Can anyone see anything obvious that I'm missing?

[Nell]

His gt x 3 grandmother was Priscilla Marsden and I have foolishly got dragged into tracing her siblings and their extended families, which is where the muddle comes in.

Priscilla had two brothers William Holmstead Marsden and Lewis Cottingham Marsden who both married sisters in St. Giles Cripplegate.

William Olmstead [sic] Marsden married Amelia Sellers 15 Oct 1821
One of the witnesses was Martild Ontjons or something similar - I think it might be Matilda ? Read on...

Lewis Cottingham Marsden married Matilda Sellers 30 Jul 1823, witnesses were Amelia Marsden [presumably Matilda's sister, and Lewis' sister-in-law] and Charles Ehns.

With me so far?

Here's where it gets very tricky.

Lewis Cottingham Marsden and Matilda had two sons, Frederick George Marsden and Lewis Marsden, both baptised same day at St Giles Cripplegate. Lewis Cottingham Marsden died 1829.

In 1841, William Ehn, a furrier, appears on the census with a Matilda old enough to be his wife and two boys called Frederick George Ehn and Lewis Ehn, the same ages as FG and Lewis Marsden. There's also a marriage for William Edward Ehn, bachelor, to a widow, Sarah Matilda Marsden at St. Mary Le Bow 27 Jul 1830, which fits with following Lewis Cottingham's death.

BUT Sarah Matilda Sellers' baptism was 1795 and her younger sister Matilda, who married Lewis, was baptised 1803. The 1841 Matilda Ehn is 30 but of course ages weren't necessarily exact in 1841. So is she the same person as Sarah Matilda?

I'd be happier if I could find a death for Sarah Matilda before younger Matilda's baptism.

[samesizedfeet]

Does it help things at all if William Ehn is one of the witnesses to Lewis Marsdens marriage in 1851?

He gives his father as Lewis Marsden, Paper Stainer

[Nell]

I've missed that! Thanks Zoe.

[Nell]

Just had a look. It confirms me in my suspicions that William Ehn was Lewis' step-father. Paper staining was an occupation with many Marsdens & Robins in the family tree.

[Nell]

So frustrating, there's a Matilda illegible as witness whose Matilda bit looks like Matilda Sellars' Matilda on her marriage cert. But without the surname I don't know who this Matilda is!

It would be so helpful if marriage witnesses had to state whether they were sister/friend/cousin etc of the bride or groom, wouldn't it?

[Merry]

Originally Posted by Nell

It would be so helpful if marriage witnesses had to state whether they were sister/friend/cousin etc of the bride or groom, wouldn't it?

And, if women, if they were married or not.

[Nell]

Until I get further info, I am going to assume that Sarah Matilda Marsden bpt 1795 died young and that her younger sister Matilda was the woman who married Lewis Marsden and then William Ehn.