Wife shown as a 'Visitor'

[Julie Tyrell]

My question is has anybody else come across this before.

On the 1851 census it shows Henry as the head and his 'wife' as a vistor!?

Henry Wignall abt 1814 London City Head Shoreditch Middlesex
Henry Wignall abt 1837 Walworth, Surrey, England Son Shoreditch
Charles Wignall abt 1841 Walworth, Surrey, England Son Shoreditch Caroline Wignall abt 1845 Shoreditch, Daughter Shoreditch
Alice Wignall abt 1850 Shoreditch, Middlesex, Daughter Shoreditch
Mary Ann Easton abt 1821 Poplar, Middlesex, Visitor Shoreditch Middlesex

On later censuses she is shown as his wife. I have got 2 birth certificates, one for Charles (b1841) and one for a child born in 1854 and both have the same parents (mother Mary Ann Easton).

Is it possible that they were not married and therefore she was declared as a visitor??
Amy thoughts

[Peter Goodey]

On the birth certificates, was the father shown as Charles Wignall and the mother as "Mary Ann Easton" or "Mary Ann Wignall formerly Easton"?


If the former, then they weren't married. If the latter, they may have been married.

[Julie Tyrell]

The mother was shown as Mary Ann Wignall formerly Easton.

However, since posting this enquiry I have found their marriage in 1866, so they married 29 years after their first child was born!

The is great news as I can now apply for this certificate and have the names of their fathers.

Thanks for your help, Julie