Oficially driving me mad

[May59]

My forebears are a complete mystery, below is a copy of the residents of the respective houses during both the 1871 and 1881 census.

1871

William Tolley b1823
Emma Hollis b1844
Ellen L Tolley b1856
Sarah L Tolley b1858
William Tolley b1862
Benj Hollis b1870



1881


William Tolley b1823
Mary Tolley b1837
Benj TOLLEY b1870
Mark Tolley b1872


The questions I have are, who is the mother of Ellen, Sarah, William and Ben? Mary and William didn't get married until 1873 (BMD) and who is Emma Hollis?

HELP please.

[CaroleW]

Have you not viewed the entry?

Emma is shown as his daughter in law.  As she was single and can't be his daughter in law with the surname Hollis - that term was frequently used for step children.  Have you checked William Tolley on earlier censuses as he was probably married to somebody who was formerly Hollis

Have you checked freebmd to see if there is a birth for Benjamin under Hollis or Tolley

[May59]

I read the daughter in law bit, but Benj's relationship is listed as unknown?  I'll check for an earlier wife tomorrow as this has drained me completely tonight.

I had a look on BMD earlier and couldn't find a marriage between William Tolley and anyone with the surname Hollis between 1837 and 1870.

[CaroleW]

Something strange here

Per freebmd

Marriages March qtr 1875 
Emma Hollis    Dudley  6c 169   
William Tolley     Dudley  6c 169

www.westmidlandsbmd.org.uk shows it was at Tipton, St Martin (Pepper Box)
 

[May59]

That would be them, or so it would seem.

Looks like I need some certificates.

[CaroleW]

The 1873 marriage you found was to Ann Nash - see www.westmidlandsbmd.org.uk

[CaroleW]

Looks like I need some certificates.

Not necessarily - the venue for the 1875 marriage is known so can be looked up in parish records

[May59]

I assumed the 1873 one was Mary Upton as it is a Mary he lives with in the 1881 census?

[Manchester Rambler]

1861 census:
RG9/2040/16/30 - Eagle Lane, Tipton
William TOLLEY - Head - 39 - Lab - Upton, Worcs
Elizabeth TOLLEY - Wife - 39 - Tipton
Benjamin HOLLIS - Son - 18 - Tipton
Dina TOLLEY - Dau - 13 - Stoke Prior, Worcs
Lousia TOLLEY - Dau - 5 - Tipton
Sarah TOLLEY - Dau - 4 - Tipton
Alice TOLLEY - Dau - 8 mo - Tipton

1851
HO107/2047/50/7 - Stoke Prior, Worcs
William TOLLEY - Head - 29 - Farm Lab - Upton, Worcs
Elizabeth TOLLEY - Wife - 26 - Washerwoman - Tipton
Ann TOLLEY - Dau - 5 - Scholar - ??, Worcs
Dinah TOLLEY - Dau - 3 - Scholar - Stoke Prior

and...
HO107/2029/629/33 - Eagle Lane, Tipton
Elizabeth FOSTER - Head - Wid - 70 - Tipton
Joseph FOSTER - Son - Unm - 25 - Labourer in Ironworks - Tipton
Elizabeth HOLLIS - Dau - Unm - 30 - Washerwoman - Tipton
Benjamin HOLLIS - Grandson - 8 - Scholar - Tipton
Emma HOLLIS - Grandau - 3 - Scholar - Tipton
Elizabeth BROWN - Grandau - 7 - Scholar - Tipton