Albert Richard Martin & Mary Ann Back

[NHS0330]

Hi there,

After some help with the attached birth cert for my great grandmother Mary Richmond Martin. Firstly her mother Mary Ann listed as Martin, late Beck (actually Back) formerly Martin. Her husband Thomas Back died in 1895, however I cannot find a marriage record for her and Albert Richard following this date, does this mean suggest she was born Martin, married Back then changed to Martin afterwards and coincidentally had a child with a Martin.

Additionally is Albert Richard's first name likely to be Albert or Richard given he put Albert first but in lowercase and Richard second but with a capital R?

Finally i've struggled to find any other records of this Albert Richard Martin, no birth or war records...he is listed as deceased on Mary Richmond's 1919 marriage certificate but that is about it. If anyone has time or any other information that may help me find out more about him it would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

James

[sillgen]

The A for Albert is not lower case.  It is a way of writing in those days and the same for Mary Ann.
Have you looked after the birth for a marriage?   
The Royal Sussex Regiment archives may hold clues.
http://www.eastbournemuseums.co.uk/royal-sussex-regiment.aspx

Try the record office too.  http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/rd/c8e387ee-6864-480e-a39f-5713b2d71cbc

[sillgen]

The 1901 census for the family in Brighton shows that there are children from the marriage to Thomas Back living with Mary, who is a laundry woman age 40 and born Ashurst Sussex.
Ref RG13 Piece 924 folio 9 page 9.
I assume you have this.

[sillgen]

Interesting that the 1911 census index shows that mother Mary Ann has reverted to calling herself Back.  I wonder if she never married Albert?
There seems to be a possible death in Brighon in 1949 for Mary Ann Back and also an entry in the 1939 register. 

[sillgen]

It is highly likely that Mary Ann Martin born Ashurst c1862 is this family in 1871.  Worth considering anyway.     If her marriage certificate to Thomas Back shows her father's name that might confirm it.
RG10        Folio:   133  Page Number:   10
Address Ashurst Wood
Henry Martin   39  labourer    all shown as born East Grinstead
Mary Ann Martin   29
Mary Ann Martin   9
Walter Martin   7
Hannah Martin   1

[NHS0330]

The A for Albert is not lower case.  It is a way of writing in those days and the same for Mary Ann.
Have you looked after the birth for a marriage?   
The Royal Sussex Regiment archives may hold clues.
http://www.eastbournemuseums.co.uk/royal-sussex-regiment.aspx

Try the record office too.  http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/rd/c8e387ee-6864-480e-a39f-5713b2d71cbc

Thankyou for the input re. naming in those days... I'll go with Albert being his first name then. I guess the only other thing that troubled me was he was written down as Richard Albert Martin on Mary Richmond's 1919 marriage cert but of course this is likely a mistake from whoever filled out the form.

The 1901 census for the family in Brighton shows that there are children from the marriage to Thomas Back living with Mary, who is a laundry woman age 40 and born Ashurst Sussex.
Ref RG13 Piece 924 folio 9 page 9.
I assume you have this.

Yes I have this, I have her in 1911 as Back as you also found and as you eluded to afterwards I strongly suspect that they never married. But he must have been around for a little while as he was the one to go into the register office and fill out Mary Richmond's birth details...which rules out a fleeting romance which may have ended shortly after her conception.

There isn't much on offer in terms of Albert or Richard Martin's enlisted by 1898 in the Royal Sussex Regiment either.

Looking at Deaths from 1898 to 1919 Richard Martin died 1899 in Brighton (aged 35)...fit's in with not being with Mary Ann and daughter on 1901 census...

[avm228]

I see that Mary Ann Martin (mum) claims to be married, not widowed, in 1901.

[NHS0330]

I see that Mary Ann Martin (mum) claims to be married, not widowed, in 1901.

Adds to the mystery and confusion, maybe she said she was married to save face?

[rosie17]

There is an Albert Martin in the 1881 census born about 1863 age 18 Brighton at the barracks Chichester ..
1891 census Albert Martin born about 1859 age 32 born Brighton   Private single  at Barracks in Fulwood Lancashire ..Ist Royal Sussex Regiment maybe a possible ?
Don't see him on the later census
Rosie