A TWIST IN THE TALE OF WILLIAM SHULVER AND ELIZABETH JANE TURNER - RESEARCHING DURING LOCKDOWN

IS THERE A TWIST IN MY TALE ? AND RESEARCHING IN LOCKDOWN!

St Mary the Virgin, Dedham, Essex, 2019 ©

In my last blog post I wrote about how, when researching my OSBORN family in DEDHAM, ESSEX, and their connection to my TURNER family from Suffolk, I discovered a multi- generational pattern of migration between Essex and Suffolk.  My research into the Osborn family in Essex began after discovering that the Dedham parish records were available on the Essex Records Office's website, Essex Archives Online. My Turner family in Suffolk was well known to me, since I had been investigating this family for many years. 

It was while looking into my Essex, OSBORN ancestors that I discovered a TWIST in the research I had conducted into my Suffolk, TURNER family years earlier. Intriguingly, the twist involved both the Osborn and Turner families. 

I knew from census records, that my 4th great grandmother, Ann Mayer Turner (nee OSBORN) was born in Dedham, Essex, but because the parish records for Dedham had not been available, I had not researched her Essex roots. In my last blog post I revealed how I discovered family connections between two counties and the reason that Ann Mayer Osborn had left Dedham, Essex to marry in Ipswich Suffolk. You can read that blog post and the introduction to this post here. 

Baptism of Orina Clement OSBORN 24 June 1805 [1]

Orina Clement Osborn was the youngest sister of my 4th great grandmother, Ann Mayer Turner (nee Osborn) and both were born in the village of Dedham in  Essex. At the age of 30, Orina married William SHULVER at St Nicholas Church, Ipswich in Suffolk. The marriage took place on 31 March 1834 [2]. 

At the time of the 1841 census, William and Orina Shulver (Osborn) were living in St Margaret's Ditches (now Crown Street) [3] about five minutes walking distance from her sister Ann Mayer Turner (Osborn) and her family in Clay Road (now Old Foundry Road). Orina's husband of four years William Shulver was employed as a Wheelwright. This census record indicates that Orina's husband William was born in Suffolk in 1804 [4]. 

 

St Margaret's Ditches (Crown ST) to Clay Rd (Old Foundry Rd) Google Maps 

Orina Clement Osborn and William SHULVER had two children who were shown in the 1841 census as William aged 3 and Susan Clement aged 1. [5] William Shulver junior was baptised on 4 March 1838 at St Margaret's, Ipswich, Suffolk [6]. Susan, who was baptised at St Margaret's, Ipswich on 20 September 1840 [7]  died just over a year later on 10 October 1841 [8]. 

William and Orina Clement SHULVER in the 1841 census with children, William 3 and Susan 1. [9]

The name SHULVER leapt out at me immediately, because from my research into my TURNER family, I knew that Elizabeth Jane Turner, (born 1832) [10], the youngest daughter of my 4th great grandmother Ann Mayer Osborne and husband William Turner, had also married a man named William SHULVER in Ipswich in 1855 [11]. 

So, not only had my 4th great grandmother's daughter Elizabeth Jane Turner married a man named William Shulver in Ipswich, Suffolk in 1855, but my 4th great grandmother's sister, Orina Clement Osborn, had also married a man named William Shulver in Ipswich, Suffolk, 17 years earlier in 1834. Orina and her husband had a son named William Shulver who was a first cousin to Elizabeth Jane Turner.

In 1851 [12], Orina Shulver (Osborn), a widow, with her 13 year old son William Shulver, was living in Bolton Lane just around the corner from her sister Ann Mayer Turner (Osborn) who with her family were now living in Soane Street. St Margaret's Church, where Orina's children were baptised was on the junction of these two roads.[13] 13 year old William Shulver would most certainly have known his aunt, Ann Mayer Turner (Osborn) and her children, including his cousin Elizabeth Jane Turner who was three years his senior. 

(Orina) Clement Shulver (Osborn) and her son William in the 1851 Census. [14]

Orina Shulver (Osborn) was widowed and working as a Tailoress. Was it possible that her son William, aged 13, was the same William Shulver who married Elizabeth Jane Turner in 1855? 

Soane Street and Bolton Lane where the two sisters from Dedham, Essex lived in Ipswich Suffolk, Google Maps

I had not researched William SHULVER, the husband of my 4th great aunt, Elizabeth Jane Turner, and the son in law of my 4th great grandparents, Ann Mayer Osborn and William Turner because he and Elizabeth Jane were never recorded living together after the birth of a son. The couple married in 1855, and their son William Engomire Shulver was born in July 1856. [15]  From at least 1861 onward, Elizabeth Jane, although married, lived apart from her husband William Shulver.

William and Elizabeth Jane Shulver (Turner) were never recorded together in a census record following their marriage. The only information I had about Elizabeth Jane's husband William Shulver was from the baptism record of their son William Engomire Shulver,  [16] where it was stated that his father, William Shulver, was a Wheelwright. This occupation was all I knew about Elizabeth Jane's husband. 

By the 1861 census [17] Elizabeth Jane Shulver (nee Turner) and her son William E Shulver, aged 4, were living with her parents Ann Mayer (Osborn) and William Turner.  Elizabeth Jane  operated a Green Grocer Shop and declared right up until the 1891 census [18] that she was married despite at no time having her husband living with her. In the 1891 census she stated that was widowed. [19] 

101 Albion Street, where Elizabeth Jane SHULVER operated her Green Grocery Store

Looking at the dates of Elizabeth Jane Turner's marriage in late 1855 [20] and the birth of a son William Engomire Shulver in July 1856, [21] it appears that Elizabeth might have been pregnant when she married William Shulver. Since Elizabeth Jane lived apart from her husband William, it is possible that she married for the purpose of respectability - that her marriage was one of convenience to legitimise a baby. Perhaps the couple lived together following their 1856 marriage but by 1861 they were separated. This of course, is speculation and the important goal for me, was to determine whether Elizabeth Jane Turner's husband was her first cousin William Shulver - the son of her aunt Orina Clement Shulver (Osborn). 

I set out to find what I could about Orina Shulver's (Osborn) son William Shulver. I discovered that at the time of the 1861 census [22] he was recorded in Ipswich, Suffolk, as a visitor in the home where his mother Orina Shulver (Osborn) worked as a housekeeper for a Mr. William Purr. Orina's son, William Shulver, aged 23, was recorded as being married on the 1861 census, despite having no wife with him. His marriage would had taken place between 1851 and 1861. [23]

In the 1871 [24] and 1881 UK censuses [25], William Shulver was recorded as being the head of the household in which only he and his mother Orina lived. William, employed as a wheelwright, lived with his mother in East Bergholt, and then Stratford St Mary, Suffolk, and supporting her financially, until her death in 1884. [26]  He continued to state that he was married but at no time did had a wife living with him. 

