Marriage of John PALMER and Mary Ann HILL possibly in Alverdiscott 1854

[danjake]

Is there anybody who could look up this marriage for me please and also if possible the birth of John Palmer in Wear Gifford in c1823 ?

I would be VERY grateful as they are my paternal 2x  great grandparents and I've hit a brick wall trying to go back another generation. I have an inkling that Mary may have been a widow and I'm hoping that this information as well as fathers names, whether alive or deceased, witnesses etc will help me take a step back.

Very briefly this is what I have so far :

1861 - John (1823), Mary Ann (1824) plus 4 children William 6, Selina 4, Leah 2, (my great grandmother) and Rachel 9 months. Living in Huntshaw but not born there as recorded.

1871 - John, Mary Ann, William, Rachel and Eva 8. Living in Horwood Village, Horwood their places of birth are recorded as Wear Gifford (John), Alverdiscott (Mary Ann), Monkleigh (William) and Huntshaw (Rachel and Eva).

1881 - Mary Ann and Rachel (no mention of John can't find him elsewhere) plus a married daughter Louisa Elizabeth Groves and grandson Willie Thomas. Louisa's maiden name was Hill, born 1844 Alverdiscott, hence from a previous marriage of Mary Ann or born out of wedlock ?

1891 Mary Ann living with son William and family in Pilton, she is now a widow and died in 1895.

I cannot find the death of John Palmer, indeed the only information I have on his life is through the 1861 and 1871 census.

Any information, help or advice, however small would be sincerely appreciated.

Many thanks

Brian

[CaroleW]

The marriage is on freebmd  www.freebmd.org.uk

Marriages March qtr 1854   
Mary Ann Hill  Torrington  5b 839
John Palmer

There is nothing on the IGI so unless it can be found on any local transcripts - you will need to buy a copy to establish Mary's previous marital status

[CaroleW]

Louisa's maiden name was Hill

Where did you get that info from as there is no marriage between a Groves and a Louisa Hill

I cannot find the death of John Palmer,

1881 entry shows "husband abroad" under the entry for Mary Ann

[danjake]

Hi Carole

Grateful thanks for your help and advice.

Yes you are absolutely right that I need to purchase the marriage certificate, it's one of at least a dozen on my Devon shopping list, but I was hoping that there might be a local transcription of the parish records or online resource that I wasn't aware of as I live in Birmingham. Not to worry, another donation to the GRO beckons on Monday !

Thanks for pointing out the 'husband abroad' entry in 1881. How did I miss that ? !!

Now I have to try and find out what an agricultural labourer was doing abroad as he was seemingly too old for the army and if, as looks likely, he died in foreign lands then I hold out little chance of finding his death and/or grave.

Louisa Elizabeth Hill married William James Groves in Bath in 1877 and in 1861 she is shown working as a House Servant at the Key Market Inn, South Street, Great Torrington.

In 1851 I've found a widow Mary Hill of the right age living in Alverdiscott with her daughter Elizabeth aged 6 (again the right age) and son Thomas aged 1. She is with her father Thomas HOILE (??) but the thing that throws me is that she was a school mistress, whereas the Mary Hill who married John Palmer was a Glove Maker.

Once again many thanks Carole !

Regards

Brian

[CaroleW]

Louisa Elizabeth Hill married William James Groves in Bath in 1877

That will teach me to confine my search to Devon - I should know better by now!!

I see the 1851 entry you mention but I'm as unsure as you are.  I've tried tracing father Thomas back in the 1841 and think I've found him aged 45 - wife is Grace  55.  No children with them

I think I have found Thomas jnr in 1861 - aged 12 and working as a servant.  Somehow or other, I can't get my head around a schoolmistresses son working as a servant at that age.