William Elkins & Mary Miller

[someonecalledkai]

Hi There!
An ancestor of mine - Thomas Elkins - has a very confusing baptism and a bit of a mystery with his parents that perhaps you could help with? The only census that Thomas lives with his parents are in 1841, in Lee, Kent (Now London, near Lewisham). His parents were named as William Elkins (45) and Mary (40). The baptism of Thomas Elkins in 1825 reflects this, yet for his parent's surname it is listed as "Elkins Miller". No other entry has two surnames like this on that record.

Does this suggest Mary's maiden name was Miller? Were his parents unmarried? I cannot find a marriage between a William Elkins & Mary Miller in that area. On one tree on ancestry it has it as Mary Miller, and has her as a daughter of John Miller & Mary Hoover, who came from Pennsylvania, which does not help my confusion 😅. As they do not have any sources to back this up, and I find it unlikely, seen as though her parents her born in Pennsylvania, and Mary (Miller) seems to be born in Lee, Kent/London.

My question in short, is what's your opinion on the "Elkins Miller" on the baptism? And is there any evidence for what that tree claims about her parents (if her name is indeed Miller). I have been searching for a while, trying to figure this out, so I thought I'd ask here. Thanks in advance!

[mckha489]

My first instinct was that they weren’t married, and Miller was Mary’s name although it seems odd for there not to be some sort of note to that effect in the register.
But then I found the 1832 baptism of Martha at Greenwich and on that one Elkins Miller is written on one line, as if it is the whole surname.  Have you found baptisms for the younger sons?

Regarding Mary’s birth.
In that 1841 she is recorded as Y for born in county.

[jonwarrn]

FS has marriage at Lee, 19 April 1819
William Elkin Miller + Mary Wallace
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NKVK-WZN

[jonwarrn]

A death
MILLER, MARY  ELKINS     
Age at Death (in years): 43 
GRO Reference: 1841  D Quarter in LEWISHAM UNION  Volume 05  Page 194

[mckha489]

Another burial
24 Jan 1822 eltham, Greenwich
William Elkins Miller age 6 mths

[Ladyhawk]

Don’t know if there’s any connection with this William

William Elkins
Baptism Age   5
Birth 5 Sep 1790
Baptism 30 Nov 1795 St Anne, Soho, London, Westminster
Father   William Elkins Mother   Sarah
1789 marriage her surname MILLER (FreeREG)

[jonwarrn]

Is this him in Lee in 1851?
William Ekins, 56, born Kent Chislehurst
Children Martha, 19, and William, 16
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGRM-TQV

[jonwarrn]

Maybe...
Death
ELKINS, WILLIAM       
Age at Death (in years): 67 
GRO Reference: 1861  J Quarter in LEWISHAM UNION  Volume 01D  Page 442

[Ladyhawk]

Is this him in Lee in 1851?
William Ekins, 56, born Kent Chislehurst
Children Martha, 19, and William, 16
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGRM-TQV

Anc*y surname transcribed EKENS and Martha as wife also written as wife on original 

Piece   1591
Folio   110
Page number   22
William Ekens 56 Head widr. occ Carter
Martha Ekens 19 Wife m occ needlewoman
William Ekens 16 Son u. occ plough boy

Added - there’s this marriage

Marriage 4 Jul 1852 Saint Mary, Lewisham
Martha Elkins Father   William Elkins occ carman
Spouse   Joseph Arthur Miles