Penzance area - John Broad READ

[Roadshow]

I now have the two potential marriage certs in front of me.

The 1854 marriage to elizabeth chapman, has John Broad, a quarryman, son of William Broad, quarryman

The 1863 marriage to Mary Jane Thomas has John Broad Read (widower), labourer, son of William Read, labourer.

So I don't think that provides any help in linking them together.

However whilst the 1841 census has a few possible hits to choose from, running a search of ancestry with the terms John Broad Read born 1827-31 came up with just one good hit for 1851 and 1861, the family you had already identified. I have located them in 1841 and their son John is not at home, so could be any of the other 1841 hits.

I am becoming convinced that we are on the right track, but how do we explain the father's name on the certs being different? It would be very helpful to locate the marriage of William Broad (or Read!), born approx 1806 and Mary, born approx 1811, but so far I have had no luck.

[Barbara F]

Hello again.

I have had another look at this and I agree we need to find the marriage of William and Mary.  I will try to check some more Cornwall records next week - unless anyone else comes up with the marriage in the meantime!

Barbara 

[Roadshow]

Thanks Barbara, I have spent so much time staring at the screen trying to solve this mystery, it would be marvellous to find an answer. It seems tantalisingly close, and yet without that marriage is nothing but guesswork. I guess that is why researching these folk is such good fun.

[Barbara F]

Some good news for you 

Marriage

William Broad and Mary Reed 3 April 1827 North Petherwin

So that gives us a Broad/Read(Reed) connection.

These children were baptised to a William and Mary Broad in Week St Mary

John 12 Oct 1827
Mary Jane 18 Oct 1828
William 7 Jan 1830
Grace 20 Nov 1831
Mary Jane 3 Nov 1833 (I assume the earlier Mary Jane died)
Mallony 16 Nov 1834

Also
Luxulyan Circuit Bible Christian baptisms
Thomas son of Wiilliam Broad and Mary Reed 5 March 1837.

As you will see John's baptism is 6 months after the marriage of William and Mary.  I wonder if he was actually born before their marriage?  This could explain his use of the surname Read in later life.

These records come from a transcript so no more details are given.  The actual baptism record might give you a birth date for John and should certainly give you the occupation for William.  Might be worth paying for the Cornwall Record Office in Truro to get a full transcript for you?

Hope this gets you a bit further!

Barbara

[Roadshow]

Barbara I could kiss you! After all this time and effort this feels like winning the pools. Thank you so much for coming through for me. My friend and his mum will be thrilled when I tell them that we have unlocked this family mystery.

They told me that their family once was Broad-Read and that there had been a schism leaving Broads and Reads separately. With the info we now have, I think it is safe to hazard the guess that the split came when John Broad-Read remarried, leaving behind the children from his first marriage, at least one of whom wound up in the workhouse if memory serves.

Guess I have some work to do now, pulling it all together for them, then taking a proper look at his parents.

Thanks again, you are an absolute star 

[Barbara F]

Glad this has helped your friend's research progress.

Let me know if you need any more help 

Barbara