Genealogy Chat

From my research, all Mary's children were born out of wedlock. Arthur was my Gt Grandfather. I have birth certs for Arthur, Louisa and Samuel which supports this.

This, of course, came as "news" to my mother.

1871 census
New Yard, St. Mary, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
George Wigley, head, 42, paper hanger
Mary, sister, 39, box maker
Charlotte, dau, 15, cigar maker
Sam'l, son, 10, school boy
Ann, dau, 4
Arthur, son, 10 months
Plus visitors Frank & Ann Jeffery
All born Nottingham.
(Relationships are supposed to be given as related to head but we know that Charlotte & Samuel belong to Mary, presume the others do, too?)

1861 census
New St., St. Mary, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Ann Wigley, head, widow, 66, box maker
Geo., son, 30, (something?) maker & paper hanger
Mary, dau, single, 29, (something?) of (something?)
Charlotte, dau of Mary, 5
Samuel, son of Mary, 4 months
All born Nottingham except mother Ann born Thurgarton.
(61 census taken 7 April so Sam born Dec, 1860)

Yes, I think "One and the same" is the answer.
I believe he went by the name Wigley (stepfather or mother's boyfriend's name) but when it came to getting married he had to use his legal name of Lewin.
I think it's him on the 81 census, as Samuel Wigley,who's a boarder. His occupation was whitewasher which ties in nicely with the paperhanger in 1891 and painter & decorator in 1901.
Incidentally, I think Nellie Agnes was another child born in 1886. Agnes Lewin Wigley was born and died in 1884.

"OR, was Samuel Lewin and Samuel Wigley one and the same?"

That is my hypothesis.

I know that Samuel Wigley was illegitimate as there is not father's name on the birth cert.

However, he may have chosen to take his biological father's name or it may also be the name of his mother's then boyfriend or man she was living with.

I am hoping that a marriage certificate will shed some light on it.... perhaps via the names of witnesses.

The Wigley side of my family has been fairly tricky but it does make for some good detective work.

Yes although I have it as Nelly Agnes. I'm going to send away for the Marriage cert in the hope that there will be something in it that sheds some more light on these murky goings on.

There was also an Agnes Lewin Wigley born 1884, Nottingham and died 1884.

Now you're confusing me, Charles!
Isn't it son, Ernest, whose birth is in question?
Still doesn't make sense, though, if his birth is registered as Ernest Lewin Wigley in 1883 but was baptised in 1886.
And if Mary Jane was married to Samuel Lewin in 1881, what happened to him?
OR, was Samuel Lewin and Samuel Wigley one and the same?

Wow ... that is interesting!!!!

In fact, it opens up all sorts of interesting questions re: Samuel's parentage (he was illegitimate if this is the right Samuel).

His birth cert is samuel Hixon Wigley

Thank you for that!!!!!!

Oh my, Jim! Have you opened a can of worms?

birth
Ernest Lewin Wigley 1883 Apr-May-Jun Nottingham Nottinghamshire

HOLD THE FRONT PAGE!!
marriage
Mary Jane Bartley 1881 Oct-Nov-Dec Nottingham Nottinghamshire
View Record
Samuel Lewin

Yes, I have them in 1891. Ernest was baptised on 17/11/1886 in Nottingham but I do not see a birth entry for him in Notts.

One hypothesis is that Mary Jane was overseas and perhaps Samuel met her when in the army or something similar. The difficulty with that is that I think I have found him in the 1881 census

According to the 1891 census where they're mistranscribed as Wyley, Mary Jane was born 1861, Nottingham. I can't find a Mary Jane Barclay in 1881 that matches.

I believe first child was born abt. 1884, Ernest is 7 on the 1891 census.

Jim

That is one of the complicating factors. Both Samuels married a Mary Jane. They are listed separately on the 1901 census.

Have you found her pre 1991?
Maybe she married under a different name.

Mary Jane Wardman 1879 Jan-Feb-Mar Belper Derbyshire
View Record
Samuel Wigley
PS found them in 1881 not the right couple

Mary Jane Wigley Mary abt 1860 Wirksworth, Derbyshire, England Step Daughter Wirksworth, Derbyshire

Samuel Wigley married Mary Jane Barclay somewhere around 1884 possibly/probably in Nottinghamshire.

Their first children are born in 1886 in Nottingham. I have found the family in both the 1891 census and the 1901 census in Nottingham. I have also found the births/baptisms of the children in the Notts Parish registers. The birth certificate for Katie Wigley (one of the children) confirms the mother's maiden name as Barclay. The census returns confirm that both Samuel and Mary Jane are born in Notts.

I need a marriage certificate because there are two Samuel Wigleys, both around Notts/Derbyshire and both around the same age and I want to confirm I have the right one.

However, I cannot find a record for a marriage either in the Notts parish registers or on Ancestry. Any help gratefully accepted.