Henrietta Stevens nee Curwen

[Milliepede]

Thomas is a bit elusive isn't he.  We don't know when he was born or where.

Find a grave index Whitehaven cemetery have a burial for Thomas Curwen 22 August 1880 born 1851 but that's a little early death for our needs.

Possibly indexed as Thomas Corrin? Sep 1880 Whitehaven

Do we have Mary Ann in 1881 to rule this one out?

[Bellsare78]

I’ve found a Thomas curwen b 1854 to Jonathan and Mary but can’t link anything together ? X

[Milliepede]

No we need some proof of identity first either from his marriage certificate or maybe the birth certificate for Henrietta. 

The marriage would be best as would give his age and occupation as well as his fathers name and occupation.  Then we can look for him proper.

You would also expect more children to be born between 1872-1882.

[rosie99]

It looks as though there was a possible sibling
Births Mar 1873   
Curwin    John Henry MMN Johnston       
Whitehaven    10b   629

Death June qtr 1874   
Curwen    John Henry age 1   
Whitehaven    10b   406

Henrietta's birth certificate may not name a father.  The entry for her mother would read as Mary A Curwen and give her previous surname ThompsonJohnston that could be where the information on the index came from.

ADDED
Mary Ann is stating she is widowed in 1891, I cannot see her in 1881.  I can't see a death for Thomas either.

[Bellsare78]

This is all very bizarre  x I wonder why it’s so hard? Is it usually this difficult? I know that there were a lot of curwens in Cumberland at that time one family were very highly known and wealthy but alas I don’t think this was the curwens that I’m looking for 😂 x

[rosie99]

It would help if we could find Mary A in 1881.  I can't see a suitable Thomas either.  Curwen/Curwin is also very common in Lancashire he could have come from anywhere.

This area of the country is not well covered by online records and sadly often the only way is to purchase certificates.  The birth one you can get as a PDF but it would cost around £7, the marriage would only be available as a paper copy at around £11.

To establish the fathers of Henrietta and Thomas the marriage would be the better one.  The fact that Henrietta only named her mother when she married in Canada does make me think she may not be Thomas's daughter. 

I am going to have another look and see what else I can find

[Bellsare78]

Oo that’s an interesting theory Rosie re the name on the marriage document hadn’t thought X

[Milliepede]

Ah I didn't realise she only named her mother when she married.

Must admit I did wonder if Thomas was her father but I guess the birth could say it was anyway.

What do you think about the 1880 Thomas death? 
Burial at Whitehaven. 

Agree finding an 1881 census would be helpful. 

Is it usually this difficult?  It certainly can be! 

[Millmoor]

Here are a couple of possibles for them in 1881;

Transcribed as Cureven but when you look at the original it could most certainly be Curwen Mary might be showing as a servant at the Foresters Arms, Whitehaven. Although she is showing as single her occupation is housewife dom serv. She is 27 and born Moor Row, Cumberland.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2WM-KFM8


There is a married Thomas Curwen born 1847 Barrow, occupation iron ore miner a boarder in Cleator, Whitehaven.


https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2WM-2LW6

William