Two people in the same area????

[hunterterri58]

Hello

I have a challenge.  Martha Ward married Charles Watson around 1811 in the Holborn area of London.  I cannot find their marriage, but all children were baptised in St Andrews Holborn.  Charles was a lighter man and they lived in Fetter Lane.
I think I have now found Charles Birth.  He was not on the 1841 census and Martha is a widow.  There is a Charles born in 1770, baptised 18 July 1770 in St Andrews Holborn.  No other can be found so I think this must be him although that would have made him quite old when he married.

Martha Ward however is more of a challenge.  THere are two Martha Wards in St andrews Holborn.  One born May 1787, baptised 10 Jan 1792 and one baptised 6 Oct 1777.  The parents names are not reflected in their choice of childrens names so that is not helpful.
Any idea how I can decide which is my Martha.  She says she is 59 in the 1841 census and I have found a Martha Ward Watson (which appears to be how she is known as all baptisms of children refer to her as Martha Ward) death 17 April 1842 aged 61.

Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

Teresa

[Rosinish]

Difficult but you need to check the yrs of kids births to see how old she was giving birth to last child.

If he was a good bit older she may have added a few years on 1841?

Annie

[Spidermonkey]

Outside my scope of experience, but I believe that there is a worshipful company of lightermen - I wonder if they hold any records relating to Charles, and perhaps more importantly whether they made any provision for Martha after his death (it might, for example mention her age, or give her date of death if they stopped providing assistance to her).

http://watermenscompany.com/

[Spidermonkey]

Also, on the 1841 census, was Martha born 'in county' - or do you need to widen the area to look for her?

[wivenhoe]

"...Martha Ward married Charles Watson around 1811 in the Holborn area of London."

Where does this suggested year and place of marriage come from?

[Andrew Tarr]

I think I have now found Charles Birth.  He was not on the 1841 census and Martha is a widow.  There is a Charles born in 1770, baptised 18 July 1770 in St Andrews Holborn.  No other can be found so I think this must be him although that would have made him quite old when he married.

My instinct is that this may be an unwise conclusion.  Charles and Watson are not uncommon names, London is/was a large place, and not all records for 1770 may be accessible.

[jim1]

As she's using her maiden name as a middle name (effectively a double-barrelled name) indicates they weren't married.
The last child was born c.1827 which would make the Martha born 1777 around 50 so not her.

[wivenhoe]

Martha's age suggests the possibility of an earlier family...?

25 May 1808 Christchurch
Martha Ward MORGAN  of this Parish, spinster
Charles WATSON  of this Parish bachelor
witnesses  J  KNIGHT,  Elizabeth REEVE

and of interest for witnesses names......29 May 1808 (same church)
John SEYMOUR bachelor of this Parish
Sarah Elizabeth MOOR of this Parish widow
witnesses  J KNIGHT   John REEVE

[Andrew Tarr]

25 May 1808 Christchurch
witnesses  J  KNIGHT,  Elizabeth REEVE

and of interest for witnesses names......29 May 1808 (same church)
witnesses  J KNIGHT   John REEVE

I find this repetition is very common.  At this time many people were unable to sign, and these witnesses may have been junior clergy, or perhaps churchwardens or similar.