Here's what I know so far.
Mary Kent was the 12th child and 5th daughter of Thomas and Ann, and in 1841 was living with her eldest brother Charles and his family in Market Square, Uttoxeter, shown as a servant. She married Thomas Nicklin at St Mary the Virgin in Uttoxeter, witnessed by Charles and his wife Ann.
Thomas Nicklin was born in Coton, baptised at Milwich (probably on 6.9.29), and worked as a groom. They lived with Mary’s mother Ann in 1851. The first of their 3 children died in infancy. At some time in the early 1860s they separated - in 1861 Mary was a house servant, visiting her mother in Pinfold Lane, whilst Thomas was in Spiceal Street with their son and daughter, next door to Charles and Ann.
A newspaper report on 27.5.65 has been seen, which reported that he had been struck by lightning. The “Staffordshire Advertiser” reported on 28.4.66 on a court case where she is described as “the wife of a sober hardworking man in Uttoxeter but living apart from him in consequence of her dissipated habits.” The baptism of her youngest child Ann in 1867 records her as illegitimate and that Mary was shown as “living separate from her husband” in the Union Workhouse in Uttoxeter, so the father is unknown. Thomas died aged 38 and was buried at Uttoxeter.
And so to my questions:
1) What happened to her after 1867? No further record of her has been found, and it is noted that all of their children were living separately in 1871, so I have been assuming that she died between 1867 and 1871.
2) However, the 1891 census shows a Mary Nicklin, a charwoman aged 58 and born in Uttoxeter, in the Spittals Workhouse in Penkhull, Stoke-on-Trent. Is this my Mary? If not, why can't I find any record of this one before 1891?
3) Less importantly, does anyone have access to the newspaper report of 1866 to show the offence for which she was charged?
Thanks in hope and anticipation!
