Stephen, the father of my John, was very helpfully a labourer on his children's baptisms, so the occupation on the marriage is wrong but as he was dead it is possible it was embellished or Mum remarried, so they used the step father's occupation, as they didn't remember what Dad did?

Toni, I'm not sure whether you are saying that the John Dawson whose marriage you linked to in post #5 is definitely yours, or if that is what we are trying to find out? Can you give us details of when and where your John Dawson was born / baptised, please?

I have a John Dawson with a father Stephen. I do not know of the marriage I posted is that of my John. Part of me feels it isn't mine as it didn't say Stephen was deceased but I know not all registers do and it is the only Stephen I have come across.

John was baptised in Fewston Yorkshire on 24/1/1819, father Stephen, mother Rachel/Rachael (nee Hogg). John had an older brother Jonathan (baptised 29/4/1816), who is my direct ancestor and a younger brother Stephen, baptised 2/3/1824 died in 4/3/1824, and sadly never met his father, who died 1/10/1823.

Rachel disappeared and I have not been able to work out what happened to her.

I'm only part way through looking at this, but am running out of time -

There's a marriage on ancestry for Rachel Dawson, widow, to James Walmsley on 1 Nov 1828 at All Saints Otley which is five miles from Fewston. James's marital status is not given but his occupation is - he is a hatter.

Looking at Otley baps I found:

William Edward son of James and Ellen bap Nov 1822

John son of James and Ellen bap Dec 1824

James Maude son of James and Rachel bap Dec 1829

There's a marriage of James Walmsley of Otley to Ellen Watkinson in 1821 at Guiseley. It's possible/probable this is the same groom

Anyway, moving on to the 1841 census

Kirkgate, Otley

James Walmsley Hatter 35 yes
William 15 Yes
James 9 Yes

So, William listed as 15 when he's 19 is fine as he should be rounded down. James' age is a bit out, but close enough given father's occ fits. I presume Rachel has died but I've not looked for her at all, nor looked other than for two seconds at the 1851 where I found nothing but I think I only looked for the correct spelling (can't remember!)

Must dash..........

widower hatter in 1851 (4th entry)

http://interactive.ancestry.co.uk/88...nSearchResults

thanks Merry. I'll have a look soon. Have to do something now

Name: Rachel Walmsley
Gender: Female
Marital Status: Married
Burial Date: 22 Jan 1834
Burial Place: Otley, York, England
Spouse: James Walmsley
FHL Film Number: 918402
Reference ID: 2153

thanks Merry.

I wonder where Rachel's children are?

All Saints, Otley

Burials
4/4/1828 Walmsley Isabella 6 mth Bradford Dau of John
27/6/1828 Walmsley Richard 45 Burley
25/1/1829 Walmsley John 7 wks Bradford Son of John
5/4/1829 Walmsley Joseph 4 mth Bradford Son of John
20/11/1831 Walmsley Miles 14 Newall Son of William
15/6/1832 Walmsley Charles Burley Son of Nanny
20/9/1832 Walmsley William 26 Otley Son of William
22/1/1834 Walmsley Rachel 45 Otley Wife of James
12/9/1834 Walmsley Isabel 34 Bradford Wife of John
26/4/1843 Walmsley Eleanor Jane 29 Otley
6/5/1846 Walmsley William Edward 23 Otley
30/9/1848 Walmsley William 70 Newhall

Baptisms All Saints' Otley
6/12/1829 James Maude James & Rachel Walmsley born 1 Nov 1820 Abode Otley Hat Manufacturer

Edit: Sorry, I have been duplicating information. I have lots of booklets for All Saints, Otley from the Wharfedale Family History Group.

3x baptisms 1813 - 1837

Marriages 1813 - 1825

3x burials 1813- 1850

Yell if you need any more information.

Well I presume you know where your Jonathan went? And her only other surviving child is James Maude Walmsley. Here is his death:


Deaths Mar 1872
WALMSLEY James Maud 42 Bradford, Y. 9b 168

His probate entry says his widow was called Sarah.


Here they are in 1871 with a nice lot of children for you to investigate!

http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin...off=&ml_rpos=4