 1837 and then you can get a birth certificate which will show her maiden name.
I assume you have looked on www.familysearch.org?
Andrea

[Jane Masri]

Hi Noody,
Looking on the Surrey Marriage Index (pre 1837) for Rebecca Harding I found,
Rebecca Harding otp married James Shakelford otp 8/1/1823 CHERTSEY.  Otp= Of This Parish.
For the John Bennett & Rebecca on the 1851 at Shadwell, Stepney I found on FreeBMD,
John Bennett March quarter marriage 1847, Stepney (2 476)
on the same page is REBECCA FLYNN.  Could be that same couple.

Jane

[noody]

Very many thanks to Jane and Andrea for trying to assist.
After re reading my post I realised that I had forgotten to mention that I believe Rebecca had a son in 1830. It seems I was having a VERY SENIOR moment.

With a son of this age, already being off and on his own in the workforce, and not knowing of other children's names, I am relying on trying to trace Rebecca's birth in Rotherhithe.

Could one or both of you lovely people tell me if the Church records for Births in Rotherhithe are available on film at an LDS library?

I have tried their Family Search, but have not been able to get a grip on the one I believe I am looking for.

My apologies for putting an almost insurmountable brick wall on the list.

Noody

[sillgen]

The registers for Rotherhithe St Mary are on the IGI on familysearch for 1783 - 1868 according to my copy of Phillimore.  There are copies at the Society of Geneaologists so I am sure the LDS will have them too though you may not find her if she is not on the IGI.   Worth a try though.  There are also non-conformist records so perhaps you ought to check those too.
Was this an illegitimate son?    You may find more details in the parish chest if so as there might be a bastardy bond which names the father.   Otherwise it puts the marriage back at pre 1820.   How do you know her maiden name is Harding?  What are the details for the son?
Andrea

[noody]

I have a marriage certificate that states the Mother's name as Rebecca Harding.  The ages on all his other  certificates tally with 1830 as the date of his birth..
I will try the IGI.
So far I have found nothing to suggest that the birth of the son was illegitimate, so will continue on the assumption that parents were married.

many thanks for your help Andrea, I will keep plodding.

Noody

[sillgen]

Whose marriage certificate has the mother's name on?  English certificates do not usually have that information - only fathers are mentioned.  I think it would help us if you quoted what you know about the son in detail.  Where was he born?  His name?    Is it all possible that Rebecca married twice?   Trying to look at all possibilities here!
Andrea

[noody]

I have an Australian  marriage certificate for the son John Thomas Bennett who quotes his mothers name as Rebecca Harding. On the certificate he quotes Middlesex as his birth place but I have a copy of a church record for a John Thomas Bennett being born in Shadwell., to parents John Bennett and Rebecca.  So I gather the parents were married.

How do I find out about the Parish Chest?  I have never heard of this before, can I access it from overseas?

Noody

[sillgen]

I doubt if the parish chest would help in this case.  It is really a record of the "accounts" and other dealings of the parish so would stat if they were paying to help a single mother for instance.  However many have not survived,  If they have then the local record office will know where they are held.  Probably Kew in this case.  Have you searched the film of the Shadwell St Paul register ?  It is not on the IGI.    It might show some siblings and the names might help.
Andrea