Genealogy Chat

Firstly: Charlotte FROST (1804) married George CANT91807) in 1832. Daughter Martha Elizabeth CANT is b 1843. She marries William Thomas CROSS DecQ 1869 and has a son in 187o Named Arthur W CROSS. Secondly :John SHEEPERD and his wife Elizabeth have a daughter Hephziba Elizabeth SHEEPERD in 1829. After a marriage to a SADLER (which I cant find but have children of, with her as a widow) she marries Henry H CURTIS. In 1891 Census Arthur W CROSS is in household of Hephziba Curtis as 'nephew' I can't see how this relationship occurs........ Most events are in Brightlingsea area. Can anyone work it out? Peter

probably isnt correct relationship

Could it be that Henry H Curtis was a widower whose earlier wife had been a sister of either Martha Elizabeth Cant or William Thomas Cross?

Jess - of course possible, but if he is unrelated what is he doing there? What else could nephew mean? Roger - always possible but i can't find anyone that fits - looks like only solution will be certificate. I can't find any connection between the families - Anyone else ideas?? Peter

It doesn't look as though Henry Curtis was a widower - on the 1861 census (taken in April '61), he was a seaman, and is shown as unmarried: Name: Henery Hardy Curtis Age: 24 Relation: A B Seman Gender: Male Where born: Great Clacton, Essex, England Civil parish: Vessels Town: Dover Harbour County/Island: Kent Country: England Source information: RG9/4481 Registration district: Anglesey Sub-registration district: Holyhead ED, institution, or vessel: United Friends Folio: 44 Then he married Hephizbah by June of that year: Marriages Jun 1861 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Curtis Henry Hardy Lexden 4a 404B Sadler Hephibzah Elizabeth Lexden 4a 404B One possible avenue to explore - what if Arthur was actually a nephew of Heph's first marriage, the mysterious Mr Sadler? Or possibly the connection is another generation back (which technically would have made him a 1st cousin once removed, though more likely to be described as a nephew on the census). Richard

Thanks Richard - I'll go and explore Gt Clacton to see who comes from there - this is going to take time....... peter

A couple of my Scottish relatives' deaths (husband and wife) were registered by their 'nephew', who was actually the husband of the great-niece of the wife. Could it be something like that? Anyway, I'll have a look and see if I come up with any ideas. Kate.

First thing from looking at the 1891 census is that because the head of household isn't there, and Hephizepah is described as 'wife' and Arthur as 'nephew', it should mean that Arthur is Henry's nephew rather than Hep's. Though of course they would be unlikely to put 'wife's nephew' in. Kate.

Next idea is that as Jess suggested, 'nephew' is wrong and it should be 'visitor'. Perhaps Arthur was just a crew-mate of Shepherd J. Curtis? (They are both described as 'able seaman') Kate.

This is probably not going to help with the 'nephew' question, but there is a marriage Jun 1851 of Shephard, Hephzibah Elizabeth, district Lexden, volume XII page 170. There is a marriage in the same quarter for Sadler, Wm Frederick, district Lexden, but the page number is missing (it would have been in the bottom corner of the page, and it looks as though that corner has worn off), so I can't tell if the page number matches. There aren't any other Sadlers who married in Lexden in that quarter, though, so I would guess it is the right one. There is a William Sadler death Sep 1855 at Lexden, which may or may not be him. Can't think of much else for now. Kate.

Thanks vey much Kate - looks as though you have solved the Sadler mystery - she had a 5 year gap in having chilren from 55 until the second marriage so the death looks right - only birth I haven't found now is Fanny E Sadler c 1856 which will confirm it because I will need her bc. I am really enjoying this search - mainly because of the collateral data I'm getting on others from the census - all of which is putting a big jigsaw together. I wonder if tracking Wm Sadler in the 51 census would give me any sisters of his ...then get their families.....jigsaw gets bigger!! Peter