alle/saws of ashenden

[Marton]

Robert Allen and Mary Saw immigrated to  Australia on the "Formosa" in 1839.Seeking any evidence that Mary returned to England and married her sister Charlotte's husband , John Priest, as she appears in the 1851 census describing herself as widow. John died in 1845.All Charlotte's children live with her , and she calls herself Mary
Any clue would be welcome
Thanks    Marton

[Milliepede]

Just to clarify do you mean the 1851 census in England?  When was Mary born?

[Milliepede]

Is this the right family?  If so Mary must have married John between 1841-1845 when he died. 
I don't see it especially if Charlotte was still alive! 
Was Mary married to Robert Allen - would her widow status be because he had died?

1841

John Priest 30
Charlotte 25
William 8
Edmund 4
Emanuel 2
Margree 11 months

What happened to Charlotte?

[Milliepede]

Is this the 1851 family you are alluding to?

May A Prust 36 - name as transcribed
William 18
Edmund 15
Mary A 10
Emanuel 12
James 7

[Marton]

Thank you Milliepede, yes, this is the family, Mary is my gt3 gran if that is her, we cannot find a death for Charlotte, and we have been looking for years.On the childrens births Charlotte is given as their mother.She then disappears from sight.
It has been quite a puzzle , and only recently has the immigration come to light. No marriage for Mary either to suggest she married  a Priest.
Thanks for looking tho, much appreciated
Marton

[Milliepede]

For what it's worth there is a family tree which gives a death for Charlotte in 1883 in Tring. 
It also has a second marriage for her in 1866 to Cutler Beckett.

However the marriage in Berkhampstead Sep 1866 lists a Mary Priest as one of the two possible brides not Charlotte Priest.

And the link to the 1861 census on the tree leads again to Mary Priest * not Charlotte so unless Charlotte was using the name Mary it's all a bit of a mystery.   

Do you know what happened to Robert Allen? 

* census details for info

Mary Priest 48 born Ashendon
James 16
Mary 8
Elizabeth 9 and it actually says illegitimate after her name on the record

1871 may be more enlightening

Mary Beckett 60 - that ties in with the marriage mentioned in 1866
Elizabeth Priest 17

[Milliepede]

1881

Mary Beckett mother in law 71
James Foster 29
Elizabeth 27
Arthur 6
Ada 4
Emily 1

Death for Cutler Beckett in Berkhampstead Sep 1870 age 70.  Wouldn't have thought too many people with that name around.

It's very odd that Charlotte is only mentioned once (as Charlotte) in 1841.  To outside appearance it looks like her using the name Mary.  Her sister shouldn't claim to be the mother of her children she would be their Aunt on census - or should be - even if she had taken on the role of mother.

Yep very odd 

[Milliepede]

The death in Jun 1883 Berkhampstead is for Mary Ann Beckett.  Maybe this is the death attributed to Charlotte. 

I don't know if getting any certificates would help really 

[trish1120]

Also Daug Elizabeth Priest c 1854 on 1861 Census seems to be reg as;
Elizabeth Gunn Priest, Sept 1853, Berkhampstead,    3a  284

May be worth getting the Cert?