Having looked at Reuben Pickersgill, I realise that there were two Reuben Pickersgills living at the same time and in the same areas.
Reuben number 1 (who I believe to be 'ours'):-
1) Reuben is with his parents on the 1841 Census in Wombwell.
2) Reuben is with his parents on the 1851 Census in Hoyland (birth place is given as Wombwell and birth date about 1831).
3) Reuben appears to marry Martha Siddall about November 1852 in Rotherham. This marriage appears on the same page as Martha Pickersgill who married William Cokeley (I have submitted a corrected to FreeBMD with regards to William not appearing on this page due to a transcription error).
4) Reuben is with Martha and family on the 1871 Census in Hoyland (birth place given as Smithly and birth date around 1831).
5) Reuben is with Martha and family on the 1881 Census in Monk Bretton (birth place given as Wombwell and birth date about 1831).
6) 2) Reuben is with Martha and family on the 1891 Census in Barnsley (birth place given as Wombwell and birth date about 1831).
Reuben number 2:-
1) Reuben appears to be with his parents (John and Susan) on the 1841 Census in Finningley.
2) Reuben is with a Kay family on the 1851 Census in Greasbrough (birth place given as ? and birth date about 1835).
3) Reuben appears to marry Sarah Thompson about May 1857 in Rotherham.
4) Reuben is with Sarah and family on the 1861 Census in Greasbrough (birth place given as Finningley and birth date about 1832).
5) Reuben is married but visiting a Beardshaw family on the 1871 Census (birth place given as Finningley and birth date of about 1833).
6) Reuben is widowed but living with family on the 1881 Census in Rawmarsh (birth place given as Finningley and birth date about 1833).
7) Reuben POSSIBLY married Emily ? about February 1890 in Barnsley.
If the above marriage is correct, Reuben is with Emily in Ardsley on the 1891 Census (birth place given as Tinsley (?) and birth date around 1832). Two members of the household are apparently born in Parkgate which is next to Rawmarsh where Reuben was living in 1881.
Both Reubens appear to be dead by the 1901 Census. I believe 'ours' died about February 1901 in Barnsley (aged 70) and the 'other' Reuben died about May 1898 in Barnsley (aged 65).
It seems very coincidental that both Reubens have associations with Greasbrough but I believe that that is all it is. It seems more than likely that Reuben and his sister, Martha, married at the same time – a double wedding perhaps.
I still have not been able to establish a confirmed link between the Ann Pickersgill in my family tree and Joseph Pickersgill and Elizabeth Ditch. However, I am provisionally going to attach her as a child of Joseph and Elizabeth on the following grounds:-
1) Ann is living two households away from Joseph and Elizabeth on the 1841 Census.
2) Ann is living in close proximity to her mother and siblings on the 1861 Census in a different town – Greasbrough.
3) Ann's daughter, Mary Morton, is living next door to Elizabeth Ann Surtees and William Cokeley (marriage to Martha Pickersgill) on the 1891 Census. William is Mary's Uncle and Elizabeth Ann is William's daughter which makes Mary and Elizabeth Ann first cousins.
4) Ann names her children, Elizabeth (after her mother?), Joseph (after her father?) and Mary (after her sister?).
There can be no doubt that the two families are connected although I aim to get documentary evidence of this at some point in my lifetime.
Elizabeth Pickersgill, Martha Pickersgill, William Cokeley, Elizabeth Ann Cokeley and Frederick Surtees are all buried in Moorgate Cemetery, Rotherham. Moorgate is also the resting place of Ann Pickersgill and many of the Burton clan.
The website,
http://www.faulkners-web.com/Sharon/genealogy/, would appear to connect to 'our' Reuben.
I would welcome any additional comments if anybody reading this has any, either now or in the future.
People who believe they are connected to the Joseph Pickersgill/Elizabeth Ditch branch, may wish to visit my website which can be found at,
www.mollekin.net. I host a large family tree there and it contains a lot of information regarding the Burton family including photos of people, residences and other locations of relevance.
Kind Regards,
Craig
