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In narrative form:

Henrietta Bennett married Peter Baker in 1885.

Peter Baker died in 1901.

Henrietta married Charles Ross as Henrietta Baker in 1909.

But her birth surname was Bennett, so that's the name given on the children's birth certificates. (Sometimes it says Ross formerly Bennett late Baker, but not always.)

The question is: why did they not marry before Hiram was born?

I suspect that Charles had a pre-existing marriage.

They were both old enough that he'd had lots of time to marry and become estranged from a first wife.

Hmm, that's an odd one, Lindsey! She gave up on Mr. Ross?

My Henrietta in 1901:

Name: Henrietta Baker
Age: 34
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1867
Relation: Wife
Spouse's Name: Peter
Where born: Manchester, Lancashire, England

Civil Parish: Manchester

Peter Baker 36
Henrietta Baker 34
Elizabeth Baker 13
Peter Baker 8
James Baker 5
Rose Baker 2 months
Mary Kay 25 (servant)


Deaths Sep 1901
Baker Peter 36 Manchester 8d 225


So I wonder why she and Charles wouldn't marry earlier.

*He* was married?

Sorry, I don't know how to interpret the marriages listed. I don't know anything about a Charles born 1912. My father talked about an Uncle Charles who he thinks moved away to Preston. My information from Dad is that his Uncle died in an industrial accident while working for W.E Carey's Spring Manufacturers. Apparently he fell into a vat of boiling oil.

I once again assumed Charles was older than Hiram from the 1901 census info.

So, how large an amount of money are we talking here? ;)

re sharing info -- admit it now, some of that had to be dragged out of you over the course of the thread! Hiram's father's full name from the marriage cert, that's a gem not to be hidden. Even though it may not have been too useful, so far.

Any use ?1911

HOUSEHOLD BAKER LATE ROSS HENRIETTA F 1871 40 Manchester Lancashire

She shoots, she scores.


Marriages Dec 1885
> Baker Peter Manchester 8d 323
> Bennett Henrietta Manchester 8d 323
Hirst George Ernest Manchester 8d 323
Locke Sarah Ann Manchester 8d 323

Okey dokey, what do you think?


Marriages Mar 1909
> BAKER Henrietta Manchester 8d 195
DALTON Mary Manchester 8d 195
OLIVER James Willie Manchester 8d 195
> ROSS Charles Manchester 8d 195


edit: there are no Ross-Baker births in Manchester 1911 onward.

I am not deliberately with holding information! I have had absolutely no luck searching for a Charles Alexander Ross. On Hirams birth certificate, the father is named a Charles Ross only, Hiram's marriage certificate names him as Charles Alexander..... Hiram's birth certificate is the only link to tell me my great grandparents names. I have been searching all the Charles Ross's living in the Salford area trying to establish a link. The 1901 census gave me a Charles Ross, spouse Ann, one year old son Charles, living at 46 Dalton Street, Salford. Assuming this was the correct Charles gave me a birth year of 1864c.

Over a year ago I sent quite a large amount of money to the resident genealogist to try and get a link established. To date, he hasn't told me anything at all.
It is all getting very frustrating.

Is this another child's birth?

Births Jun 1912
Ross Charles (Bennett) Manchester 8d 527

Could be the son Charles you referred to, or a replacement for a child who died young.

There's no Bennett-Ross marriage in Manchester.

Here's a suitable death:

Deaths Sep 1926
Ross Charles A 60 Salford 8d 296

That would put him born 1865-66, plus allowance for what may well have been rounding.

There's no danged Charles Ross born in Salford 1860-1870 in the 1901, or the 1901.

Military, I wonder?

Hold on, I'm muddled. Charles Alexander is father of Hiram, not of Hiram's father Charles ...

The only Charles Alexander Ross marriage in the neighbourhood:


Marriages Sep 1875
CASSERLY Lucy Salford 8d 11
Ross Charles Alexander Salford 8d 11
Scott Arthur George Salford 8d 11
SCRACE Jane Salford 8d 11


Of course, your Charles Alexander could have married as plain Charles.

Hello, Charles's occupation in 1907, listed as a Foundry Labourer.

Sorry my replies seem to be crossing over yours.

The earliest Charles Alexander Ross births in the GRO:

Births Dec 1857
Ross Charles Alexander Salford 8d 58
Ross Charles Alexander Salford 8d 60


Your Charles, father of Hiram, really could have been born c1880, to a father born 1857.

You're looking at much older Charles-s -- is there a basis for the age?

Ah, information not disclosed -- father Charles Alexander Ross.

Anything else you'd like to share??

Seriously! There is just no reason to withhold information.

This looks to be my Charles's birth:

Births Sep 1864
Ross Charles James Salford 8d 25

And this looks to be yours:

Births Sep 1864
Ross Charles Salford 8d 56

There's an annoyance.

On Hiram and Mary's wedding certificate,(1931) Hiram's father is named as Charles Alexander Ross, deceased. I don't think the names listed are my direct family, but possibly another branch of the family.

I have to go crash and restore my Firefox, which is getting irritable about too many windows and tabs open. I shall return.

Here's the Charles I'm looking at, in 1881:

Hiram S. L. Ross 49
Mary Ross 45
Fanny Ross 18
Charles J. Ross 16 - Occupation: Clerk Warehouse (Comm)
John R. Ross 13
Margaret J. Ross 11
Joseph E. Ross 6


And here's the Charles you're looking at, in 1881:

William Ross 48
Alice Ross 46
James Ross 18
Charles Ross 16 - Occupation: Engraver Copper Works (Artist)
Joseph Ross 14
Walter Ross 11


Does your Charles have an occupation stated on Hiram's birth cert?