Was Elizabeth Jane pregnant? Lovis Corinth Donna Gravida 1909, Wikipedia, Creative Commons

Like Elizabeth Jane Shulver, who was married but living with her parents, her cousin William Shulver was also married but living with his mother. Both had married between 1851 and 1861. By 1871, Elizabeth Jane had married a wheelwright and her cousin William was employed as a wheelwright - quite possibly working with his uncle Abraham Osborn who lived nearby. [27]. This was also the profession of his father William Shulver senior, who had died in 1847. [28] 

With coincidences mounting, I was presented with a peculiar scenario, whereby William Shulver, the son of Orina Shulver (Osborn), a wheelwright, although married, was living with his mother, with no sign of his wife. His first cousin, Elizabeth Jane Shulver (Turner), the daughter of Orina's sister, Ann Mayer Turner (Osborn), was living with her parents with no sign of her husband - a wheelwright named William Shulver. 

Were the two William Shulvers the same man? If this was the case, then Orina Shulver's (Osborn) son had married her sister Ann Mayer Turner's (Osborn) daughter and it was a marriage between FIRST COUSINS. I had two sisters from Dedham in Essex who both married in Ipswich, Suffolk and the possibility that they had a son and daughter who as first cousins, married each other. 

With the information at hand, I believed that I had uncovered a first cousin marriage between my Turner and Osborn families but I needed EVIDENCE to prove my hypothesis. 

Marriage Procession, Lajos Deak Ebner, 1888 Wikimedia Commons

I immediately ordered the marriage certificate of William Shulver and Elizabeth Jane Turner from the General Register Office in London, in the hope that it would name their parents and provide me with the evidence I needed. [29] I was notified that the certificate would be unavoidably, but significantly delayed due to the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic. 

Undaunted by this setback, I decided to see if I could solve my mystery using negative evidence. If my theory was correct, I would need to prove that all other men by the name of William Shulver (including variations) did NOT marry Elizabeth Jane Turner, leaving her first cousin to be the only possible match. This was just a theory and I had no idea when I began the research, if it would prove to be true.

The first step would be to track down every William Shulver (including name variations) who was of a marriageable age to be a potential husband for Elizabeth Jane Turner. Next I would need to research the lives of each William Shulver through census records, marriages and deaths. Only if I could definitively rule out every other William Shulver in Suffolk or nearby counties as a husband for Elizabeth Jane, could I reach the conclusion that  she had married her first cousin. 

* Of course, I could have perfectly well waited for the marriage certificate to arrive - but the world has been in lockdown during a pandemic and my hero, forensic genealogist Morton Farrier [30] did not give up researching simply because Archives and Libraries were closed - so neither did I. You can read for yourself how Morton Farrier researched during the Worldwide Covid-19 pandemic, by clicking this link. 

Realistically, I knew that no matter what I discovered, the marriage certificate would be only absolute evidence of a first cousin marriage.  Never the less, I set out to see what I could determine through diligent online research.

OUTLINING THE INFORMATION I HAD FOUND

Elizabeth Jane Turner was 23 at the time of her marriage on 28 September 1855 to William Shulver. Her first cousin, Orina Shulver's son William Shulver, was 17 at that time. [31]  Was it likely a 17 year old male would marry his 23 year old first cousin?

The William Shulver who married Elizabeth Jane was a WHEELWRIGHT, according to the baptism record of their son William Engomire Shulver [32]. Orina's son William Shulver was also shown in census records employed as a wheelwright. [33] This occupation was also confirmed on the marriage record of Elizabeth Jane's son William Engomire Shulver on 26 July 1882 to Eleanor FLOYD. [34] 

Marriage of William Shulver and Eleanor Floyd, 1882 [35]

First I outlined all of the information I had concerning Elizabeth Jane Turner and her cousin William Shulver. 

• Elizabeth Jane TURNER married a William SHULVER who was a Wheelwright. [36]
• William Shulver, son of Orina Clement Shulver (Osborn) was a Wheelright. [37]
• Elizabeth Jane Shulver (Turner) lived with her parents following her marriage. [38]
• William Shulver lived with his mother Orina Shulver (Osborn) following his marriage. [39]
• Both Elizabeth Jane Turner and her first cousin William Shulver married between 1851 and 1861, by which time they can each be found living apart with their parents. [40]
• In every Census record, William Shulver stated that he was a wheelwright and was born in Ipswich, Suffolk. [41]

If 17 year old William Shulver had indeed married his 23 year old first cousin Elizabeth Jane Turner in 1855, it would have been because she was pregnant and for some reason, within four years of their marriage they were living apart - if they lived together at all.

THE SEARCH

Orina's son William was born in Ipswich, Suffolk in 1838, so I searched for every other William Shulver who along with him, could potentially have married Elizabeth Jane Turner in 1855. 

I set my search parameter between 1790 and 1838 in my search for males named William Shulver born in Suffolk and surrounding counties, and I included surname variations in my search . Elizabeth Jane Turner had married in 1855, so realistically any male born after 1838 would have been too young to marry in 1855. It was unlikely she had married a man born in 1790, since he would have been 65 years old, but I couldn't rule this out. The crucial and only identifying piece of information I had about William Shulver, the husband of Elizabeth Jane Turner was that his occupation was a WHEELWRIGHT. [42]

Workshop of a Wheelwright, Wikimedia Commons

Searching on Findmypast, Ancestry, MyHeritage, FamilySearch and The Genealogist, I found SEVEN birth and baptism records of males named William Shulver, including variations of the name, which were Shelver and Silver. Any of these seven men potentially could have married Elizabeth Jane Turner in 1855. The seven Williams were born between 1791 and 1838 and they were all born in Suffolk. There were no births of suitable males of this name or variation of it in surrounding counties. 

The one crucial piece of information I had concerning William Shulver, was his occupation as a wheelwright and this matched Elizabeth Jane Turner's first cousin William Shulver who was a wheelwright. I needed to eliminate the possibility that there was another man by the same name and occupation before concluding that this was a first cousin marriage.

POTENTIAL HUSBANDS FOR ELIZABETH JANE TURNER

William SHULVER - born April 1838, Ipswich, Holy Trinity, Suffolk, to parents William Shulver (WHEELWRIGHT) and Orina Clement OSBORN. [43] ELIZABETH JANE TURNER'S FIRST COUSIN

William SHULVER - Baptised 26 June 1836, St Margaret, Southolt, Suffolk to parents William Shulver (FARMER) and Clara CRACKNELL. [44] Southolt is a village about 35 miles from Ipswich, Suffolk. 

William Johnson SHULVER - Baptised 22 August 1819, St Peter, Monk Soham, Suffolk to parents John Shulver (LABOURER) and Phoebe JOHNSON. [45] Monk Soham is a village about 15 miles from Ipswich, Suffolk.

William SHULVER - Baptised 9 February 1820, St Mary, Washbrook, Suffolk to parents William Shulver (FARMER) and Mary Ann ENGLISH. [46] Washbrook is a village and civil parish about 3 miles west of Ipswich, Suffolk.

