1881 Census Help - Lodger mystery!

[SazCorri]

I have the 1881 census in Wolverhampton, UK. My ancestors are listed as lodgers aged 9 & 6 with a couple who do not have their surname (I can find no relation). I'm curious to see if anyone knows whether there would be any records to show how and why these 2 children became lodgers with a presumably unrelated family.

[jorose]

Hi there,

Do you know if their parents were both still living at this point and where/how employed?
If it was a private arrangement there may be no surviving paperwork.

[CaroleW]

Have you found their parents on the 1881 census?

If you post details of the children & parents we can see if we can help

[SazCorri]

On the census we have;

John Street, St Peters, Wolverhampton

Thomas Lewis, Head 37.  Grocer Porter  B. Bridgnorth, Shropshire
Elizabeth Lewis, Wife 36.  B. Letternahll, Staffordshire 
Edith Hughes, Lodger 9.     B: Pontesbury, Shropshire
Joseph Hughes, Lodger 6.    B: Pontesbury, Shropshire

I have found their Father in the 1881 Census as Joseph Hughes, Blacksmith in Banbury, Oxfordshire but their mother Elizabeth Hughes (nee Edwards) I have been unable to trace any information since the birth of her son Joseph Clement Hughes in 1874. Joseph Clement went on to be an habitual criminal in which one newspaper article says he was neglected by his mother - so perhaps a clue as to why they were living there.

The Lewis's went on to house more lodgers in the 1891 census.

Thanks so much for helping!

[CaroleW]

Pontesbury came under the Atcham Reg District & Joseph Clement Hughes birth reg was 1874 mmn Edwards

There is no birth reg for Edith under Hughes in Shropshire with mmn Edwards but there is one in Clun RD Dec qtr 1872 with no mmn indicating she was illegitimate

There are 2 births for an Edith Edwards in Atcham in 1871 & 1872 - both illegitimate.

Joseph Hughes & Elizabeth Edwards married 1872 Atcham so I suspect Edith was illegitimate

[CaroleW]

There are these births in the Atcham RD - all with mmn Edwards

Eleanor 1875
Edwin 1877
Elizabeth Dec 1879
John Dec 1879 but not same page number so not a twin

[KGarrad]

My twin brother and I are on consecutive pages!
So, it does happen.

[CaroleW]

Good point - but Elizabeth was page 659 & John was 674.  However -  their births could have been registered separately. 

[SazCorri]

From the information I've gathered Edith was born in 1871 illegitimately then Elizabeth & Joesph married in 1872 in Shrewsbury and then went on to have Joseph Clement.

I know their father Joseph Hughes remarried in 1881 to Susannah Butler in which he states he is a widow.

The burning question is what happened to their mother something which is still a mystery after many death certificates ordered! and why the children ended up as lodgers with the Lewis's? - I suppose this may be a question which I will never find the answer.

Thanks again!