johnpritt
23-12-2004, 1:18 PM
On my great-grandfather's birth certificate (1840 in Whitehaven), his mother is named as Ann REEVES, formerly SINCKLER. The declarant was my g-g-grandfather, Thomas Reeves, who appears to have been illiterate, since his signature is an "X" with the clerk writing "the mark of..."
In the 1841 census, she is living with the family in Whitehaven. At the same address is a Jane SINCLAIR, aged 21, female servant.
How likely is it that the two women are sisters,do you think? Sinckler seems to be an extremely rare name in the UK (just 2 people listed in the 1901 census, for example). If my g-g-g-f couldn't write, I imagine he couldn't spell either, so the spelling of his wife's name would have been at the clerk's discretion, but why would he have chosen such a "strange" variant?
Thomas died in 1844, at which time his wife would have been aged about 30. If she later remarried, would she have married under her maiden name, or her widow's name? I have found a BMD record of an Ann Reeves marrying in 1849, and suspect it may be here.
Any thoughts welcomed, and with my best wishes for Christmas and the New Year to you all.
In the 1841 census, she is living with the family in Whitehaven. At the same address is a Jane SINCLAIR, aged 21, female servant.
How likely is it that the two women are sisters,do you think? Sinckler seems to be an extremely rare name in the UK (just 2 people listed in the 1901 census, for example). If my g-g-g-f couldn't write, I imagine he couldn't spell either, so the spelling of his wife's name would have been at the clerk's discretion, but why would he have chosen such a "strange" variant?
Thomas died in 1844, at which time his wife would have been aged about 30. If she later remarried, would she have married under her maiden name, or her widow's name? I have found a BMD record of an Ann Reeves marrying in 1849, and suspect it may be here.
Any thoughts welcomed, and with my best wishes for Christmas and the New Year to you all.