William Tommins

[Pearcey]

My grandfather, John Benjamin Tommins, was born in Salford, Lancashire in 1881, the son of Annie Tommins (nee Brown). Annie was married to William Tommins of Salford (b 1850), and had 2 daughters with him. However, there was no father's name on the birth certificate, although my grandfather always believed that his uncle, John Tommins was his real father (indeed HIS name appears on the birth certificates of grandfather's 2 younger brothers). I cannot find a death for William, or an entry in any of the '81, '91, '01 censuses for Britain, and must assume that he just up and left. But I would love to know what happened to him. Has anyone come across him, anywhere in the world?

[Sue Mackay]

FreeBMD has the death of a William Tommins, aged 21 March qtr 1872 in Salford Vol 8d page 52

[Davran]

If William died in 1872 and Annie and her children were taken in by his brother, there would have been no need for them to marry as they both had the same surname anyway.

I have a similar situation in my own family where the husband is transported to Australia and the wife lives with his brother, has a child by him, but I can find no record of a marriage. In fact, the baptism entry for the daughter makes it quite clear that her parents were not married even though they had the same surname.

Do you know anything about John Tommins? Did he have a wife of his own or did he appear in the censuses with Annie and children?

[Sue Mackay]

I am assuming that this is John Tommins in 1871

RG10/4021 folio 42 page 28 - 33 Quay Street salford

John TOMMONS Head Mar 30 Corn dresser b Salford
Harriet wife 30 b Runcorn
Sarah J 6 b Salford
John 5 b Salford
Philip 2 b Salford
Betsy 7mo b Salford

And is this William, just prior to his death?
RG10/4017 folio 55 page 8 - 26 Deal Street Salford (indexed as TIMMONS)

William TOMMINS Head Mar 21 Cattleman b Salford
Ann wife 18 b Salford
Eliza dau 3 mo b Salford

Mind you, I see that Mary Ann Tommins (who was with Annie in 1891 aged 17 and was presumably the second daughter you mention of William and Annie) didn't have her birth registered until Sep qtr 1874. That's pushing it a bit to be a posthumous child of William even if the registration was delayed! Is William given as the father on her birth certificate?

[oppy]

Hi Folks, We have just found this group whilst searching for Tommins's. My wifes grandfather was Albert Tommins, brother to,amongst several others, William. His parents were John & Alice and they hailed from the Islington region of Salford. His father, John, was a son of John & Harriet. Albert was killed in 1918 aged 33, a victim of the war. If we are able to share information regarding the family, please do contact me.
Regards
Peter Hopwood
Glossop