William Greenfield (1796-1873) did he have children? (Dudley)

[FrancisGrn]

Hi all,
I would like to please ask for some help in trying to clarify a contradiction concerning a relative. William Greenfield was born in 1796 in Dudley to Edward Greenfield and Mary Smith. He was the brother of Nancy (1798-?), Edward (1803-1872), John (1803-1863), George (1804-1808), Thomas (1804-?), Esther (1806-1844), Jane (1808-1888) and Maria (1814-1843). In '41 he is in Dudley with his mother. In '51 he is living with his nephew John (Maria's illegitimate son) and is listed as unmarried. However, in '61 he is listed as 'married' (though with no wife), living next to a Joseph Greenfield b.1774 who I assume is his uncle. Finally in '71 he is married with a wife, Sarah b. 1797 in Dudley and a 'grandson' William b. 1864 in Dudley. Now initially I thought that I must be dealing with two people of the same name but there is only one William Greenfield baptised at the right time to be my man. I want to clarify how many children William had, and what his relationship is with his purported grandson.
Best wishes,
Francis

[goldie61]

There is a  marriage of a 'William Henry Greenfield' at Dudley June 1859 om freebmd.
Volume 6 page 35.

Choice of wives Sarah Ann Deakin and Ruth Perks.

Freebmd transcription says she was Sarah Ann Deakin.
19 June 1859 at St Edmunds Dudley.
https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_queries/new?locale=en&search_id=682d0e3bb620e007d3577517

Not really enough time to then have a 'grandson' aged 6 in 1871.

John Thomas Greenfield registered Dec  quarter 1860 West Bromwich mother's maiden name Deakin
https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/indexes_search.asp

This looks his baptism in 1863 at Oldbury; father William, mother Sarah.
https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_queries/682d04e0b620e007d356c5e3?locale=en

Baptised the same day Ann Maria Greenfield.

No corresponding registration for her on the gro.
Added: Her birth registered March quarter 1863 at West Bromwich
https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/indexes_search.asp#Results

Dudley to Oldbury 3 miles, and West Browmich 2 miles from Oldbury.
All very close to the Worcestershire/Staffordshire border, so you'll need to search both counties if searching by County.

All these are records from free sites.
gro.gov.uk
and freereg.org.uk.
 
It's just a matter of spending time going between the two.
Normally I would add in familysearch.org as another free site, but it has not had these records today.

[goldie61]

I can't see a registration of a possible early death for either a 'John Thomas  Greenfield', or an 'Ann Maria Greenfield', but there are possible ones for just a John, or just an Ann. Parents names are  not given for burials on the gro site.
It would pay you to check these out more thoroughly. Even look for a Thomas or a Maria of the right age.

You'd have thought if they were born in 1863 and still alive, they would have been in the 1871 Census. Perhaps they were staying with some other relatives that night?

[softly softly]

Just a small point. When the William Henry Greenfield married Sarah Ann Deakin in 1859 the transcript on FindMyPast has his father recorded as John not Edward.

Also
GREENFIELD, ANN  MARIA ELIZABETH    DEAKIN
GRO Reference: 1863  M Quarter in WEST BROMWICH  Volume 06B  Page 655

If ages are correct for William & Sarah on 1871 census Sarah born c1797 is far to old to be bearing children from 1860 onwards.

SS

[softly softly]

1861 & 1871  census for William Henry Greenfield, Sarah Ann Deakin & son John Thomas

William H   Greenfield   Head   Married   Male   24   1837   Iron miner   Dawley, Shropshire, England
Sarah A   Greenfield   Wife   Married   Female   22   1839   -   Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England
John T   Greenfield   Son   -   Male   0   1861   -   Oldbury, Worcestershire, England

---------

William Henry   Greenfield   Head   -   Male   35   1836   Coal haulein   Dawley, Shropshire, England
Sarah Ann   Greenfield   Wife   -   Female   32   1839   -   Brodegroue, Worcestershire, England
John Thomas   Greenfield   Son   -   Male   9   1862   Scholar   Oldbury, Worcestershire, England
Ann Maria   Greenfield   Daughter   -   Female   7   1864   -   Oldbury, Worcestershire, England
William Henry   Greenfield   Son   -   Male   4   1867   -   Oldbury, Worcestershire, England
SS

[FrancisGrn]

This is really odd. If William Henry Greenfield is listed in 1871 with his parents, he can't be the grandson of my man. And what to make of this?
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8860/records/8796570
Sarah Greenfield b. 1797 in 1851, listed as 'married' it seems (though very hard to tell if this is an M or a U) though not living with a husband, but a 'relative' of Benjamin Greenfield b. 1786 Dudley. Meanwhile, our William entered 'unmarried' in 1851. In both cases, if they really had children they must have had them long before, since they are already quite old in '51. What on earth could be going on?
FG