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Hi All,

I need help with an elusive pair.

William Morris abt 1818 - 1893 Priscilla Price abt 1819 - 1894

Theses are my gt gt grandparents, maternal line. Their son John married Harriet Platt , their youngest child was my grandmother (my mother's mother)

They married in 1852, this is the first time I can find anything about them in official documents, they are on censuses after this date with their family.

Known Facts.

Have marriage cert. Married 25 Sept. 1852 St James's Church Dudley. Dudley is in Staffs/Worcestershire according to when looking.

Priscilla, she is a spinster, no occupation living in Dudley, father Charles Price a labourer. In censuses she states born in Staffordshire.

William Morris, bachelor, miner, living in Dudley, father Joseph Bodin a shoemaker. In censuses he always states he's from Northamptonshire and on 1 from Towcester Northants.

Witnesses Elizabeth Webb and Edmund Morris.

No idea of age or relationships of witnesses but all except Elizabeth Webb were able to sign their names.

I know that these are very common names, had hoped Priscilla would be a help but can't find anything prior to 1852.

The name Joseph Bodin for the father of William is a bit of a conundrum and being a Boden for over 40 years myself, have had the following spellings of the name, Bowden, Bodin, Bouden, Borden, Bowdan.

Have thought of several reasons why Joseph is named. William's parents weren't married so he had mother's surname but his father was known. William's father was a Morris and died when William was young, mother married again to Joseph ,perhaps the only father he knew, so he acknowledged him by naming him as father. Joseph was his father and died, mother married a Morris and he took the name Morris from the time of the marriage. Both these 2 are in their 30s, a late marriage, has 1 or have both something to hide and information may not be truthful.

Their names and area where they were born seem to be constant.

I am going cross eyed trying to find anything on these 2, so I need fresh eyes in case I've missed something or have discarded some info I shouldn't have in looking for them.

Hope someone can show some light on the 2.

Thank you

Pat :-)

Is this Priscilla on the 1841 census ?

Name Sex Age Birth Year Occupation Where born Image

PRICE, Willm M 68 1773 Worcestershire
PRICE, Ann F 64 1777 Worcestershire
PRICE, Charles M 28 1813 Worcestershire
PRICE, Priscilla F 23 1818 Worcestershire
Piece: 1202
Book/Folio: 3/10
Page: 14
Registration District: Martley
Civil Parish: Lindridge
Municipal Borough:
Address: Barnbrooke's Place, Lindridge, Pensax
County: Worcestershire


EDIT: Just re-read posting, not her as she says father Charles Price.

Hi Pam,

Father of that household a William not Charles, Charles is her brother by the look of it. have discounted this one because of what is on the marriage cert.

Thanks

Pat :-)

I know it says on the marriage cert that she was a spinster but......she coul dhave been married before?

Is this the family in 61?


1861 England Census
about Pricilla Morris
Name: Pricilla Morris
Age: 40
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1821
Relation: Wife
Spouse's Name: William Morris
Gender: Female
Where born: Dudley, Worcestershire, England

Civil parish: Walsall Foreign
Ecclesiastical parish: St John
Town: Walsall
County/Island: Staffordshire
Country: England

Registration district: Walsall
Sub-registration district: Walsall
ED, institution, or vessel: 20
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 12
Piece: 2014
Folio: 59
Page Number: 3
Household Members: Name Age
William Morris 40
Pricilla Morris 40
William Morris 7
Walter Morris 2
John Morris 1
Catharine Dunn 11
Finney Sirdefield 35
Ambrose Hegin 24

Hi Gins,

I did say 1 or both could have something to hide, she does say father is a Charles Price, I have a feeling that there's something wrong here but what?

Thanks

Pat

Yes Gins,

John is my gt grandfather, he married Harriet Platt.

Pat

She may not have known her father and entered the name of her grandfather or just a random name, plucked out of the sky?

Had a look but cant see anything obvious at the moment. Have you got a birth cert for one of her children?

32/32 was a little old for a first marriage back then, I do suspect 'Price' could have been her married name

No Gins.

Only the marriage cert. Was always curious about these 2 as most of my relatives married young. Always felt there was something hidden here, was surprised when I found marriage on Family search re Joseph Bodin.

I sent for marriage cert. to have the full picture but as told by the couple. Edmund may have been a relative or just someone else with the surname Morris.

Pat

I think I would opt for a birth cert of one of her children to check what she lists her maiden as

Is 'Bodin' the surname for Williams father?

Yes Gins - odd isn't it

Pat

Sorry have to go to get my passport photo taken in the next village. Should only take a few minutes or half a day (it is Cyprus).

I will check here as soon as I get back, thanks for your help.

Pat
:-)

All done, am back if anyone wants to ask any question.

Pat :-)

is this William Morris in 1851 - note the WEBB connection (possibly the Elizabeth Webb who was a witness at his wedding?)

(although age is quite a way out!)


1851

RG number: HO107
Piece: 2067
Folio: 17
Page: 26
Reg. District: Coventry
Sub District: St Michaels & St Johns
Parish: St Michaels Coventry
Enum. District: 1
Ecclesiastical District: St Michaels
City/Municipal Borough: Coventry
Address: Bailey Lane, St Michaels Coventry, Coventry
County: Warwickshire


WEBB, John Head Married M 23 1828 Brick Layer
Towcester, Northamptonshire
WEBB, Elizabeth Wife Married F 26 1825 Wife
Bugbookla, Northamptonshire
WEBB, Horatia N Visitor Married M 45 1806 Bricklayer
Towcester, Northamptonshire
>>>>>NORRIS, William Visitor Unmarried M 20 1831 Bricklayer
Towcester, Northamptonshire
WEBB, Nelson Visitor Unmarried M 18 1833 Bricklayer
Towcester, Northamptonshire
WEBB, Charlotte Visitor Unmarried F 14 1837 Servant
Towcester, Northamptonshire

Great find Choccy but the age is about 10 years out, he had several jobs so bricklayer could be one of them.

Like the link to Elizabeth though. One to keep in mind

Thank you

Pat :-)