Liverpool Machells

[BridgetM]

James Machell married Mary Rigby 7 May 1830. He’s a Bookkeeper.
Their first son Thomas Machell is baptised 23 December 1830. His father is an Agent and lives on Leeds Street.
Their second son, Thomas Rigby Machell, is baptised 6 February 1831. His father is a Bookkeeper, and lives on Leeds Street.

My first questions: either the first son was born much earlier than December 1830 for the second son to be baptised 7 weeks later. Or were Thomas and Thomas Rigby the same child? If not, can anyone find a burial for a Thomas Machell before February 1831?

Second questioned: can anyone find out what happed to James Machell and Mary nee Rigby? They seem to disappear after the baptism of Thomas Rigby Machell.

Thomas Rigby Machell was living with his uncle, George Moulton Rigby, a watchmaker, in 1841. George Moulton Rigby died 5 July 1841 of Consumption.

Can anyone find Thomas Rigby Machell in 1851? He married in 1854, and fathered 12 children, and is found in all the censuses until he died 28 February 1909.

[Milliepede]

What was his residence at the time of the 1854 marriage?

Was it just himself and George in 1841 or were there other household members?

[BridgetM]

Thomas Rigby Machell was a Blacksmith living on Baptist Street in 1854 when he married in Liverpool.

In 1841 he was 10, living in Walton on the Hill with George Rigby, 29, Watchmaker, and Sarah Rigby, 30, Dressmaker.

[Mabel Bagshawe]

Wondering if this is him on 1851 in Everton

Piece 2189, folio 362, page 17

Mary Lowe   48  Head
James Lowe  18
Mary Lowe    9
Charls Lowe    11
Ann Wharton  23  Daughter
Wm Watson  23   
Thos Watson 1
Thos Mitchel    18    Nephew   b Liverpool, watch finisher (not sure of second word)

[BridgetM]

I don’t think it is? I’ve done a bit of research on the Rigby side of the family, and haven’t encountered any Lowes.

[Mabel Bagshawe]

Some further digging identified that Mary's maiden name was Eccleston so indeed I may be on the wrong track

[Wexflyer]

Their first son Thomas Machell is baptised 23 December 1830. His father is an Agent and lives on Leeds Street.
Their second son, Thomas Rigby Machell, is baptised 6 February 1831. His father is a Bookkeeper, and lives on Leeds Street.

My first questions: either the first son was born much earlier than December 1830 for the second son to be baptised 7 weeks later. Or were Thomas and Thomas Rigby the same child? If not, can anyone find a burial for a Thomas Machell before February 1831?

My theory:
There was only one son - would not have two children named Thomas. Now one is not supposed to be baptized twice, so what happened? I suspect the parents realized they wanted the child to have a second Christian name, and believed that that required to be given in baptism. So they brought the child back and had a second baptism, with the clergy being unaware of the previous one.

[BridgetM]

I’m beginning to think there was only one child, too.

[LizzieL]

Do you have James Machell's baptism date? There was a James Mackrel buried Q2 1841 age 41. The 1841 census was taken on 6th June, so if he died in April or May he would have missed it