John and Elizabeth Mary coward

[Milliepede]

Doesn’t help with what happened to yours does it. 

Only one child does imply a death or break up of the relationship.  Have you checked for any other births on the GRO index just in case?

I guess one of them could have remarried so could look for that.

[Mel2345]

Yes I have looked and couldn’t find anymore children for them.

I wondered if a John Coward’s marriage to a Sarah Lunt in 1865 was him as age and location match up but no sign of him being a mariner on kids birth records with her and says he was a bachelor on their marriage doc (which assuming Elizabeth died I would think it would say widow?) So nothing to really rule out or say for sure it is.

[Milliepede]

Your John had a father William, do you have the father’s name for the one who married Sarah? **

If your couple just separated he could have remarried, shouldn’t have but it did happen. 

** father William Coward blacksmith - does that match the 1863 marriage?

One of the witnesses looks like Miles Coward

[Mel2345]

Yes the one who married Sarah, his father is also William. It says that William is a blacksmith (if I’ve read it right) which I believe my John’s William was a joiner throughout the census years.

Okay so there’s a possibility neither of them died (I don’t know if that makes this easier or harder haha)

[Milliepede]

Was Elizabeth pregnant at the time of the marriage?  That could be a reason to “do the right thing” but didn’t work out long term.

Who were the witnesses to that marriage please?

[hanes teulu]

John's 1863 marriage licence/bond appears under "Cheshire Marriage Licence bonds" The form reads "aged .......... and upwards" and "21 years" has been entered in the space provided. This has been transcribed as "born 1842" which does not reflect his 1831 baptism (opening post).

There is a later 1868 licence entry for a John Coward, mariner marrying a Mary Jane Grigg. Again the space "aged ....... and upwards" has been completed with "21 years" with both bride and groom being transcribed as "born 1847".

The Parish mentioned is "Walton" which links to the 1866 Walton on the Hill death of an Elizabeth Coward.
John Coward's address on the 1868 licence is 13 Buck Road, ......... on the Hill" - cannot make out if it is Walton.

Added - I initially checked licence for marriage status and failed to spot it. However, revisiting record I see "bachelor" - not the "widower" I was hoping for.  Married Holy Trinity, Walton. Sight of marriage cert. required?

[hanes teulu]

There's a Mary Jane Coward on the '71 Census, age 27, 63 Plumpton Street - described under "Occupation" as "Chief Mate's wife".

Head of Household William Grigg - also grandson Harold W Coward, age 1.

[heywood]

Harold William Quine  Coward b 1869 mmn Grigg

Burial for the above 1875 Anfield Cemetery - residence 19 Holland Stree

[hanes teulu]

John and Mary Jane Coward had 4 children 1870-1878, all registered with mother's maiden name Grigg.

3 baptismal records - 2 with "mariner" as occupation, 1 with "master mariner".