William SHULVER - Baptised 16 December 1791, St Matthew, Ipswich, Suffolk to parents William Shulver  (LABOURER) and Ann CARR [47]

William SHELVER - Baptised 11 March 1820, Cockfield, Born 1799, Suffolk to parents William Shelver (LABOURER) and Sarah GOOCH. Sudbury is a market town about 22 miles from Ipswich, Suffolk. [48]

William SILVER - Baptised 29 July 1821, St Andrew's, Melton, Suffolk in the archdeanery of Sudbury,  to parents James Silver (CARPENTER) and Mary PIPE. Melton is a village about 10 miles from Ipswich, Sufolk. [49]

St Andrew's, Melton, Suffolk, Wikipedia Commons

RESEARCHING THE LIVES OF SEVEN WILLIAMS

My next job was to search FIND CENSUS RECORDS, MARRIAGES, BIRTHS OF CHILDREN AND DEATH RECORDS for all seven Williams.

Fortunately for me, all of the men named William Shulver and the two named Silver and Shelver stated their place of birth accurately on census records. This enabled me to be certain that I had the correct person when researching their lives. My research plan was as follows:

1. Search census records to determine place of birth and occupation of each William and the first name of a wife  

2. Search for the marriages  

3. To ensure I had the correct marriage for each William - crosscheck with the baptism records of the children found in census records. Baptism records often provide the maiden name of the mother. 

During the research process, I also had to rule out the possibility that my missing William Shulver was a bigamist. He was never living with Elizabeth Jane Turner so I couldn't ignore the fact that he might have been living with another woman. For this purpose, William Shulver's occupation as a wheelwright was crucial to finding him. 

EXAMPLE

My husband has an ancestor who was a baker in Bedfordshire. In the early 19th century, this man, kept three households complete with a 'wife' and children. The three families lived in villages within ten miles of each other. This busy baker had two wives and a mistress, but he always had only one occupation. And so you aren't left wondering, his first wife eventually discovered that her husband was delivering more than bread to nearby towns and took him to court - for cheating and swearing!

MY ELIMINATION PROCESS

William Silver (Born 1821,  Melton, Suffolk) 

I was able to eliminate William Silver as a husband for Elizabeth Jane Turner when I found him marrying Louisa Bigg on 3 January 1856, in Glemsford, Suffolk in the archdeaconry of Sudbury. He and Louisa moved their family several times within Suffolk and William, later widowed, moved back to Melton, Suffolk where he died in 1901. In every census, William's birth place is given as Melton, Suffolk (misspelled as Milton in 1871). William was an agricultural engineer and pattern maker so he was definitely not the man who married Elizabeth Jane Turner in 1855.[50] 

1841 Melton, Suffolk, Living with parents. Father was a Carpenter. [51]

1851 Glemsford, Suffolk, Married to Louisa, Agricultural Implement Maker [52]

1861 West Barnfield, Cambridgeshire, Married to Louisa, Engineer and Pattern Maker [53]

1891 Melton, Suffolk, Single, Living on own means [54]

1901 Melton, Suffolk, Death [55]

William SILVER born in Melton, Suffolk, Engineer and Pattern Maker, 1871 Census [56]

William Johnson Shulver (Born 1819, Monk Soham, in the union of Hoxne in Suffolk) 

I found this William Shulver operating an Inn in Stradbroke, Suffolk. He married Mary Ann Reed in Hoxne in 1855 [57] and by 1861 was living in Stradbroke with their family. In every census, William's birth place is given as Monk, Soham, Suffolk. His occupation of a Brewer and Inn Keeper precluded him from being Elizabeth Jane Turner's husband.

1841 Monk Soham, Suffolk, Unmarried, employed as a man servant in an Inn [58]

1851 Worlingworth, Suffolk, Unmarried, Ag Lab  [59]

1861 Stradbroke, (Hoxne) Suffolk (8 miles from Monk Soham), Married, Beer House Proprietor 3 children,  "The Lion Beer House" [60]

1871 Stradbroke, Suffolk, Married to Mary Ann,  7 children, Operating a Beer House [61]

1881 Stradbroke, Suffolk, Married, Innkeeper [62]

1891 Stradbroke, Suffolk, Widowed, Innkeeper [63]

 

William Shulver born in Monk, Soham, Suffolk in the 1861 Census [65]

William Shulver (Born 1820, Washbrook, Suffolk) 

This William was found in census records, first living in Washbrook where he was born. He appears to have married three times. In 1851 he was married to Mary Ann (Unknown) in Suffolk. In late 1855 he married widow Rachel Tabor (Deane), widow of Robert Tabor in Tendring, Essex. [66] In 1876, again widowed, William married his housekeeper Susan Gardener. [65] His occupation was a cement burner then an agricultural labourer. [67] In every census, William's birth place is given as Washbrook, Suffolk. This was not the man who married Elizabeth Jane Turner in 1855.

1841 Washbrook, Suffolk, Unmarried, Man Servant at an Inn [68]

1851 Ipswich, St Mary at the Tower, Wife Mary Ann, son Samuel 3, Cement Burner [69]

1861 Harwich, Essex, Married to Rachel, General Labourer  [70]

1871 Harwich, Essex, Widowed living with housekeeper Susan Gardner [71]

1876 Harwich, Essex, Marriage to his housekeeper Susan Gardner 30 April 1876 [72]

William Shulver born Washbrook, Ag Lab, Suffolk in Harwich, Essex 1871 [73]

William Shulver (Born 1836 Southolt, Hoxne, Suffolk) 

This William married Elizabeth Cracknell in 1858 in Hoxne [74] and worked as a Farm Bailiff, Cattle dealer and Dairyman. [75] In every census, William's birth place is given as Southolt, Suffolk. Since this William Shulver was a Dairyman and Cattle Dealer and can be accounted for in every census records, he can be ruled out as being the man who married Elizabeth Jane Turner.

1841 Southolt, Suffolk, Unmarried, farmer's Son [76]

1851 Southolt, Suffolk, Unmarried, Farmer's Son [77]

1861 Alresford, Hampshire, Married to Elizabeth, 2 children born Hampshire, Farm Bailiff [78]

1871 Alresford, Hampshire, Married to Elizabeth, 5 children born Hampshire, Cattle Dealer [79] 

1881 Chelmsford, Essex, Widowed, 3 children with him, Dairyman [80]

William Shulver - (Born 1791, Ipswich, Suffolk) 

This William Shulver married Susannah TURNER on 8 October 1808 in Sproughton near Ipswich. [81] William's birth place is given in the 1851 census as Walton, Suffolk and he was employed as a Labourer. [82] This William died before Elizabeth Jane Turner married.

1841 St Nicholas, Ipswich, Suffolk, Married to Susanna with 5 children, Labourer [83]

1851 St Nicholas, Ipswich, Suffolk, Married to Susanna with 2 children, Labourer  [84]

1854 Death Ipswich, Suffolk [85]

NOTE - HERE I HAD FOUND ANOTHER TURNER/SHULVER MARRIAGE TO BE FURTHER RESEARCHED - A FUTURE BLOG PERHAPS.

