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Hi Everyone,
Im a bit confused with some of my research and was hoping someone might be able to help me get to the bottom of it.
My grandmother's father was Joseph Bradshaw b.1895 in lancashire. His father was James Bradshaw b. 1847 and his mother was Mary Theresa Stevenson b. approx 1870 (both lancashire).
Mary was quite a bit younger than James as he had been married before. I have their marriage certificate and from that i worked out that Mary must have been born around 1868. On the marriage cert Mary's father is noted as Adam Stevenson.
I have the 1911 census info and it states Mary Theresa Bradshaw age 43, noted as a widow and Joseph (my grt grandfather) is there along with his brothers John w and Bertie.
I have struggled to find a birth for Mary and some kind people on here have tried to help me search for one but it looked as though Mary was born in 1874. I have since ordered this birth certificate and it shows Mary born 1874 in Preston, Lancashire, father Adam stevenson and mother Mary stevenson formally Cowell.
I also have adam and mary's marriage certificate and they married in preston in 1868 and adam's father is noted as daniel stevenson and mary's father is noted as John cowell.
So it looks as though this is the correct birth for Mary but i wonder if she was lying about her age?
Can anyone help? i hope this all makes sense.
Thanks for your help,

Hannah

When where James and Mary married? I cannot find the marriage on FreeBMD.
Was she of age if born in 1874? If under age, she may have added a few years so she would appear to be of age. She may then have continued the fib on until 1911.

Hi, they married in 1888, so if she really was born in 1874 then that would make her 14. she was claiming to be 20.

Possible-who were the witnesses at the wedding-were they family? that might give you a clue-was it at a church local to where the families lived or did they remove themselves! Might just give you some clues-also was ther a child born evry soon after the marriage-could she have ben pregnant and 'had' to marry?

Only other thing is-This happened to me!

Mary may have had a youger sister called Mary (Born 1874) but actually been born something else herself-the younger sister really called Mary Died and then after that your 'Mary' she was known as Mary-too keep a family name going-just a thought. Have you looked at Mary 1874's family-just see what sisters there were-Maybe Mary may have been a middle name of your 'Mary'. Clutching at straws I know but it may explain it.

The only Mary Stevenson on Ancestry on 1881 and 1891 censuses with a father named Adam shows on both as being born approx. 1875 in Preston, Lancs and living on both in Ulverston, Lancs. Adam's wife on both is Mary.

This is the Mary you have a birth cert for.

However, bear in mind, that she wouldn't have had to prove who her father was to name him on her marriage cert and so you could have some other Mary who chose to say her father was Adam Stevenson, perhaps because she was illegitimate.

she married near James family rather than her own family and the witness was Mary Magdalena?! or something like that, the name is hard to read. none of the witnesses were close family. Also, she had a baby in 1889 which is quite soon after the wedding.

I wonder if that is the right birth though? There is a Mary with father Adam in 1891, after the marriage you have:

1891 England Census

Name: Mary Stevenson
Age: 16
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1875
Relation: Daughter
Father's Name: Adam
Mother's Name: Mary
Gender: Female
Where born: Preston, Lancashire, England

Civil parish: Ulverston
Ecclesiastical parish: St Mary
Town: Ulverston
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England

Registration district: Ulverston
Sub-registration district: Ulverston

Adam Stevenson 47
Mary Stevenson 44
John Stevenson 20
Mary Stevenson 16
Grace E Stevenson 14
Harry Stevenson 8
Hettie Stevenson 4
James Stevenson 2

its all very confusing. i also dont know where the "theresa" bit came from because she is def referring to herself a mary theresa later on.

now im really confused!

So, this is your Mary and James?

Name: Mary T Bradshaw
Age: 25
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1866
Relation: Wife
Spouse's Name: James
Gender: Female
Where born: Preston, Lancashire, England

Civil parish: Dilworth
Ecclesiastical parish: St Lawrence
Town: Longridge
County/Island: Lancashire

Registration district: Preston
Sub-registration district: Alston

Name Age
James Bradshaw 44
Mary T Bradshaw 25
Thomas Bradshaw 20
Edward Bradshaw 28
Arthur Bradshaw 15
James Bradshaw 12
Mary Ellen Bradshaw 8
George Bradshaw 1

Keith - here is the marriage:

Marriages Sep 1888
BRADSHAW James Preston 8e 901
STEVENSON Mary Theresa Preston 8e 901

Jan

She was definitely a spinster was she when she married in 1888-Just wondered if she was a very young widow-obviiously she would have then had a diffreent birth name-not what we're looking for!-sorry to ask basic questions but exploring all avenues.

yes Janet, that is the marriage.i wonder if there is a mary theresa stevenson anywhere on the census without parents maybe?

its a good question fairy- she was def a spinster when she married. James had been married before and had some children from his previous marriage.

Well, who can say!

1881 England Census

Name: Mary Stevenson
Age: 16
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1865
Relation: Servant
Gender: Female
Where born: Preston, England

Civil parish: Toxteth Park
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England

Street Address: 56 South Hill Road

Occupation: Dom Servant

Registration district: Toxteth Park
Sub-registration district: Toxteth Park
ED, institution, or vessel: 55

Jan

Hmmmm now that could be her also.