How do you solve a problem like Maria?

[slewi4]

I've found the death in Queensland Australia of a long lost relative named Maria, but I'm having a hard time filling in the blanks in her life.

I know that she was baptised in Stroud in 1836. I've seen her in the 1841 Census, and possibly the 1851. I know that she married James Morris GRIFFITHS (when and where is a mystery - no matches in freeBMD), and that they had at least 3 children (one born in 1876 in Queensland, and one who married in Australia in 1883). I can't find their entry to Australia either.

I've checked the 1861 Census on one of those pay for view sites without success.

I'm open to suggestions on where to look now. I hope someone can help.

Sandra

[bearkat]

You say you've found Maria in the 1841 census - can you tell us her maiden name?

Also the names of any children that might have been born in England.

Every piece of information helps.

[slewi4]

Oh, Good point!

Her maiden name was WALTERS and the children who were probably born in England are James and John Walters. It was John Walters GRIFFITHS who married in 1883, so I would assume that he was born before 1863.

Sandra

[Ecneps]

Her sister Eliza was baptised in Stroud at the same time as Maria according to the IGI

1841 HO107/375/5 Folio 36 Page 26
Temple, Bristol, Gloucestershire
WALTERS
Joseph 30 Coachman
Harriet 30
Thomas 7
Joseph 5
Harriet 10
Eliza     7
Marria 4
all except Joseph senior born in county

Barbara

[Ecneps]

possible birth registrations?  son's maybe a little early but the Griffiths and the Morris do sound Welsh

Jun 1852  GRIFFITHS John Walters       Haverfordwest    11a   595


It seems quite late for one of their other children to be born 1876, with John Walters Griffiths marrying in 1883. 


Dec 1837   GRIFFITHS    James Morris        Pontypool    26   101


Barbara 

[slewi4]

Thanks Barbara,

I had seen that 1852 birth too, only my thoughts were that it might be too early to be the right one. The 1876 birth is definate - the Qld indexes give the full names of both parents. Maria would have been 16 at the first birth and 40 at the last.

There were at least 3 children who survived to adulthood. Such a gap between first and last makes me think that they probably had a lot more than 3.

The challenge is to find them.

Sandra

[Ecneps]

Jun 1852  GRIFFITHS John Walters   Haverfordwest 11a 595

Have just found this boy in 1861 father James Griffiths mother Mary, motherinlaw Betty Walters, but all born Monmouth so not your J.W.

Sorry 

Where did you think you found Maria in 1851? Struggling to find the whole family

Barbara

[slewi4]

The family is not together in the 1851 Census.

I think that Maria was a 17yr old Housemaid at Bristol St Mary Le Port Tavern "Adam and Eve". The age doesn't quite match with the 1841 so I'm not certain its her, but then again there were no other Walters baptisms around Stroud that would match the census details.

Her sister Harriet was in Kingscliffe Northamptonshire. And I think that their brother Joseph was a waiter at another pub - I forgot to note the full location, but its St John the Baptist somewhere. These 2 also emigrated to Australia.

The parents seem to dissapear - mother Harriet possibly died in 1844 in Bristol.

Sandra

[bearkat]

The 1851 census reference is HO107/1948  Folio 140 Page 1