A houseful of children, but whose are they?

[Br1gau]

A little more on Mark Stroud:

12 May 1814 John Stroud married Ann BALLAM at Winterborne-Kingston.  Fathers were Thomas Stroud and John BESANT

At least six children born to John & Ann Stroud bpt at Winterborne-Kingston between 1817 and 1837 including:

Mark Stroud   bpt 29 Jan 1837 at Winterborne Kingston, Dorset.  Parents recorded as John Stroud, labourer & Ann.

1862 Mark Stroud married Emma Wadham at Blandford, Dorset.  3rd qtr Vol 5a page 423

[caro-dee]

Firstly thank you to everyone for their input and suggestions.  My connection to this family is Ann Ballam, Reginald Stroud's paternal grandmother.
Following census records the Swyers family seem to have started off as Swyers and then changed the surname to Richmond around 1861.  In between the 1871 and 1891 censuses they reverted to Swyers and had changed to Richmond again in the 1891 census.
Ellen was born Swyers in 1882, was Richmond in the 1891 census but married Reginald Stroud as a Swyers in 1901.  Her father Frederick was born a Swyers in 1854, married as Swyers in 1878 and died as Richmond in 1899.  His father John (son of Joseph Swyers) was born in 1818 as Swyers, married in 1849 as Swyers and died as Richmond in 1893.
Why the names changed back and forth I shall probably never discover.  Its not as if they started a new life somewhere with a new name so nobody could uncover a dark secret in their past, they remained in the Wimborne area, so their neighbours knew them as Swyers one year and Richmond the next.
Intriguing stuff!
Thanks to all for your posts, helpful as always
Caro

[Br1gau]

I think we all looked to find a Richmond – Swyers link in earlier generations but it’s still a mystery.

With the children of Ellen & Reginald Stroud see-sawing between Richmond and Swyer as mmn on their birth records, I can only think that with some Ellen needed to produce her marriage cert to the Registrar – hence Swyer.  Other times she did not – hence Richmond.  Just a thought!

Have you looked at the mmn for Ellen’s sister, Emily Jane’s children.  She appears as a witness to Ellens marriage.  Emily was also baptised as Swyer but she married as Richmond.

1900 October 20th at Hampreston Parish Church Albert Dacombe, 23yrs, a carpenter, married Emily Jane Richmond aged 20yrs.  His father was Thomas Dacombe, carpenter, Hers was Frederick Richmond, a gardener, deceased.

[caro-dee]

Yes Br1gau that's a brilliant thought about Ellen having to produce her marriage certificate.
Ellen's sister Emily Jane had two children with her husband Albert Dacombe, mmn Richmond for both births.

I wonder if there is a living relative who could explain the Swyers/Richmond mystery!
Caro