I first started researching my family history as part of a
school project some years ago; it started me on the endless road to
finding out more about my ancestors. I spent some time looking for my
great-grandparents marriage without any success; I had found the
relevant census returns, purchased copies of their children's birth
certificates, all except the eldest child, George. All the certificates
gave the mother as Joyce ELLIOTT, formerly SLADE, unusual name - it
should be easy. My father was insistent they would have had to be
married, but of course as I soon realised, not necessarily to each
other.
I found that Joyce was actually married to Thomas MASON at
Bracknell on November 2, 1857. They then had four children between 1859
and 1866, and the youngest was George. This came as a bit of a
surprise, so I double checked all my information, having earlier found
Joyce living at home with her parents and siblings in the 1841 census
for Holmer Green. I had her father's name and eldest brother who was a
witness at the marriage to Thomas; it most certainly was my
great-grandmother, living with Thomas and their family in the 1861
census for Winkfield. The 1871 census showed Thomas and three children,
but no Joyce or George. The census for Eton in 1871 gives Edward and
Joyce ELLIOTT with their son George and daughter Elizabeth.
Assuming that in the 1800s divorce was not an option for
the labouring class, a change of county seemed the only way out. I find
it amazing that this secret had been kept for so many years; I would
love to find out more about Mary, Alice and Thomas who stayed with
their father in Warfield. Have any other members come across a similar
experience? Can anyone offer advice as to how 1 can confirm my
great-grandfather's birth details without the name of his father? I
have found an Edward ELLIOTT born around the correct time, not in
Lambeth Hill/Beech Hill, Berkshire as he stated on the census, but in
Tadley, Hampshire.
with any queries
.