Maria SMITH (Pershore) 1841 Lookup & Question

[djsides]

Can anyone please look for Maria SMITH in the 1841 census in Pershore - hoping to find her husbands name.

In the 1851 census she was 51, profession: Inn Keeper, born: Twining.
In the 1861 census she was 60, profession: Retired Grocer, born: Strensham.
And in both cases she was widowed.

My question relates to this: As she was widowed her surname of SMITH was acquired through marriage. However in 1861 she lists the married couple living with her (surname SMITH) as Son-in-law & Daughter-in-law. In 1851 she also lists a Charles Smith living with her as Son-in-law.

I cannot see how any married woman can have both a son in law & daughter in law that are married together?
Of course this may be an enumerators error, or one on her part.
Any thoughts welcome.

Dave

[jeeb]

Hi Dave,
In the 18th century someone referred to as a son in law was usually a step son but it is debatable if this was still in practice as late as 1861. This could however explain why Maria refers to Charles and William as sons in law, if they were the children of her late husband by his first wife. It was certainly still common practice for a step son to be called a son in law in the early years of the 19th century in Wills etc.
Jeremy

[djsides]

That was the sort of conclusion I was coming to; because what is actually stated is impossible.
Also, in 1851 she had a Charles SMITH (unmarried) with her, and denoted him as son-in-law. That would also fit with your interpretation.

Thanks, Dave

[Lynda Cunningham]

Hi Dave

I'm afraid the image was very poor. I've done my best.

1841
Ref- HO107-1206-14\3 page 1
Parish- ST ANDREW PERSHORE
Wick
ROBERT Smith /m/40 /Farmer/b.Worcestershire
MARIA Smith /f/41/b.Worcestershire
WILLIAM Smith /m/1?/b.Worcestershire
ROBERT Smith /m/12/b.Worcestershire
HANNAH ? /f/15 / F.S./b.Worcestershire
? ? /m/15
? ? /m/20

best wishes
Lynda

[djsides]

Thanks Linda,
It certainly looks as though Maria's husband at that time was Robert. I wonder if she just felt that children, from say, her husbands brother would be "in-law".

What I definately know, is that a William Henry Smith (carpenter) is an ancestor, and his father, William Smith was a Publican.
William Henry was living with Maria in 1861 and from that census was born about 1837, so is unlikely to be the William seen in the 1841 census.

Would you, or anyone else, be willing to look for William Henry Smith & his father William in the 1841 census (and the 1851 census if possible).

Regards, Dave