Hi Val
1891 Elizabeth was born and in 1901 Gertrude was born
Oops I think? The 1901 Census shows Elizabeth born 1886 and Gertrude 1891 - I was getting worried since surely Mary wouldn't have a child in 1901 when she was around 58 yrs old! She was pushing it in 1891 as it was!
In the FULL details of the Census 1871 & 1881 there are clues which I think you may have missed, or not seen or at least not stated above - In those 2 Census, there are other people living at 23 Castle Street: besides the BAKER family:-
1871: St Woollos, Newport, Monm.23 Castle Street
Lodger: Frederick BAKER, 37, Labourer, b Hastings, Sussex
Wife: Mary BAKER, 27, b Hastings Sussex
Dau:: Sarah BAKER, 4, Scholar, b Newport, Mon
Dau: Ellen BAKER, 2 , b Newport Mon
Son: John, 1, b Newport 1
Head: Robert CAREY, 50, Labourer, b Ireland
Wife Bridget CAREY, 49, b Ireland
Son: Robert CAREY, 16, Labourer, b Ireland
Dau: Elizabeth CAREY, 14. Laundress, b Ireland
1881: St Woollos, Newport, Monm.23 Castle Street
Head: Bridget CAREY 60, widow , b Ireland
Son: Robert CAREY, unm, 25, Coal Shipper (Dock), b Newport Monm.
Head: Frederick BAKER, 46, marr. Coal Shipper, Dock , b Sussex Hastings
Wife: Mary BAKER, 35, b Newport Mon.
Dau: Mary E BAKER 13, Scholar, b Newport Mon.
Son: John BAKER11, Scholar, b Newport Mon.
Son: Frederick BAKER 9, Scholar, b Newport Mon.
Son: George BAKER, 7, Scholar, b Newport Mon.
Son: Thomas BAKER, 4, b Newport Mon.
Dau: Sarah A BAKER, 2, b Newport Mon.
Servant: Bridget FRAZER, 29, Washerwoman, b Ireland.
In 1891It's just Fred , Mary & the children at 23 Castle Street.
Children listed (boys first!) Fred 18, George 16, Michael 14, Mary E 22, Sarah Ann 12, Elizabeth 5. Mary is again enumerated as being borth Newport Monmouthshire, and Fred is a Dock Labourer.
In 1901,
at 10 Dock Parade there are three families enumerated there:
1) Head: Charles BROWN his wife Sarah A, 22 and son Chas M, 2months (Charles born Stockholm Sweden but a British Subject)
2) Head: Fred & Mary BAKER with daughters Elizabeth & Gertrude (Fred is enumerated as born 1831 here but in Hastings, and Mary - again as Newport.)
2) Head: Reginald GRIFFITH 23 with Wife Sarah 21.
Either one of the 2 Sarah's could be Fred & Mary's daughter - picking Mrs BROWN becasue of the middle initial - and because on FREEBMD:-
Marriages Jun 1900 Newport Monmouthshire, Ref 11a 439 A Charles BROWN was married - and one of his possible brides was:
Sarah Ann BAKER
Mary's age :- you have stated abt 1842 - but from Census I am going to say it's more likely 1843/1844. And - on all Census 1881 to 1901 she is listed as born Newport Monmouthshire -not Hastings, Sussex.
The 1871 is the only one which says Hastings, Sussex and is probably an error.
I think she is the daughter of Robert CAREY & Bridget - or if not, at least closely related.
A Search of FREEBMD (which is incomplete, I know) for a marriage 1860-1868 Sussex reports none, but in Monmouthshire there is but one:
Newport, Monmouthshire - Marriages Dec Quarter 1863Ref: , Volume: 11a, Page: 315
Grooms:Baker Frederick
Vaughan Thomas
Brides:Carey Mary
-----? ---------?
There is a bride missed off the page - but given that your Fred & Mary were lodging with the CAREY family in 1871 - I think this one is very worth following up - ie: I think your Mary was the rather lovely named Mary CAREY!
Will now look for 1861 CAREY's
Cheers
AMBLY