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Hi
i've just been looking on the 1851 census for a relative and i was lucky enough to have found him, but what i don't understand is that he has a different surname to mother(if it is his mother)
Mary Mason 47
John Mason 17
Joseph Winder 40
Henry Roberts 6

My relative being henry roberts it states he is an illegitimate son. Dosen't say if Mary is his mother. I tried thinking that maybe Henry had Mary's maiden name.

any help would be great

Katherine, hope you don't mind, but I am putting the whole thing as it might make things clearer:

1851 England Census

Name: Henry Roberts
Age: 6
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1845
Relation: Illeg To Son
Gender: Male
Where born: Doncaster, Yorkshire, England

Civil parish: Doncaster
County/Island: Yorkshire

Registration district: Doncaster
Sub-registration district: Doncaster

Mary Mason 47
John Mason 17
Joseph Winder 40
Henry Roberts 6

Jan

thanks Janet. Thats what i have been thinking, but i don't understand the Roberts bit. If Mason is her maiden name where does Roberts fit in. I wouldn't have thought she would have named him after his Father(or i wouldn't have thought so anyway)

It seems very strange - Mary has an older son, after all, called Mason. Maybe he is named after his father? Hard to read but Mary looks unmarried rather than a widow. As Mary is head of household, relationships should relate to her, so he should in theory be her son.
Jan

No chance it could be a complete error? I know this is mad, but can't find a Henry Roberts birth in Doncaster but there is this:

Births Mar 1845 (>99%)
MASON Henry Doncaster 22 9[5]

Just out of interest, how have you found him? I assume you have traced him back - so is there any chance of a marriage for him?

Jan

i don't know to be sure i have found Henry on the 71,81,91 census married to a Matilda, so by going by the dates and place?

The only other peculiar thing is the placing of Henry on the census return. You would expect him to be below John if he is mary's son. Could he be Joseph Winder's son I wonder?
Jan

Keep this on the back-burner:

Marriages Sep 1869 (>99%)
GRUNDY Matilda Doncaster 9c 673
Roberts Henry Doncaster 9c 673
Ross Andrew Doncaster 9c 673
WAINMAN Eliza Anne Doncaster 9c 673

Jan

I've just looked on the 71 census again and guess what i missed the first time round, there is a Mary Winder 66 mother and on the census is Henry Roberts and wife Matilda, but i still don't understand the Roberts(where has it come from)

Have you seen the 1871?

1871 England Census
about Henry Roberts
Name: Henry Roberts
Age: 26
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1845
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Matilda
Mother's Name: Mary
Gender: Male
Where born: Doncaster, Yorkshire, England
Civil parish: Epworth
County/Island: Lincolnshire
Country: England
Registration district: Thorne
Sub-registration district: Epworth
ED, institution, or vessel: 2
Household schedule number: 111
Household Members: Name Age
Henry Roberts 26
Matilda Roberts 20
John Roberts 10 months
<<<<<<Mary Winder 66 mother


Christine

thanks for that Christine, belive it or not i did read the 71 census but totally failed to see his mothers name. lol

Do you have his marriage cert, does it name a father?

1861 England Census
about Mary Winder
Name: Mary Winder
Age: 57
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1804
Relation: Wife
Spouse's Name: Joseph
Gender: Female
Where born: Doncaster, Yorkshire, England

Civil parish: Doncaster
Town: Doncaster
County/Island: Yorkshire
Country: England


Registration district: Doncaster
Sub-registration district: Doncaster
ED, institution, or vessel: 1
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 75
Household Members: Name Age
Joseph Winder 50
Mary Winder 57

Christine

no, sorry i haven't got that far.

The plot thickens! Looks to me like he is Mary's son and she married Joseph Wilder later, or at least took up with him. A good starting theory anyway. Of course Joseph could actually be his father. What a shame he has such a common name!
Jan

Maybe look for a child's birth? A real long route but would give Matilda's name:

881 England Census

Name: Charles G... Roberts
Age: 4
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1877
Relation: Son
Father's Name: Henry
Mother's Name: Matilda
Gender: Male
Where born: Doncaster, Yorkshire, England

Civil parish: Doncaster
County/Island: Yorkshire
Country: England

Street Address: 8 Tootle Yard

Registration district: Doncaster
Sub-registration district: Doncaster

Name Age
Henry Roberts 36
Matilda Roberts 35
John Roberts 10
Ada Roberts 9
Charles G... Roberts 4
Arthur Roberts 2
Thomas Roberts

The original is terrible, but seeing the birth below it does say Charles Grundy.


Birth:

Births Dec 1876 (>99%)
ROBERTS Charles Grundy Doncaster 9c 722

Aha! Just noticed the Matilda in the marriage I suggested above was a Grundy! Looks promising I think - and hope!
Jan

i do have Henry married to Matilda,(Matilda is a Grundy,)but still don't understand the Wilder bit. I've tried looking to see if is mother Mary was married before, but haven't found anything yet.

Well, why not get the marriage cert and find out who his father was.
Jan