Hi Mick...Just to put you in the picture, I'm the youngest daughter of Cecilia (nee Knott) and Joe Martin, we lived in Gainford Grove on Greatfield, not far from your mum and dad. How's your mum, I haven't see her in ages.
The Melfords came across to England around 1852 (about the time of the 1848-1854 potato famine). Rose Ann and her father came across first followed by Honoria (I believe Honoria changed her name to Hannah,or it was misheard) and the rest of the children. In 1858 Rose Ann had an illigitimate daughter Mary Ann who Thomas and Honoria raised as their own. However, Rose Ann was found on the 1861 Census as being an inmate of the workhouse. Rose Ann Married George Handly in 1862 and had a further seven children, Elizabeth (1862) Ann (1864) Mary (1870) Jane (1873) Rose (1875-1956) James (1877) and Sarah (1880-c1970).
Yes, John could be Rose Ann's brother and may have gone back to Ireland after the famine. As Melford (often spelt Milford) isn't a common name in Co. Mayo, it seems more likely that it is him. The general concensus is that Thomas originated from Armagh/County Down districts as there are no records for him in Co. Mayo but there are a lot of Berrys there, so Honoria was definitely from there.
On the Sheffield 1881 Census, Rose Ann and George are living at Ct7 1 New Street with their family and Honoria/Hannah Melford is living at Ct1 4 New Street with Mary Ann and Mary Ann's son John T Melford.
It's not a good idea to put personal email addresses on these public forum sites as you don't know who's reading them, pity really because I have a database full of our Knott families going back to 1665, not all my own work I hasten to add, a distant cousin called Alan Knott (great grandson of Jonas Knott)helped me out there.
Kind regards
Chris
