Thomas Graham

[bobgraham]

Don't wish to be seen knocking it but I thought Freecen was only in its early stages so might not be comprehensive. If it works like freebmd, there will be charts telling you how well they have covered each census.
bob

[Rowanjay]

Not sure what else to try as I can't get a marriage cert until I can have a rough guess at when and where.

Yes, Freecen is patchy

But on the other hand Elizabeth appears to have been an habitual fibber - none of the info she gives anywhere on census returns etc seems to match up - its  as if she enjoyed  fun confusing authority so I may well be looking for her with out the real info anyway...

I do have a theory that she may have been an underage run-away and therefore did not want to give her real identity

Or perhaps Thomas was still married to someone else and therefore would/could not marry Elizabeth - he is at least 10 years her senior... so who knows. The cold trails at every turn do seem to hint at some intrigue somewhere along the line.

She marks John's birth cert with an X so was seemingly illiterate.

I may never find out who she or Thomas were I suppose.

[sillgen]

I think the only way forward with this is to look for her baptism.  There are far to many Elizabeth Nicholsons bonr about that time in Cumberland or Northumberland on the 1841 and 51 census to be sure which is her.  If you fail to find it in Renwick then you should consider the possibility that she was a widow when she married Thomas and that is why you cannot find the marriage as it would be under her married name, not her maiden name.   Again parish records are an easier way of finding out I think.
Andrea

[Rowanjay]

There is an Elizabeth Nicholson born in Coglin around the right time - and that is close to Renwick...  but as I am unlikely to be able to get to Cumbria top look at records in the forseeable future its not a mystery that will be solved very soon.

But thanks.