Hannah Rider lied
 

At least I think so.

Here is her marriage to John Woodget in Norwich 1806:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageview...ue&pId=1980833


Here is the birth of her son William in Briston in 1808:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageview...e0&pId=3864710


Which is fine, except here her maiden name is Riches and she married John as a spinster.


This presumably is the explanation: her marriage, in Briston on 5 December 1804 to Robert Rider: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageview...&pId=902552858


The only snag in this is that I cannot find Robert's death. He could, of course, have died at sea. Does anyone have other suggestions?

This may be the same Robert Rider: a shoemaker of Cawston, Norfolk, whose will was proved at Norwich in 1854: http://www.norfolksources.norfolk.go...%27rider%27%29


The only reason I have for saying this is that John Woodgett is also a shoemaker in 1813, tough later he is just called a labourer.

I can't find a death between 1804 and 1806.

Could he have been convicted of something and transported "across the seas"?

There were (at least) two Robert Riders in the area. The other one was born in Swannington c 1767 and signed up for the army, but was quickly discovered to be unfit and discharged: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/reco...21%2F121045495


He, however could not write, whereas my man (and the testator of the will) was literate.



The will is odd, with Mary Seely, wife of Robert Seely, shoemaker of London and Mary Knights, wife of John Knights being the beneficiaries, but neither apparently being close relations.


I am beginning to wonder whether the marriage was annulled.