Watkinson in Suffolk

[martin.brett]

I have a Kate Watkinson born Whepstead 1857. On her Marriage certificate (December 1876) her Father is listed as George Watkinson Farm Baliff (Deceased). However there is a George Watkinson occupation farm Baliff born Whepstead, Suffolk in the 1881 census aged 59, so of about the right age to be Kate's Father. The grave that Kate was buried in also had her husband and an Isabella Watkinson. The 1901 census has an Isabella Watkinson living with her Husband George Watkinson aged 79 born Whepstead. If someone has access to 1871 or 1861 census returns I might be able to make sense of this conflict. I know there plenty of farm baliffs but it does seem rather a coincidence.

[blue eyes]

Hi Martin

1871 census civil parish Whepstead reg dist THingoe, sub reg dist Rougham

address Melon Green

George Watkinson head widow age 50 occ bailiff
Ann Watkinson dau age 18
Kate Watkinson dau age 13
Jane Watkinson dau age 11
Abigail Watkinson dau age 7
Emma Watkinson dau age 2
all born Whepstead

1861 census same address

George Watkinson head age 36 occ ag labourer
Catherine wife age 30
Jane dau age 1 month
Kate Watkinson dau age 3

all born Whepstead

Julie

[Mythology]

The 1871 entry that Julie found includes a 2 year-old Emma.
The 1881 entry, when George appears in Hargrave, includes a 12 year-old Emma.
This looks very much like the same George.

What goes on a marriage cert is whatever the person said.
The marriage is neither in Whepstead nor in Hargrave, is it? It's a Bury St Edmunds reference, and the Bury St Edmunds registration district at that time included Bury St Edmunds itself and nothing else, so, correct me if I'm wrong, you have the cert, but I conclude that this is where it was.
My guess? She's not 21 - she probably thought that saying he was dead would save any complications about parental consent.

[martin.brett]

Very many thanks to Blue Eyes and Mythology. The census returns, together with some apparently unrelated scraps, make what seems a credible history for George. He married first to Catherine Bixby and had several daughters by her. Some time after her death he remarried Isabella Pettitt (nee Manning) and they were still living together for the 1901 census. Evidently Kate told a porky to avoid needing Dad's consent to her marriage. I just need now to track down the marriage certs and Death certs ( I know Isabella died 1921 and was buried in the same grave as Kate and her husband later 'occupied')

Thanks again,

Martin