James Williams

[AbbieC]

Can any one help with my research please.  My Great Grandfather is James Williams born in 1839 Stockport Cheshire.

In 1841 he lived in Edward St Stockport
In 1851 he lived in Allcocks Buildings Heaton Norris
In 1861 he was a lodger aged 22 in Manchester St Andrew (no address I could find)

In 1880 he married Sarah Whitehead when James was 41 and Sarah was 22
In 1881 he lived 29 Heaton Street Denton
In 1891 he lived in 17 Joseph Street Denton
In 1896 he died in 10 Belgrave Street Denton

My query is where was he in 1871 and was he married before?  I can find no marriage certificate prior to his marriage to Sarah.  This was a civil wedding.
 
There is a record for 1871 for a James Williams born in Stockport in 1837 and his wife is named as Hannah Sykes.  There is a Robert Williams listed aged 9 but in later years these child showed up in no records for James only his children with Sarah.  Is this my James Williams?  If so where is the record of marriage, death of Hannah, where is the child?  it would be easy to use this info but I have nothing to verify this?

Can anyone help or guide me into where else to look.  I have checked ancestry, Cheshire BMD and not sure where to look next.

[CaroleW]

In 1880 he married Sarah Whitehead when James was 41 and Sarah was 22

My query is where was he in 1871 and was he married before? 

What is his marital status on the 1880 marriage cert - widower or bachelor?

[CaroleW]

The 1871 shows a stepdaughter - Mary A Sykes shown as under 1yr old. 

Not too sure about this next bit - needs a bit of research

www.cheshirebmd.org.uk has this marriage at St Thomas Heaton Norris in 1866

Hannah Sykes to James Taylor - Hannah Sykes to James Williamson - they are asterisked as one and the same marriage but it does not show on freebmd

[heywood]

If I am looking at the right man in 1861, i don't think that is him. The surname looks more like Wilkinson.

[CaroleW]

In 1861 Hannah is unmarried and living with parents William and Mary.  Mother Mary is living with James & Hannah in 1871

[rolnora]

Not sure if this will help.
The 1866 marriage for James Williamson and Hannah Sykes has James 29 a widower and weaver of Heaton Norris father James Taylor a draper.
Hannah 21 and a spinster father William a weaver.
The 1851 census for James has father's name Roger but he isn't listed with the family on the 1841 census
 
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01hqx/ 

[AbbieC]

Wow!  Thanks so much for all your hard work!  Sorry but first schoolboy error was that the marriage certificate said he was a bachelor.   I am confined to bed so had to get my husband to get the certificates out.  I supposed I thought it was unusual for someone to marry for the first time at 41.  If that is the case what is the reason?   If this is actually the case where was he in 1871?

I am sorry so many of you worked so hard for me when it looks that he wasn't married twice?