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Can anyone help me make sense of this? My relative William Head (born c.1833 in Wigton, Cumberland) is listed in the 1871 census in Preston - a widower age 38 with his 7 children (ages 14-1). William Head married Margaret Maria Braithwaite in Preston in 1856/Dec. A Margaret Braithwaite died in Preston in 1871/Mar. So far so good, although I can't find them in the 1861 census.

LancashireBMD lists details of the births of all 7 children in Preston, but with 2 different "mothers maiden name". The first 3 children are listed with maiden name BRAITHWAITE. The last 4 children are listed with maiden name TYRER.

Details:
John b:1857; Elizabeth Jane b:1859; Mary Ann b:1861 (all Braithwaite).
William Edward b:1864; Thomas b:1866; Margaret Alice b:1869; and Arthur b:1870 (all Tyrer).

I can't find any marriage reference to Tyrer, although without a first name there's not much to go on. Is there any way I can further this without formally applying for the birth certificates of the children? I only have membership with GR.

Any advice would be appreciated!

????

Baptisms: 24 Nov 1868 St Mark, Preston, Lancashire, England
Margaret Alice Head - Child of William Head & Margarett
Abode: 22.Fylde Road
Occupation: Overlooker
Baptised by: Thos Johnson
Register: Baptisms 1863 - 1871, Page 59, Entry 468
Source: LDS Film 1471020

http://www.lan-opc.org.uk/Search/indexp.html

????

Baptisms: 1 May 1864 St Saviour, Bamber Bridge, Lancashire, England
William Edward Head - Child of William Head & Margaret
Abode: Garlic St. Preston
Occupation: Overlooker
Baptised by: Wm. Wignall
Register: Baptisms 1837 - 1880, Page 179, Entry 1427
Source: LDS Film 1471151

Baptisms: 1 May 1864 St Saviour, Bamber Bridge, Lancashire, England
William Edward Head - Child of William Head & Margaret
Abode: Garlic St. Preston
Occupation: Overlooker
Baptised by: Wm. Wignall


Baptisms: 24 Nov 1868 St Mark, Preston, Lancashire, England
Margaret Alice Head - Child of William Head & Margarett
Abode: 22.Fylde Road
Occupation: Overlooker
Baptised by: Thos Johnson

Thanks both - I guess this could be either Margaret Head (i.e. Margaret Maria Braithwaite) or it could be Margaret Tyrer? Any way of checking this out?

" A Margaret Braithwaite died in Preston in 1871"

Wouldn't be her then, her name would have been Mrs Head

More likely


Burial: 7 Jan 1871 St John, Preston, Lancashire, England
Margaret Head -
Age: 32
Abode: Livesey St
Buried by: E. Lee

Sorry Mike - was my mistake - right death, wrong reference! Apologies if I lead you astray!

Rgds, Gill

I would check out this certificate to see if she was William's widow

Deaths Mar 1871
Head Margaret - 32 - Preston 8e 350

Does the age match?

Mike - There was a Margaret Braithwaite born Preston in 1839, so the age match is looking OK.

But I'm no nearer finding out who the missing "Tyrer" lady was! (Or even whether there may be an error on LancsBMD - I'm a bit new to all of this, so don't have much experience).

You could always check out the children's birth certificates for confirmation of mother's name.

Search freebmd for details of the "suspect children"

LINK :
http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/cgi/search.pl

There's a Margaret Tyrer on the 1851 census in Preston, the right age. Parents are John & Elizabeth Tyrer. She's 5 years older than the next child which made me wonder if she was an illegitimate child of the mother before she was married and was born a Braithwaite and then taken stepfather's name. Couldn't find a marriage though to substantiate my theory.

Oh yes!!! Here's a marriage to substantiate my theory:

TYRER, John Marriage
Wife: Elizabeth BRAITHWAITE
Marriage Date: 30 Sep 1839 Recorded in: Bamber-bridge, Lancashire, England
Husband's Father: William TYRER
Wife's Father: Robert BRAITHWAITE
Source: FHL Film 1471151 Dates: 1839 - 1900

Mike - I tried FreeBMD first, but it's before the point at which mothers maiden name was recorded.
The info I did find came from LancashireBMD (online). I wasn't sure whether there might be other sources around that recorded mothers/maiden names - it's a steep learning curve in the early days!

Last resort will have to be to put my hand in my pocket and get certificates!
Thanks for your help - it's much appreciated - and very reassuring!

Rgds, Gill

The maiden name will be still be on the child's birth certificate even though they don't show up on the index until after 1911.

You can apply online ( at £9.25 each) from the General Registry Office
LINK :
http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates


EDIT
Actually, MadBull seems to have solved it.

Maragaret Maria was born Braithwaite but then her mum married Tyrer so she probably used both names at times.

One and the same mother for all children I would bet.

MadBull - wow, that takes a bit of getting my head around! This novice has a lot to learn! It'll give me something to do this weekend.

Thanks for the lead to follow up - much appreciated!

Rgds, Gill

OOhh drattt!!! -MadBull!

I have just followed that ver 'theory' through and come to the same info but you beat me to it!

Well done though!

Dea x

Thanks one and all - I'm amazed (and very grateful) at just how generous you all are with your time in helping out.

Best to all ... Gill

Lancashire Birth indexes for the years: 1839

BRAITHWAITE Margaret - Preston Preston - Mother BRAITHWAITE

Sorry about that, Dea, but it makes up for all the times that you beat me to it!