1861, 1871 Census - Thompson (Stilton)

[Xenoid]

Hi,
I have traced a relative back to a Thompson family living in the Stilton area. By 1881 most of them were living in Dronfield, Derbyshire.

The head of the household was William Thompson (b. about 1829). Some of the children were Mary Ann, William, and Sarah S.

I would particularly like to know the name of William's spouse as he was a widow in 1881. Mary Ann's marriage certificate (1876) shows her father William to be a farmer (or should this be farm labourer) in Dronfield he is a Steel Works labourer ... seems a bit of a come-down 

Any information on the Thompsons would be much appreciated ... 

[peterb]

Here's the 1871

RG10 Piece 1515 Folio 7 Page 5         
Fen Street Stilton         
William Thompson    43   Ag Lab   Hunts Stilton
Rachel Thompson    39   Wife   Hunts Toseland
Harriet Thompson    11   Scholar     Hunts Stilton
Elizabeth Thompson     9   Scholar    Hunts Stilton
William Thompson    6   Scholar    Hunts Stilton
Sarah J Thompson    3      Hunts Horburn??

PeterB

[peterb]

And the 1861

RG9 Piece 964 Folio 99 Page 4         
Fen Street Stilton         
William Thompson    32   Ag Lab     Hunts Stilton
Rachel Thompson    27      Hunts Toseland
Mary A Thompson    5   Scholar    Hunts Stilton
Harriet E Thompson     1      Hunts Stilton

Don't know where Mary Ann is in '71

PeterB

[bedfordshire boy]

If you check FreeBMD at http://freebmd.org.uk/cgi/search.pl there's a marriage in the June quarter 1853 in St Neots registration district (which includes Toseland) of William Thompson and Rachel Bowles. If you order the marriage certificate you'll get fathers' names

David

[Beckey]

1851 Toesland.

Bowles William  H  55  Ag.Lab.  Eaton Socon.Beds.
Bowles  Charlotte  W  55  Corntington,  Sfk.
Bowles  Rachel            16  Lacemaker  Toesland,Hunts.

1841 Toseland.
Bowles  William  44  Ag.Lab.  No.
   "          Charlotte  46            No.
    "         Elizabeth  15            Yes.
   "          John          11           Yes.
    "         Rachel        6            Yes.

Hope of some use.

[Xenoid]

Thankyou, everyone for your wonderful replies ... 

Rachel Thompson (nee Bowles) died, aged 42, Derby 4Q 1876.

I'm not sure why I had so much trouble finding the Thompsons, I guess it was because they moved from their birth area to Dronfield. Mary Ann Thompson had a ~1 year old child (Florence) at the time of her marriage to William Bradley, in Dronfield. Until I obtained the marriage certificate, I was thinking "Thompson" was from a previous marriage, there were lots of possibilities! Florence was obviously "illegitimate". There were at least 4 possible Mary Ann births in the Peterborough District and 3 possible Florence births in Dronfield.

Harriet Thompson (I now know to be Mary Ann's younger sister) is listed as a witness to her marriage to William Bradley.

Again, many thanks, it all seems to be sorted ... 

[MikeLoney]

Hi,

I followed your messages about the Thompsons of Stilton, and have a puzzle that needs answering, can you help?

Rachel Bowles married William Thompson in 1853
William is shown as widow in 1881, living in Dronfield. It would seem possible therefore that Rachel  died in 1876 in Dronfield.
Yet she is shown with William in Dronfield in both 1891 and 1901?

Did William marry again to another Rachel?
If not, where was rachel in 1881?

Regards

Mike Loney

[Xenoid]

Did William marry again to another Rachel?
If not, where was rachel in 1881?

Oh No! I did say it seems to be sorted 

Mike, I would appreciate any input you can make.

I only have limited access to the census data as I am not a member of any sites. Once I had figured out the lineage I was quite happy! William Thompson is shown living with his daughter Mary Anne Bradley, in Cunliffe St., Coal Aston, Dronfield in the 1911 census. He is aged 82 and a widower and described as an old age pensioner (retired farm labourer). He died in 1912 aged 83.

William Thompson is a common name, is there possibly a mix up somewhere!

Best wishes, Ken

Edit: Hmmm... curiouser and curiouser! There is a Rachel Thompson death for 3rd Q. 1906 aged 76 (Chesterfield 7b/447). Perhaps she died, came back to life and finally died in 1906 

[MikeLoney]

Hi Ken,

My direct link to William, is via his father Michael who is my 3'ggrandfather. I am descended via William's sister Sarah and her illegitimate son Frederick.

I have more info on my site 'loney.tribalpages.com', which you are welcome to visit and where you can contact me directly from the link on opening page.

Although I have the transcripts of Stilton Parish registers, I cannot go back beyond Michael's father William, born abt 1770. As there appears to be a gap in the Thompson entries between 1717-1770, I cannot find William's parents.

Regards

Mike