This is copied from an old account that I wrote some years ago and throughout that account I spell AJH's name as Anthony Joseph Hoffman which is how it was written on his Death Certificate. The only two signatures that I have (1810 and 1816) have his name written as Antonÿ Joseph Hoffmann (1810) and Antony Joseph Hoffmann (1816).
I have searched the 1841 Census for AJH. My search has included all variants of the surname including Offman and Hoofman. Ancestry allows wild card search for middle letters and I have exploited this to the full. I have not limited myself to Anthony/Antony/Tony but my search has had no success. I can never be sure. But this following explanation is one that buys me a little peace of mind.
In 1841 Anthony Hoffman (the son of Anthony Joseph Hoffman) marries Lucy Pegg. On the day of the marriage, Lucy Pegg is under the age of 21 (she does not try to slip by as “of age” she actually gives her age as 20).
The 1841 Census was held on Sunday 6 June 1841. The wedding was 8 days later on the 14 June 1841. It is therefore possible that Anthony Joseph Hoffman went to Newton Regis, Warwickshire to obtain the written permission of Lucy’s father John Pegg. Alternatively AJH went to Newton Regis to collect both of Lucy’s parents and bring then to AdlZ for the wedding. Please be patient with me while I fantasize about the first option (only).
As incidental information Lucy Pegg signed her name on the marriage certificate, and in this period when literacy was so heavily biased towards the male sex, her literacy strongly suggests that her father John Pegg was also literate.
At one time, in my imagination I could see Anthony Joseph visiting Lucy Pegg’s parents and obtaining the written consent of John Pegg. Anthony Joseph may have gone alone or he may have brought his son Anthony with him. Anthony Joseph would certainly not have brought his son Anthony to the Pegg’s house – that would be impolite and counterproductive in any Century. Measham (where the son Anthony lives) is midway between Ashby and Newton Regis – and this may have been a convenient stop on the way. Anthony Joseph Hoffman could have travelled to Measham by stage coach on the Saturday evening. Anthony the son, was a groom and therefore could ride a horse and he would know who to hire a pair of reliable horses from, and he could chose a pair suitable for his father and himself. If the two Antonys travelled overnight from Measham to Newton Regis they would have had good light from the moon - according to
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/phase/phasecat.htmlthere was a full moon on Friday 4 June 1841 – and so towards midnight of Saturday 5 June and/or in the early hours of Sunday 6 Sunday the two men could have ridden in bright moonlight and could have stopped at a hostelry near Newton Regis just as the sun was rising. At the hostelry they could catch up on sleep, have breakfast and freshen up and look smart. They would have arrived at the hostelry too late to be included in the Census. The son Anthony would have stayed behind in the hostelry while his father visited John & Mary Pegg. It is also possible that Anthony Joseph travelled alone – but still found it convenient to pick up a horse from his son in Measham. The instructions on the 1841 Census asks for the Names of each Person who abode therein the preceding Night. Those who slept overnight in a particular house in Ashby were recorded in the 1841 Census as being Elizabeth Hoffman, her eldest son John Hoffman and also the bride-to-be Lucy Pegg (there is something auspicious about Lucy being there with her future mother-in-law – Lucy's presence and the absence of her future father-in-law are in a curious asymmetry). Those who slept overnight in a specific house in Newton Regis were John and Mary Pegg, the parents of Lucy Pegg. Strictly speaking, Anthony Joseph Hoffman on his journey should have been recorded at the place where he left at the start of his journey – but was this Ashby or Measham? Honest mistake do happen.
Anthony Joseph Hoffman was well thought of in Ashby de la Zouch, and he had even been made treasurer of an Ashby sick club. He was a hatter and to be successful as a hatter, he would have owned and would habitually wear very smart suits and he would speak in such a way as to sell his hats to the wealthier citizens of Ashby de la Zouch. Anthony Joseph Hoffman spoke with a Dutch accent, and in the nineteenth century Dutch were very well regarded by English people. The writing that we have that was done by Anthony Joseph Hoffman shows him to be a man who is self-confident. But Anthony Joseph like any good shopkeeper finds the level to speak that will influence his customer. No doubt his demeanour and appearance overcame whatever doubt that there may have been in the minds of Lucy Pegg’s parents.
I should perhaps make it clear that this idea of a journey to Newton Regis is pure fantasy and wishful thinking on my part. The truth is entirely different – I do not know why Anthony Joseph Hoffman was absent from his home on Census day 1841.
