Esther first Booth then Corkwell, Booth again then Brown

[pacaine]

My GGGrandmother had a complicated life.  She was born in 1824 to Samuel & Ann Booth.  I can't find the marriage but the 1851 Census shows her married to Edward Corkwell with 2 children both registered as Corkwell. On the marriage certificate of a third child James John his surname is given as Booth with Father named Edward Corkwell.  The same happened when eldest Fanny married using the Booth surname and William my GGranddad also married later as Booth.   I can't find why Esther would revert back to her maiden name and her children likewise.  In 1865 She married Henry H Brown.  I'd be grateful for any information about Edward Corkwell and why his family stopped using his name.

[amondg]

They never married.
GRO Index.

Fanny BOOTH reg 1842 Basford no mother's maiden name listed - illegitimate

William CORKWELL reg. 1844 Basford mother's maiden name Booth
Reuben Corkwell reg. 1847               ditto
Walter Corkwell reg. 1849                 ditto
James Corkwell  reg. 1852  Belper              ditto
Sarah Ann Corkwell reg. 1857  Basford       FreeBMD 
----------------
ADDED
John Corkwell reg. 1861 Basford mother's maiden name Booth
Thomas Corkwell reg.1864 reg. Basford      ditto
--------
Esther Booth then marries the Lodger (1861 census) Henry John Hancock Brown 1865 reg. Basford

[amondg]

There is a death of an Edward Caulkwell  1882 reg. Basford  - born circa 1799 that could be him.

[pacaine]

Many thanks amondg.  I wonder if there are marriages which didn't get included in the GRO registers.  Otherwise they were lying in 2 Censuses which are official Government documents.  But she married Henry Brown when Edward (Corkwell,Cockwell) was still alive probably.  It seems there were up to 8 or so children all registered with Edward"s surname but later changed to Mother's maiden name.  Was it that easy to change your surname in those days?

[amondg]

You could call yourself whatever you wanted.

Edward and Esther considered themselves "married" they had been together for 20 years thereabouts
so it's more of a fib than a lie.

Yes they are official documents, but don't apply modern standards to what happened over 150 years ago, there is no comparison.

Edward was over 25 years older than Esther.

There are 7 children with the Corkwell name, Fanny was always Booth - she married Horatio Nelson Barks 1859. The daughter Sarah Ann Corkwell seems to have kept the surname and not reverted back to Booth.
1871 census the children still at home Sarah Ann, John and Thomas are listed as Brown although they should be Corkwell as they were registered as such.

[pacaine]

Thanks once more amondg that's very interesting.  I notice that in the 1871 Census Edward is residing in Bulwell Nottinghamshire and described as an 'inmate'.  I haven't seen a scan of the actual page and don't know whether he could have been in a workhouse or a prison.  But there's a chance something happened to cause his family to change their names.

[amondg]

That Edward Corkwell (1871 Basford census) was born 1790 and his occupation is agricultural labourer and he is an inmate at the Basford Union Workhouse.

The Edward you are looking for was a hand loom weaver.

If you cannot accept that your ancestors were illegitimate, perhaps it would be better not to pursue genealogy.

Look for bastardy records, see if Esther named the father of Fanny, the question would have been asked if she needed money.

Times were hard, Esther's age is 27 in 1851 which means she had Fanny at age 17/18. She moved in with a man twice her age who may or may not be the father of Fanny. They stayed together for 20 years.
Something happened after Thomas was born 1864 he was registered as Corkwell, yet one year later
Esther marries the lodger Henry Brown,
In 1861 Edward was already 65 perhaps he could no longer provide for the family due to illness or affliction.
Look for  a death circa 1861-1865 see if you can find Edward Corkwell in the area.
Her sons John and Thomas may belong to the lodger and not Edward.

[pacaine]

Why would I not accept illegitimacy in my ancestors?  After all I can't change it   I have one ancestor who was transported following many jail terms so am realistic.  Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
By the way when James Corkwell married in 1873 he used the Booth name not Brown.

[heywood]

That Edward Corkwell (1871 Basford census) was born 1790 and his occupation is agricultural labourer and he is an inmate at the Basford Union Workhouse.

The Edward you are looking for was a hand loom weaver.

Possible records for Edward - there is only one E C throughout the censuses of the right age

1841 188/29/7
Heanor, Derbys
Edwd Corkwell 30 yrs Coal Ganger

1851 and 1861 - Framework Knitter

1871 unmarried Agricultural labourer - inmate
** the age is transcribed as 31 yrs - the writing is difficult

1881 3331/157/10
Transcribed as ‘Bakewell’ on one site
Edward 83 yrs unmarried Framework Knitter - inmate b Heanor

On Fanny Booth’s marriage record he is a labourer