Genealogy Chat

See below in a mo

I've just found some family memebrs in the 1871 census, the GOOD family. Mother, father and 6 children, only one of them has a different surname (SAWYER). Why would this be?

Hello, what was the 'relationship' of the sawyer and the age? It wasn't perhaps a profession, written in the wrong column?

Is the child the eldest?? could be a child from previous relationship!

Name Estimated Birth Year Birthplace Relationship Civil Parish or Township County/Island Thomas Good abt 1821 Boyton, Suffolk, England Head Butley Suffolk Martha Good abt 1831 Boyton, Suffolk, England Wife Butley Suffolk Elizabeth Good abt 1862 Crettingham, Suffolk, England Daughter Butley Suffolk Charlotte Good abt 1864 Butley, Suffolk, England Daughter Butley Suffolk Robert Good abt 1866 Butley, Suffolk, England Son Butley Suffolk Edward Sawyer abt 1867 Boyton, Suffolk, England Son Butley Suffolk Susan Good abt 1868 Butley, Suffolk, England Daughter Butley Suffolk Thomas Good 01 April 1871 Butley, Suffolk, England Son Butley Suffolk He was a middle child, and his profession was the same as his 'father's'. Gonna have to get his birth cert - need to find out what's going on!

Ah! Just found this in the 1881 Census: Thomas GOOD Head M Male 61 Ramsholt, Suffolk, England Ag Lab Mary Ann GOOD Wife M Female 54 Hollesley, Suffolk, England Edward SAWYER Stepson U Female 22 Tunstall, Suffolk, England Ag Lab Susan GOOD Daur U Female 13 Butley, Suffolk, England Scholar Thomas GOOD Son Male 11 Butley, Suffolk, England Scholar Different wife to the one in 1871, though. The plot thickens...

Debbie I wonder if the 3 elder Good Children were from a previous marriage of Thomas's and the Sawyer child was Martha's child from a previous marriage, then they went on to have more together, ie (Susan and Thomas)

I think you may be on to something there - it does seem a bit odd that they didn't start having children until their 30s. I will have to do some more digging. Incidentally, the younger Thomas Good was 1 day old when the 1871 census was taken - how handy is that for me! Very considerate of him, I think.

Debbie Could this be Martha's Death: Deaths Mar 1878 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GOOD Martha 46 Plomesgate 4a 457 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Plomesgate covers Butley!

I think this is Martha and son. She is a widow 1861 census John Crosby abt 1793 Wantisden, Suffolk, England Head Butley Suffolk Eliza Reeve abt 1857 Butley, Suffolk, England Granddaughter Butley Suffolk Fanny Reeve abt 1831 Butley, Suffolk, England Daughter Butley Suffolk Henry Reeve abt 1860 Butley, Suffolk, England Grandson Butley Suffolk Samuel Reeve abt 1852 Butley, Suffolk, England Grandson Butley Suffolk Edward Sawyer abt 1859 Butley, Suffolk, England Grandson Butley Suffolk Martha Sawyer abt 1835 Butley, Suffolk, England Daughter Butley Suffolk

Hi Debbie, Just found this marriage, Q4, 1880 Thomas Good & Mary Ann Rout (district of Plomesgate)

Debbie The 1871 details you have posted, give's Edward's birth year as 1867, what does image read, as you say he is working! Lib

Thanks Jim and Helen (and everyone else) - things are starting to look a bit clearer now. Ah wel,, makes it more of a challenge!

Assuming she was a 'Crosby' then, as she's with Dad in 1861. Found this marriage: Martha Crosby & William Sawyer Wellam, Q4 1856, Plomesgate district again. Why he has Sawyer has his middle name though I don't know!

Oh yeah! Just looked at the image, and he was 11, which would mean he was born in 1860, rather than 1867. That makes more sense

Also found this baptism on Family search (obviously don't trust fully until checked!) Martha Crossby Christened 30 Mar 1834, Butley Cum Capel, Suffolk Parents: John Crossby and Elizabeth

I think this is Thomas in 1861. He is still single at 41 and yet had 3 wives in 20 years? Thomas Good abt 1820 Ramsholt, Suffolk, England Groom Butley Suffolk

Blimey This is going to take me a while to unravel fully - Thomas did seem to get through a fair few wives! Thanks for all your help, folks!

So am I right in thinking we haven't yet found Thomas' marriage to Martha? (Getting confused now!) I've found a Thomas Good marrying in Q1, 1863, registered in the Thetford district (this spans the counties Suffolk & Norfolk) Annoyingly though, no wife is named!

Have a look at IGI batch no. C132101 could be Martha Sawyer was his first wife. MAYBE!