William Shelver (Born 1799 Cockfield, Suffolk) William Shelver married Mary Ann Hempstead on 5 December 1826 at St George, Bradfield, Suffolk [80] and was employed as an Agricultural Labourer. [86] In each census, William's birth place is given as Cockfield, Suffolk. William Shelver was not Elizabeth Jane Turner's husband.

1841 Gedding, Suffolk, Married to Mary Ann, 6 children, Ag Lab [87]

1851 Gedding, Suffolk, Married to Mary Ann, 3 children, Ag Lab [88] 

1859 Gedding, Suffolk, Death [89]

William SHULVER from Cockfield in the 1851 Census at Gedding,Suffolk [90]

 

As I researched and eliminated each William Shulver, Shelver and Silver, I placed their names and details in red. By the end of my research, I had eliminated six of the seven Williams. I was left with one possible match for a William Shulver who was the potential husband of Elizabeth Jane Turner.

THE ELIMINATED WILLIAMS IN RED

William SHULVER - Baptised 26 June 1836, St Margaret, Southolt, Suffolk to parents William (farmer) and Clara CRACKNELL. [91] Southolt is a village about 35 miles from Ipswich, Suffolk.  

William Johnson SHULVER - Baptised 22 August 1819, St Peter, Monk Soham, Suffolk to parents John Shulver (labourer) and Phoebe. [92] Monk Soham is a village about 15 miles from Ipswich, Suffolk.

William SHULVER - Baptised 9 February 1920, St Mary, Washbrook, Suffolk to parents William (farmer) and Mary Ann ENGLISH. [93] Washbrook is a village and civil parish about 3 miles west of Ipswich, Suffolk.

William SHULVER - Baptised 16 December 1791, St Matthew, Ipswich, Suffolk to parents William Shulver  (LABOURER) and Ann CARR [94]

William SHELVER - Baptised 11 March 1820, Cockfield, [95] Born 1799, Suffolk to parents William and Sarah GOOCH. Sudbury is a market town about 22 miles from Ipswich, Suffolk. 

William SILVER - Baptised 29 July 1821, St Andrew, Melton, [96] Suffolk to parents James (carpenter) and Mary PIPE. Melton is a village about 10 miles from Ipswich, Suffolk.

THE ONE REMAINING WILLIAM SHULVER

William SHULVER - born Ipswich, Suffolk, June-July 1838 to parents William Shulver (a wheelwright) and Orina Clement OSBORN [97]  ELIZABETH JANE TURNER'S FIRST COUSIN

1841 St Margaret's Ditches, Ipswich, Born Ipswich, Unmarried, 3 years, living with mother who is a Tailoress [98]

1851 St Margaret's Ipswich, Bolton Lane, Born Ipswich, Unmarried, 13 years [99]

1861  St Margaret's Ipswich, Northbridge Road, 23,Born Ipswich, MARRIED, WHEELWRIGHT, Living with and supporting his mother, who widowed, is a housekeeper for Mr W. Purr. William is listed as a VISITOR [100]

1871 East Bergholt, Suffolk, Mannington Road, 33, MARRIED, Head of the household with his mother. Occupation WHEELWRIGHT [101]

1881 Stratford St Mary, Suffolk, 43, Born Ipswich, MARRIED, Occupation WHEELWRIGHT, Living with and supporting his mother Orina [102]

1901 Death of William Shulver, Ipswich, Suffolk

William SHULVER, Wheelwright, 1871, East Bergholt, Suffolk [101]

The only male named William Shulver whose marriage I was unable to account for was Elizabeth Jane Turner's first cousin, son of her maternal aunt Orina Clement Shulver (Osborn). 

CONCLUSION 

At the conclusion of my research, I am convinced more than ever, that 20 year old Elizabeth Jane Turner became pregnant to her 17 year old cousin William Shulver and that the couple married in the last quarter of 1855. Perhaps their families insisted they marry for the sake of respectability. Both being underage, they would have required parental consent for the marriage, but whether the families were happy with the arrangement, is unknown.

For whatever reason, Elizabeth Jane Shulver (Turner) did not live for very long, if at all, with her husband William Shulver, wheelwright.

St Matthew's, Ipswich where Elizabeth Jane's parents were married 2019.© 

My conclusion that William Shulver who married my 4th great aunt Elizabeth Jane Turner in 1955 was her first cousin, is still unfortunately conjecture until I receive the marriage certificate of William Shulver and Elizabeth Jane Turner. As much as I would like to claim that my online research was correct, I need hard evidence. Hopefully the marriage certificate will support my research and confirm my theory about a first cousin marriage.

STAY TUNED FOR THE RESULT OF THE MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE AND MY FOLLOW UP POST.  "WAS WILLIAM SHULVER A FIRST COUSIN OF HIS WIFE AND WAS MY ONLINE, PANDEMIC LOCKDOWN RESEARCH CORRECT?"

 FOOTNOTES

1. Baptism of Orina Clement Osborn, 24 June 1806, St Mary the Virgin, Dedham, Essex, Essex, England Church of England Baptisms, Ancestry.com

2. Marriage of Orina Clement Osborn and William Shulver, 31 March 1834, St Nicholas, Ipswich, Suffolk, England Select Marriages, 1538-1973, Ancestry.com

3.1841 UK Census, St Margaret's, Ipswich, Suffolk, Ancestry.com

4. Ibid.

5. Ibid. 

6. Birth of William Shulver, 1838, Vol. 12, Page 337,  England & Wales Births, 1837-2006, Findmypast

7. Baptism of Susan Shulver, St Margaret, Suffolk, 20 September 1840, Suffolk Baptism Index, Suffolk Family History Society, Findmypast.

8. Burial of Susan Shulver, St Margaret, Suffolk, 10 October 1841, National Burial Index for England and Wales, Findmypast

9. 1841 UK Census, St Margaret's, Ipswich, Suffolk, Ancestry.com

10. Baptism of Elizabeth Jane Turner, 5 February 1832, Ipswich, Suffolk, England and Wales Christening Records, 1530-1906, Ancestry.com

11. Marriage of Elizabeth Jane Turner and William Shulver, Oct-Dec 1855, Vol. 4a, Page 1329, England & Wales Free BMD Marriage Index, 1837-1915, Ancestry.com

12. 1851 England Census, Ipswich, St Margaret's, Suffolk, Class: HO107; Piece: 1800; Folio: 525; Page: 15; GSU roll: 207449.Ancestry.com

13. St Margaret's Church, Ipswich, Google Maps

14.1851 England Census, Ipswich, St Margaret's, Suffolk, Ancestry.com

15. Baptism of William Engomire Shulver, 28 September 1856, Ipswich, Holy Trinity, Suffolk Baptism Index, Suffolk Family History Society, Findmypast.

