William and Rhoda Lucas -Foleshill (C1840 on)

[debandbill]

I am hopeful of finding any information on William and Rhoda Lucas who were married in 1832 in Exhall and had several children including my ancestor Richard in 1840. I have not been able to find any appropriate records of their deaths or anything much else - so somewhat stuck.

Ta
Deb

[Tati]

Welcome to RootsChat, Deb 

I can see Rhoda (born ca. 1812 in Exhall) on census until 1871. 1861 and 1871 show her as widowed so William must have died between 1851 and 1861 (there's a possible death in Nuneaton, March quarter 1852) .

Do you have the census details already? 

[Tati]

I think I've found Rhoda after 1871 

Searching all census for a Rhoda born ca. 1812 in Exhall, there seems to be only one. In 1881 suddenly appears a Rhoda Hammersley, married to a James:
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=uki1881&indiv=try&h=22768300
RG11/3064 116 10

Now searching for their marriage, there's:
Sep 1878 Nuneaton
James Hammersley - Rhoda Shilton

Previous census don't show a matching Rhoda Shilton so working on the theory that she married a Mr Shilton between 1871 and 1878, I found:
Marriage Jun 1875 Coventry 6d 586
Rhoda Lucas - John Whitmore Shilton

and a death for John Whitmore Shilton age 67, Jun 1878 Nuneaton.

Therefore I believe this is your Rhoda's death:
Jun 1893 Foleshill  6d 294 
Rhoda Hammersley age 80 

 

[Tati]

Whohoo, look at this extracted IGI record (from www.familysearch.org), confirming my theory:

Marriage 19 APR 1875  Holy Trinity, Coventry, Warwickshire

RHODA LUCAS (Father THOMAS WILKINSON - remember she was Rhoda Wilkinson when she married William Lucas in 1832*)
Spouse JOHN WITMORE SHILTON (father William Shilton)
Husband Age at Marriage: 64   
Wife Age at Marriage:  63   

*Also, here's her christening:
RHODA WILKINSON
Christening:  09 MAR 1812 Exhall Near Coventry, Warwickshire
Father THOMAS WILKINSON Mother RHODA 

[Tati]

I found Rhoda's parents and sister Hannah on the 1841 census - shout if you want the details!
HO107/1154/2 5 4
Rhoda sr is still alive in 1851 age 72 (born Foleshill)

 

[debandbill]

Wow Tati, you are absolutely wonderful

That is outstanding detective work. How did you manage to search all of the census records like that? Do you have them on CD or something?

I would love the details of Rhoda's parents in the 1841 Census- I haven't managed to find anything about them other than their names. I have managed to track Rhoda herself in the 51 and 61 census in the parish of Astley From what I can gather she has a baby called Abraham who was born around 1850/1860. There is no record of a William living with them in either 51 or 61 so at this stage I am presuming he is deceased at this stage.

Thanks once again:)

Debbie

[Tati]

Here we go for Rhoda on census (will post her parents later)

1841
HO107/1136/4 24 2
Bedworth, Warwickshire
William Lucas, 35, Ag lab
Roda, 25
William, 4
Richard, 1
/
Abraham, 11

All born in county. The 1841 census doesn't give relationships but according to the IGI, this Abraham was the son of Abraham and Ann Lucas.

1851 actually shows William:
HO107/2065 302 13
Astley, Warwickshire
Bedworth Heath
William Lucas, head, 43, Ag Lab, b. Bedworth
Rodah, wife, 39, Hand Loom Weaver Silk, b. Exhall
William, son, 14, ditto, b. do.
Richard, son, 11, Silk Filler, b. do.
Thomas, son, 8, scholar, b. Bedworth
Ann, dau, 5, scholar, b. Astley
Abraham, son, 9 mo, b. do.

[Tati]

You have her in 1861 with Ann age 15 and Abraham age 10.

1871
RG10/3168 15 8
Astley, Warwickshire
The Heath
Rhoda Lucas, head, wid, 59, Silk Weaver's Assistant, b. Exley
Abraham, son, unm, 20, Boiler Maker, b. Astley
/
Thomas Lucas, head, 27, Blacksmith, b. Exhall
Hannah, wife, 20, Silk Weaver, b. Bedworth

and finally 1891
RG12/2447 164 10
Bedworth, Warwickshire
Bedworth Heath
2 rooms occupied
Jas Hammersley, head, 70, Carpenter, b. Bedworth
Rhoda, wife, 79, b. Exhall

[Tati]

Now Rhoda's parents

1841
HO107/1154/2 5 4
Exhall, Warwickshire
Exhall Green
Thomas Wilkinson, 60, Blacksmith
Roda, 60, Weaver
Hannah, 20, Weaver

All born in county

1851
HO107/2066 183 6
Exhall, Warwickshire
Roada Wilkinson, head, wid, 72, Ribbon Weaver, b. Foleshill
Hannah, dau, unm, 34, Ribbon Weaver, b. Exhall
Nancy (or Mary?), granddau, 6, scholar, b. do.

Rhoda jr had a number of siblings, the christenings of which are on the IGI. Let me know if you want me to post the details.