Had a baby in her fifties??

[Honor]

I've been researching my fourth great grandma, Ann, who was born in 1827 in Sussex.

According to the census records, she and her husband William Tompsett had 13 children together in the space of 33 years. They are as follows,

Martha Tomsett, born 1846

Lucy Tomsett, born 1848

Elizabeth Tomsett, born 1849

William Tomsett, born 1849

John Tompsett, born 1854

George Tomsett, born 1857

Edward Tomsett, born 1860

Caleb Tomsett, born 1861

Esther Tomsett, born 1863

Mary A Tomsett, born 1866

Ann Tomsett, born 1868

Bessie Tompsett, born 1869


Then, ten years later, we have:

Ebenezer Tompsett, born 1879, when Ann would have been around 52 

Is this really feasible? I understand that women can and do have children later on in life, but was this common before the days of modern medical science? And why would there be a ten year gap between the births of Bessie and Ebenezer?

I apologise for sounding ignorant, but I feel like something is off somewhere here? 

[NooshieW]

It is absolutely feasible, I have ancestors having babies in their late forties and early fifties.

[a-l]

It is feasible and the gaps could mean that there were other children.

[arthurk]

Another possibility is that Ebenezer was passed off as the child of William and Ann, but was really their grandson. If so, then based on the list of names you give, I would suggest the most likely mother would be Esther.

Arthur

[nestagj]

Hello

Can't post the details but can I suggest that you look for Ann and William in the 1911 census and see how many years married and how many children they have had and how many are still alive.   It may help in your puzzle - they are very easily found.

Nesta

[Jebber]

I agree with Arthur.

I have a couple of examples in my tree. In one case the grandparents had me fooled because they went on to have another natural child to add to the concealment. I only found out the  truth  when the family were featured on the TV programme "Heir Hunters".

Jebber

[Treetotal]

That was my first thought too.
Carol

[brigidmac]

i wonder how many of the women who had children in their 50's were actually the grandmothers ....not biologically impossible ...my ex had a sister 20 years younger with a 12 year gap between the next sibling and herself birth mother was aged 48 .

 In the historical cases the birth certificate ..or baptism does not prove that the elder mother is the biological mother ..

do let us know if you find anything else out .

[sleepybarb]

I knew someone who married very late in life and had a babe at 50,sadly she died when the child was a toddler.
Barb