16. Ibid.

17. 1861 UK Census, Ipswich, St Clement Suffolk, Ancestry.com

18. 1871 and 1881 UK Census, Ipswich, St Clement, Ancestry.com

19. 1890 UK Census, Ipswich, St Clement, Ancestry.com

20. Marriage of Elizabeth Jane Turner and William Shulver, December 1855, Vol. 4a, Page 1329, England & Wales Free BMD Marriage Index, 1837-1915, Ancestry.com

21. Baptism of William Engomire Shulver, 28 September 1856, Ipswich, Holy Trinity, Suffolk Baptism Index, Suffolk Family History Society, Findmypast.

22. 1861 UK Census, Ipswich, St Clement, Ancestry.com

23. Ibid.

24. 1871 UK Census, East Bergholt, Suffolk, Ancestry.com 

25. 1881 UK Census, Stratford St Mary, Suffolk, Ancestry.com 

26. Death of Orina Clement Shulver, 1884, Vol. 4a, Page 273, England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index, 1837-1915, Ancestry.com

27. 1861 UK Census, Ipswich, St Clement, Ancestry.com

28. Death of William Shulver, St Margarets, Ipswich, Suffolk, 1847, Vol. 4a, Page 352, England & Wales FreeBMD Death Index, 1837-1915, Ancestry.com

29. Marriage Certificate of Elizabeth Jane Turner and William Shulver, 1855, Vol. 41, Page 1329, GRO

30. Nathan Dylan Goodwin, Morton in Lockdown, 2020, ebook, https://www.nathandylangoodwin.com/morton-in-lockdown

31. Marriage of Elizabeth Jane Turner and William Shulver, 22 September 1855, Ipswich, Suffolk, Vol. 4a, Page 1329, Ancestry.com

32. 1861 UK Census, Ipswich, St Clement, Ancestry.com

33.1841 UK Census, St Margaret's, Ipswich, Suffolk, Ancestry.com

34. Marriage of William Engmire Shulver and Eleanor Floyd, 26 July 1882, Tower Hamlets, St Dunstans and All Saints, London, London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921, Ancestry.com

35. Ibid.

36. Marriage of Elizabeth Jane Turner and William Shulver, December 1855, Vol. 4a, Page 1329, England & Wales Free BMD Marriage Index, 1837-1915, Ancestry.com

37. 1841 UK Census, St Margaret's, Ipswich, Suffolk, Ancestry.com

38. 1861 UK Census, Ipswich, St Clement, Ancestry.com

39. Ibid.

40. Marriage and Census records, Ancestry.com, Findmypast.com

41. UK Census Records, Ancestry.com, Findmypast.com

42. Baptism of William Engomire Shulver, 28 September 1856, Ipswich, Holy Trinity, Suffolk Baptism Index, Suffolk Family History Society, Findmypast.com

43. Birth of William Shulver, 1838, Vol. 12, Page 337,  England & Wales Births, 1837-2006, Findmypast.com

44. Baptism of William Shulver, 26 June 1836, St Margaret, Southolt, Suffolk, Suffolk Baptism Index 1538-1911, Findmypast.com

45. Baptism of William Johnson Shulver, 22 August 1819, St Peter, Monk Soham, Suffolk, Suffolk Baptism Index, 1538-1911, Findmypast.com

46. Baptism of William Shulver, 9 February 1820, St Mary, Washbrook, Suffolk, Suffolk Baptism Index, 1538-1911, Findmypast.com

47. Baptism of William Shulver. St Matthew, Ipswich, Suffolk, Suffolk Baptism Index, 1538-1911, Findmypast.com

48. Baptism of William Shelver, 11 March 1821, St Peter, Cockfield, Suffolk, Suffolk Baptism Index, 1538-1911, Findmypast.com

49. Baptism of William Silver, 29 July 1821, St Andrew, Melton, Suffolk, Suffolk, Suffolk Baptism Index, 1538-1911, Findmypast.com

50. Marriage of William Silver and Louisa Bigg, 3 January 1856, Glemsford, Sudbury, Suffolk, England Marriages 1838-1973, Findmypast.com

51. 1841 UK Census, Melton, Suffolk, Ancestry.com

52. 1851 UK Census, Glemsfrod, Suffolk, Ancestry.com

53. 1861 UK Census, West Barnsfield, Cambridgeshire, Ancestry.com

54. 1871 UK Census, Melton, Suffolk, Ancestry.com

55. Death of William Silver, 1901, Mildenhall, Suffolk, Vol. 4a, Page 552, England & Wales Free BMD, Death Index 1837-1915, Ancestry.com

56. 1871 UK Census, Melton, Suffolk, Ancestry.com

57. Marriage of William Shulver and Mary Ann Read, 1855, Hoxne, Suffolk, Vol. 4a, Page 1200, England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005, Findmypast.com

58. 1841 UK Census, Monk, Soham, Suffolk, Ancestry.com

59. 1851 UK Census, Worlingworth, Suffolk, Ancestry.com

60. 1861 UK Census, Stradbroke, Suffolk, Ancestry.com

61. 1871 UK Census, Stradbroke, Suffolk, Ancestry.com

62. 1881 UK Census, Stradbroke, Suffolk, Ancestry.com

63. 1891 UK Census, Stradbroke, Suffolk, Ancestry.com

64. 1861 UK Census, Stradbroke, Suffolk, Ancestry.com

65. Marriage William Shulver and Rachel Tabor (nee Deane), 1855, Tendring, Essex, VOl. 4a, Page 401, England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005, Findmypast.com

66. Marriage William Shulver and Susan Gardner (nee Garrad), 30 April 1876, Harwich, Essex, D/P 170/1/31, Page 29, England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005, Findmypast.com

67. 1861 UK Census, Harwich, Essex, Ancestry.com

68. 1841 UK Census, Washbrook, Suffolk, Ancestry.com

69. 1851 UK Census, Ipswich, St Mary at the Tower, Suffolk, Ancestry.com

70. 1861 UK Census, Harwich, Essex, Ancestry.com

71. 1871 UK Census, Harwich, Essex, Ancestry.com

72.  Marriage William Shulver and Susan Gardner (nee Garrad), 30 April 1876, Harwich, Essex, D/P 170/1/31, Page 29, England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005, Findmypast.com

73. 1871 UK Census, Harwich, Essex, Ancestry.com

74. Marriage of William Shulver and Elizabeth Cracknell, Hoxne, Suffolk, 1858, Vol. 4a, Page 761, England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005, Findmypast.com

75. 1851, 1861, 1871 UK Census Records, Ancestry.com

76. 1841 UK Census, Southolt, Hoxne, Suffolk, Ancestry.com

77. 1851 UK Census, Southolt, Hoxne, Suffolk, Ancestry.com

78. 1861 UK Census, New Alresford, Hampshire, Ancestry.com

79. 1871 UK census, New Alresford, Suffolk, Ancestry.com

80. 1881 UK Census, Chelmsford, Essex, Ancestry.com

81. Marriage of William Shelver and Mary Ann Hempstead, 5 December 1826, Bradfield, St George, Suffolk, Suffolk Marriage Index, Suffolk Family History Society, Findmypast.com

