Forever William and Mary Ann Harveys

[Murfomurf]

I have a tangle involving evidence that a much-copied marriage (on THAT website) is actually between the wrong people.

Everyone has this marriage:

Marriages Mar 1872
Allen Moses Dudley 6c 70
Harvey Mary Ann Dudley 6c 70

Then a full sequence of Censuses with their expanding family. In 1939 they have the Register entry for the family with Mary Ann, a Widow, having birth date 2 Feb 1850.

However, the Birth record they give for Mary Ann Harvey is this one:

HARVEY, MARY ANN DARBEY
GRO Reference: 1849 S Quarter in WEST BROMWICH Volume 18 Page 587

a September Quarter birth

which could easily be confused with this one:

HARVEY, MARY ANN DARBY
GRO Reference: 1852 M Quarter in WEST BROMWICH Volume 06B Page 535

a March Quarter birth, but the wrong year: 1852 instead of 1850.

However, the Mary Ann Harvey who is said to be the daughter of Henry Harvey and Mary Ann Darby is included with the family at the 1851 Census so she MUST be the 1849 September baby. So who is the Mary Ann in 1939 who was born in the March Quarter of 1850?

I think she must be this one, with Mother as Townsend:

HARVEY, MARY ANN TOWNSEND
GRO Reference: 1850 M Quarter in FOLESHILL & SOWE Volume 16 Page 470

But adding another layer of confusion is this woman Townsend. I found a possible marriage to a Harvey in 1843 but in Leicestershire:

FreeBMD: Marriages Dec 1843
Harvey William Melton Mowbray 15 369
TOWNSEND Elizabeth Melton Mowby 15 369

Plus I have William in his family of origin at the 1841 Census, all born in Leicestershire except his father, William Harvey born about 1796. But I cannot find any mention of Elizabeth in the Census in 1851 and I can't find a William with daughter Mary Ann born 1850 in Warwickshire.

There are perhaps some deaths along the way I am missing- but how can I tell if one Mary Ann Harvey or Elizabeth (nee Townsend) is a particular death- there are dozens!

Could anyone shed just a sputtering candle light on these tangled lives?

Exhausted.

 

[MollyMay]

There is a death registered for Mary Ann Harvey age 2 (from the GRO index)
Dec qtr 1851 West Bromwich 18 -406

So it looks like the one on the census died, and the new baby girl born in 1852 was also named Mary Ann.

 

[kernowmaid]

I agree with MollyMay.
The 1849 Mary Ann died late 1851 - her sister, born late 1851/early 1852 was named Mary Ann.

I don't think birthyears on the 1939 Register can be taken as gospel - I have several examples of incorrect years (both ways) being given.
(I do think that it is only in our modern times that emphasis has been put on remembering our birth year - it's the usual question when "authority" is trying to find our records. But ask me my grandchildren's birth years & I'm lost - it seems like yesterday, but I can remember events around the time!)

But the only way to be sure is to get the certificates!

Jane

 

[MollyMay]

I don't think birthyears on the 1939 Register can be taken as gospel

I agree, the date ie the day and month agree with the birth reg, and even if she knew her correct age, it may have been her maths that produced the wrong year.

 

[Murfomurf]

Thank you muchly MollyMay and kernowmaid! That death for a Mary Ann Harvey in 1851 makes sense of the Census for me. I agree that the 1939 Register birth dates can be very much up sh*t creek!