82. 1851 UK Census, St Nicholas, Ipswich, Suffolk, Ancestry.com

83. 1841 UK Census, St Nicholas, Ipswich, Suffolk, Ancestry.com

84. 1851 UK Census, St Nicholas, Ipswich, Suffolk, Ancestry.com

85. Death of William Shulver, First Quarter 1854, Ipswich, Suffolk,  Vol. 4a, Page 352, England & Wales FreeBMD Death Index, 1837-1915, Ancestry.com

86. 1841 UK Census, Gedding, Suffolk, Ancestry.com

87. Ibid. 

88. 1851 UK Census, Gedding, Suffolk, Ancestry.com

89. Death of William Shelver, 1859, Vol. 4a, Page 331, England & Wales FreeBMD Death Index, 1837-1915, Ancestry.com

90. Baptism of William Shulver, 26 June 1836, St Margaret, Southolt, Suffolk, Suffolk Baptism Index 1538-1911, Findmypast.com

91. Baptism of William Shulver, 9 February 1820, St Mary, Washbrook, Suffolk, Suffolk Baptism Index, 1538-1911, Findmypast.com

92. Baptism of William Johnson Shulver, 22 August 1819, St Peter, Monk Soham, Suffolk, Suffolk Baptism Index, 1538-1911, Findmypast.com 

93. Baptism of William Shelver, 11 March 1821, St Peter, Cockfield, Suffolk, Suffolk Baptism Index, 1538-1911, Findmypast.com

94. Baptism of William Shulver. St Matthew, Ipswich, Suffolk, Suffolk Baptism Index, 1538-1911, Findmypast.com

95. Baptism of William Shelver, 11 March 1821, St Peter, Cockfield, Suffolk, Suffolk Baptism Index, 1538-1911, Findmypast.com

96. Baptism of William Silver, 29 July 1821, St Andrew, Melton, Suffolk, Suffolk, Suffolk Baptism Index, 1538-1911, Findmypast.com

97. Birth of William Shulver, 1838, Vol. 12, Page 337,  England & Wales Births, 1837-2006, Findmypast

98. 1841 UK Census, St Margaret's, Ipswich, Suffolk, Ancestry.com

99. 1851 UK Census, St Margaret's, Ipswich, Suffolk, Ancestry.com1

100. 1861 UK Census, St Margaret's, Ipswich, Suffolk, Ancestry.com

101. 1871 UK Census, East Bergholt, Suffolk, Ancestry.com 

THE TWIST IN THE TALE OF TWO WILLIAMS

THE TALE OF TWO WILLIAMS - THERE'S A TWIST

Image 'Oliver Twist', Wikipedia, Reproduced under Creative Commons Licence

“There is always a pleasure in unravelling a mystery, in catching at the gossamer clue which will guide to certainty.” 
― Elizabeth Gaskell, Mary Barton

In a blog post of February 23, 2018, entitled The Tale of Two Williams, I talked about the importance of finding evidence to support genealogical findings. In that post, Part 1 of The Tale of Two Williams, I left readers hanging with the promise of a twist at the end of my story. This, as promised, is Part 2 of The Tale of Two William's and there is indeed a quite incredible twist at the end of this tale.

A BRIEF REVIEW

In the days prior to the internet and online records, the contextual and wider view of the past and past lives lives we are fortunate to have today, was hidden away in dusty parish records. The internet has provided so much more availability of information that it is sometimes worth checking research conducted in pre internet days.. 

For some years, I had been convinced that I, and other family members, had the incorrect parents on my family tree, for my third great grandfather William Hoyes, a weaver from Newark Nottinghamshire. The parents thought to be his, were Thomas Hoyes, born 1768 Girton, Nottinghamshire and Ann Machin, born in Claypole, Lincolnshire. This research was many years old and was originally undertaken by a researcher who visited England in the days before records became available online. 

 Over some years, I had nagging doubts that Thomas and Ann Hoyes were my really fourth great grandparents but I had to find the time to research the problem. If you have not yet read the first part of my tale before reading the ending, you can do so here. 

Looking at the wider picture is important, especially when you have ancestors with common names. After finding two William Hoyes of the same age in the 1841 census, one a Weaver and the other an Ag Lab, I discounted that William was in two places at one time and that he had two occupations, so concluded that my third great grandfather, William Hoyes, living with his wife Deborah Berry in the above 1841 census in Newark, Nottinghamshire, was NOT the same person as the William Hoyes who was born in Claypole, Lincolnshire in 1809, to Thomas and Ann Hoyes. 

The William Hoyes born in Claypole, LIncolnshire was obviously sitting incorrectly on my family tree as my three times great grandfather. It was a bitter pill to swallow since I had spent many years working backwards from Thomas Hoyes and Ann Machin and I had collected family from as far back as the early 1700's. With a sinking feeling, I had come to terms with the fact that they just weren't MY family. 

The result seems so simply obvious when I tell the story now, but the undoing of years of research was a huge undertaking. Online records have made the task of finding people far easier than when this original research was done - especially when there are multiple people of the same name and age and like in the case of my William Hoyes. 

1841 Census, William Hoyes, Newark Upon Trent, Image Ancestry.com [3]

In the first part of this story I showed how I finally reached the conclusion that the William Hoyes who was my third great grandfather, was born on August 4, 1810 in Newark, Nottinghamshire to John Hoyes and his wife Mary (possible surname KENNERAL). I believe that the original research was confused by the fact that in the 1851 census, there were two William Hoyes of the same approximate age, and both were living in Nottinghamshire not far from each other. That there were two men of the same name and other clues which might have avoided this error, were missed in the pre internet days of researching.

Below is William Hoyes born Claypole, Lincolnshire, who was living in South Collingham, Notinghamshire in 1851. In this census record he is recorded as being aged 41 years, works as an agricultural labourer (ag lab) and lives with his wife Mary and sons Samuel 4 and Thomas 3. This is the William born to Thomas Hoyes and Ann Machin.

William Hoyes born Claypole, Lincolnshire 1851 Census, Ancestry.com [4]

Below is my William Hoyes, in the same 1851 census, living also in Nottinghamshire, a weaver as I know him to be, living in Scales Row, Newark and aged 40 years. With him are wife Deborah and children John 14, Mary 13, George 10, Thomas 8, Samuel 6, Alfred aged 6 months and mother in law Mary Berry. First and second sons James and William were married and so did not appear in this census with their parents. I knew now however, that his parents were named John and Mary.

William Hoyes born Newark Nottinghamshire 1851 Census Ancestry.com [5]

If only my Nottinghamshire ancestors had been thoughtful enough to adhere to the strict naming patterns that many of my Scottish families did - first son after grandfather and the second after the father - my search would have been so much more straightforward. There was one clue in the names of children that is obvious now in the aftermath of this error. My William Hoyes, born in Nottinghamshire had a son named John and did not have a son called Thomas. William of Claypole, had a son named Thomas and no John. The boys were clearly named for their paternal grandfathers.



CLOSING IN ON THE TWIST IN THE TALE...

Resigned to the fact that Thomas Hoyes (born 1768 in Girton, Nottinghamshire) and Ann Machin (born ab 1765 in Claypole, Lincolnshire) were NOT, never were, and never will be my fourth great grandparents, you might recall from my earlier blog post that I took the heartwrenching decision to remove them along with six generations of 'family' before them, from my family tree. With them, disappeared Thomas's parents William and Mary Hoyes and his his brothers and sisters. My daughter recalls me saying, "I don't know if I can do this..."

As one ancestor after another disappeared form my tree, I realised with some anticipation that I now had new fourth great grandparents named John and Mary Hoyes, with whom I needed to become acquainted.

Image Pixabay reproduced under creative commons licence

“Watch the beauty of your life tree old leaves falling and allowing new ones to sprout !” 
― Joy Lima

CLUES  FOUND IN MY SEARCH FOR JOHN HOYES

If you've read the first installment of this tale you will know that I found the man I discovered to be William's real father, John Hoyes, was in the 1841 census, aged 80, living with a Sarah and Robert Beecham. Robert Beecham was a weaver like my William Hoyes. Listed with them were their children Elizabeth 15, Charlotte 20, Robert 13, and a three year old child by named William Stones. Unfortunately the 1841 census did not give relationships between these people so I set out to research this for myself.

1841 Census, John Hoyes, The Genealogist [6]

COULD ANOTHER WILLIAM BE A CLUE?

I realised that the BEECHAM family or William STONES could be  vital pieces of evidence  in establishing beyond a doubt that John Hoyes was my William's father and that he was my real fourth great grandfather. To prove this, I needed to find a connection between John Hoyes and the Beecham family. I suspected the most likely relationship was that Sarah Beecham was the daughter of John Hoyes and Robert Beecham, weaver, was his son in law. 

 It did not take long to find a marriage between Sarah Hoyes to Robert Beecham at Newark, Nottinghamshire on November 4, 1830 [7] in which the witnesses were a Dorothy Beecham and Mary Murpley.  Sarah Beecham, was almost certainly the daughter of John Hoyes and therefore a sister of my William. To cement this belief, I set out to find out who William Stones was and what relationship he had, if any, to my Hoyes family. 

St Peter, Radford, Nottinghamshire, Wikipedia

FOLLOWING THE 'STONES' PATH

Searching for a marriage between a female Hoyes and a man named Stones I found a marriage which took place in Radford, Nottinghamshire on June 12, 1831, between Charlotte Hoyes and Samuel Stones [8]. 

Two females named Sarah and Charlotte Hoyes had married men with the names Beecham and Stones - both of these surnames were connected to John Hoyes - the man I believed to be the correct father for my William Hoyes- in the 1841 census. Could this be a coincidence or were these women William's sisters? Was I on the right path to finding William's family? 

Since I had stripped my Hoyes tree branches bare of leaves from William backwards, I knew nothing about William's parents, John and Mary Hoyes, and of course, nothing about any siblings. 

Researching Samuel and Charlotte Stones, I discovered that they had four sons including one named WILLIAM, who was born in the April to June quarter of 1838 [9]. This son William Stones would have been three years old in the 1841 census, which was the same age as the William Stones staying in Spittal Row, Newark with John Hoyes and the Beecham family. Could this William might prove to be an important clue in my tale of two Williams? If so, I needed to link hus mother Charlotte Hoyes to my William Hoyes.

Charlotte's husband Samuel had died in October of the previous year and when I looked for  Charlotte in the 1841 census 10], I discovered her widowed, living in Ellis Row Newark, with sons John 9, Thomas 7, and George 1 year. her son William, aged three years, was not with her.  There was the possibility that he had died, but it was hihky likely that he was the boy named William Stones staying in the Beecham household on the night of the 1841 census. Although I was grieving the loss of my wrong ancestor Thomas Hoyes and the many ancestors who preceeded him, I was becoming more and more certain that I had found my real Hoyes family. 

Charlotte Stones with son John 9, in Ellis Row, Newark, 1841 Census, The Genealogist [10]

JOHN HOYES -  WILLIAM'S REAL FATHER

According to the 1841 census, John Hoyes was born in 1761, but considering that ages were rounded up or down in this census, I widened my search parameter to search for his birth. He claimed to have been born in Nottinghamshire in the census, but to be on the safe side, I searched for a birth in neighbouring Lincolnshire as well. And - let's face it, it had been a wrench letting go of my Lincolnshire roots along with Thomas Hoyes. 

I was able to eliminate all men named John Hoyes who were born within twenty years of 1761, in Lincolnshire. Any others by the name of John Hoyes had died before 1841, when I knew my John to be living in Newark, Nottinghamshire, or were living in the wrong place at that time. As a result, I determined that my John Hoyes was not born in Lincolnshire. I narrowed my search to the only remaining birth that fitted that of my fourth great grandfather and this was John Hoyes who was born and baptised in 1766 in Girton, Nottinghamshire, to parents William and Mary Hoyes [11].

Image Wikipedia reproduced under creative commons.

THEN UNEXPECTEDLY THERE WAS A TWIST IN THE TALE ... 

As I absorbed this information, I suddenly felt as though I was hit by a bolt of lightening!  I realised that Girton, Nottinghamshire, was the same place that Thomas Hoyes, (my now deleted ancestor) was born in 1768. And his parents parents had also been named William and Mary. 

I had researched Thomas's family, when I believed him to be my fourth great grandfather, and so I knew that he had the following siblings all born in Girton - William 1762,  James 1764,  John 1766,  Ann 1775 and Olivia 1777. 

AND THERE IT WAS - THE TWIST IN THE TALE 

The name John lept off the page but I could hardly believe what I was seeing. Thomas who I had mistakenly believed to be my ancestor had a brother named John born in 1766 in Girton, Nottinghamshire.  
Since this was the only baptism of a John Hoyes in Nottinghamshire between 1755 and 1780, I realised incredibly that THOMAS AND JOHN HOYES WERE BROTHERS! 

The man I had just deleted from my family tree was, in fact, still related to me and was my fifth great uncle! 

Baptism of John Hoyes, 1766, Girton, Nottinhamshire, Findmypast [11].

I had found only one marriage for a John Hoyes to a Mary, on February 11, 1794 in Newark [12], Nottinghamshire and this was to Mary DORRENCE. John and Mary Hoyes were my REAL 4th great grandparents and these were parents of my 3rd great grandfather, William Hoyes. 

Marriage John Hoyes, Findmypast [12]

Thomas Hoyes was, incredibly, my William's uncle and the William Hoyes born in Claypole, Lincolnshire previously thought to be my ancestor, was, in fact, William's first cousin. This was certainly a case of confusing cousins! The two Williams, born within a year of each other were both named for their paternal grandfather William. 

THOMAS HOYES WAS MY FIFTH GREAT UNCLE

This serendipitous discovery meant that my family tree, going back from John and Mary Hoyes would remain the same as it had been when Thomas and Ann were incorrectly named as William's parents. Incredibly, the many ancestors and relatives I had removed were still my family! 

Of course, I thad the enormous task ahead of me of placing all of those many family members back on the family tree but even the thought of that huge undertaking couldn't ruin my serendipitous moment. What were the odds of my wrong ancestor being the BROTHER of my correct ancestor? Quite the Twist in my Tale of Two Williams! 

LINKING THE REST OF THE CLUES

I was still intrigued by the three year old William Stones I had found with John Hoyes in the 1841 census. If I was able to prove he was related to my William and John Hoyes this could verify that I had found another sister for William (in addition to Sarah Beecham nee Hoyes)  named Charlotte. 

Image Wedding Mid 19th century, Wikipedia, Creative Commons

It didn't take me long to find some crucial evidence. I found the births in Nottinghamshire, of the following children to John and Mary Hoyes ( MY REAL FOUR TIMES GREAT GRANDPARENTS)  - Sarah (1794), John (1797), William (1798), William 1803-1805), John (1803), Charlotte 1807 and William 1810 ( my third great grandfather)[13]. 

I had verified that William had two older sisters named Sarah and Charlotte! The peices of the puzzle were fitting together perfectly. 

Sarah Hoyes was born in Newark in 1794 and Charlotte Hoyes was born in Hawton, Nottinghamshire in 1807. In the 1841 census Charlotte's age had been rounded down to 30 when it was really 34. William's sister Sarah Hoyes had married a weaver named Robert Beecham and she was the Sarah Beecham with whom their 80 year old father, John Hoyes was living in 1841. 

William's sister Charlotte had a son named William Stones who was the grandson of John Hoyes and nephew of my William. This William was most certainly the three year old boy in the 1841 census, staying with the Beecham family, his aunt Sarah Beecham and grandfather John Hoyes. Two sisters, aged eleven years apart, their marriages a year apart, and another William (Stones) helped confirm for me that John Hoyes, living with the Beecham family at Spittal Row, Newark, Nottinghamshire aged 80 years,  was indeed my ancestor and 4th great grandfather and the correct father for my William Hoyes. 

William Stones, Lacemaker, 1881 Census, Radford, Nottinghamshire [14]

 “Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.” ―Harriet Beecher Stowe

And so, the Tale of Two Williams comes to an end. This tale has a most happy ending and a wonderful twist. I had not, as I had first thought, wasted years of research into my Hoyes family. Fortunately I had kept a backup copy of my old research so I was able to return my ancestors to their rightful places on my family tree. It took quite a while but I welcomed each family member back with much fondness and a great deal of amazement.

In a most incredulous twist I simply had to switch an uncle and a brother to have the correct four times great grandfather, JOHN HOYES and fifth great uncle THOMAS HOYES  on my family tree exactly where they both belong. 

"Every ending is a beginning. We just don't know it at the time." Mitch Albom [15]

Footnotes

1. Birth, William Hoyes, Claypole, Lincolnshire, 1809, England Births and Baptisms 1538-1975, Findmypast, https://search.findmypast.com.au/record?id=r_942913757 , accessed most recently 1 February 2018.

2. 1841 Census, Thomas Hoyes, Claypole, Lincolnshire, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/8978/LINHO107_615_618-0143/6615473?backurl=https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/15450749/person/29803884345/facts/citation/157598403039/edit/record, accessed most recently 12 February 2018.

3. 1841 Census, William Hoyes, Class HO107, Piece 868, Book 7, Civil Parish, Newark Upon Trent, County Nottinghamshire, Enumeration District 14, Folio 29, P. 9, Line 18, GSU roll 47569, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/8978/NTTHO107_867_869-0360?pid=9259284&backurl=https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv%3D1%26dbid%3D8978%26h%3D9259284%26ssrc%3Dpt%26tid%3D15450749%26pid%3D268185434%26usePUB%3Dtrue&ssrc=pt&treeid=15450749&personid=268185434&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true, accessed most recently 1 February 2018.

4. 1851 Census, William Hoyes, South Collingham, Lincolnshire, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/8860/NTTHO107_2135_2137-0161/10342215?backurl=https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/15450749/person/29803933124/facts/citation/1040249298027/edit/record

5. 1851 Census, William Hoyes, Newark, Nottnghamshire, Ancestry.com, search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=uki1851&h=17778349&ti
=0&indiv=try&gss=pt

6.1841 Census, John Hoyes, Newark, Nottinghamshire, The Genealogist, https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/search/master/?type=person&source=&search_type=person&master_event=Census&person_event=&sub_event=&fn=john&phonetic_mode_fn=1&sn=hoyes&phonetic_mode_sn=1&kw=nottinghamshire&yr=1761&yr_filter_b=1&range=10&search=Search#image_viewer_96bfa5_926983, accessed 10 February 2018.

7. Marriage of Sarah Hoyes and Robert Beecham, Nottinghamshire Marriages Index, Newark, Nottinghamshire, 4 November 1930, 1628-1929, FindmyPast, https://www.findmypast.com.au/transcript?id=GBPRS/NOTTINGHAMSHIRE/MAR/000113778/2

8. Marriage of Charlotte Hoyes and Samuel Stones, 12 June 1931, Radford, Nottinghamshire, 12 June 1831, Nottinghamshire Marriages Index, FindmyPast, https://www.findmypast.com.au/transcript?id=PRS/NOTTSFHS/MAR/00257682/1

9. Baptism of William Stones, 13 August 1837, Radford, Nottinghamshire, Nottinghamshire Baptism Index, 1538-1917, FindmyPast, ps://www.findmypast.com.au/transcript?id=PRS/NOTTSFHS/BAP/00182871 

10. 1841 Census, Charlotte Stones, Newark, Nottinghamshire, Findmypast, https://search.findmypast.com.au/record?id=gbc%2f1841%2f0868%2f0126&parentid=gbc%2f1841%2f0003181922 

11.Baptism, John Hoyes, 1766, Girton, Nottinghamshire, Nottinghamshire Baptism Index, 1538-1917, Findmypast,https://search.findmypast.com/record?id=gbprs%2fnottinghamshire%2fbap%2f000609024 , accessed most recently February 2018.

12. Marriage, John Hoyes and Mary Dorrence, Findmypast, Marriage, John Hoyes and Mary Dorrence, 1794, Findmypast, https://search.findmypast.com/record?id=prs%2fnottsfhs%2fmar%2f00145270%2f1, accessed 1 February 2018.

13. Baptisms, Hoyes childen, Girton, Nottinghamshire, Nottinghamshire Baptism Index 1538-1917, Findmypast.

14. William Stones, 1881 UK Census, Ancestry.com, Class: RG11; Piece: 3345; Folio: 128; Page: 8; GSU roll: 1341798

15. 35 Mitch Albom, Quote, Quotes on Endings that will Make 2016 More Exciting, https://www.inc.com/kevin-daum/35-quotes-on-ending-things-that-will-make-2016-more-exciting.html