Can anyone help. I have a Thomas HODSON on the 1901 Census living at 8 New Park Rd Soho Tr. Shrewsbury with wife Ann and family. The 1891 has him with wife Martha (same address). The 1881 again with wife Martha at 4 Water Street Shrewsbury. Are Ann and Martha the same person both born West Brom about 1851? I see a death of Martha Hodgson 1st qtr 1918 Atcham. On the 1911 census only Thoas Hodgson appears (as married) but no wife listed, again 8 New Park Rd Soho Tr.
Thanks John (Newcastle Staffs)
Name: HODGSON, ThomasRegistration district: [?] Kendal County: WestmorlandYear of registration: 1840Quarter of registration: Jan-Feb-Mar Mother's maiden name: Not available before 1911 Q3Volume no:[?]25Page no:[?]459
Don't know whether you've got this info, THOMAS' parents were ; JOHN and ELLEN HODGSON .
John, I do presume that you are tracking the correct family as when I tracked Thomas through his early census years, there are TWO THOMAS HODSON born KENDAL, WESTMORELAND ?
Hi Angela
Many thanks
I have since found Martha Hodgson on the 1901 living in West Brom with her sister Mary and one daughter Florence Martha (212 Spon Lane) RG13 Piece 2718 Folio 81 Page 8. This makes it look like Ann living with Thomas on the 1901 is the new woman in his life and possible that Florence (age 3 months) is their child. Like you suggest need the Cert.
Thomas was originally from Kendal and married to Ellen Otway there in 1863. Seems he walked out on her, pre 1881, and moved to Shrewsbury and married Martha Bates in 1884.
Does anyone know more about this family?
Thanks John
Hi John, I am Thomas Henry Hodgson's great grandson and I know quite a lot about his two families. I was born in Shrewsbury in 1947 and lived with Thomas's son George Stanley Hodgson until his death in 1952. I have a number of photographs that might interest you, but I need to know specifically what you might want. You can contact me on john045@bigpond.net.au . Regards, John Hodgson
John, Since not hearing from you and in light of the thread going in the wrong direction I thought I'd better clear up a number of misconceptions. This comes about from the interpretation one puts on the contents of the 1901 Census. Whilst Martha appears in the 1901 Census at West Bromwich, she was not actually living there. She was visiting to help her sister deal with the illness of her sister's husband (Isaiah Lambert) who died not long after. She was there with her youngest daughter Florence (Florrie). However, back in Shrewsbury, Thomas Hodgson filled in the census as if they were both there with him, so Martha and Florrie apear twice in 1901. However, Thomas's version of his family was a complete figment of his imagination. For starters, he spelled his surname HODSON yet knew perfectly well the correct spelling as he and my great grandfather had placed numerous business advertisments in the Kendal newspapers. He further went on to refer to Martha as Ann and most of his children were listed by their middle names. For example my grandfather was entered as Stanley Hodson when he was in fact George Stanley HODGSON. So why you might ask? Well I believe it was to obfuscate his potentially bigamous marriage to Martha. As you have noted above Thomas abandoned his wife Ellen Otway somewhere between 1871 and 1875; he also abandoned his three daughters by Ellen. In the 1911 censuses Martha and Thomas separately claim to have been married since 1875, however, their marriage certificate shows that they married in Shrewsbury in 1884. This after having four illegitmate children. (Harry, Minnie, Ethel & Martha). In that marriage certificate Thomas claims to be a Bachelor, not widower or divorcee. Surprisingly one witness was Edward Morfield, his brother in law, who was also a witness to his real marriage to Ellen Otway in Kendal in 1863. Angela35 above incorrectly names Thomas's parents as Thomas and Ellen. They are, in fact, Thomas Hodgson and Ann Smith. Ann is buried in Shrewsbury. Funny he used his mother's name to obfuscate Martha in his version of the 1901 census. I have not been able to prove with any certainty that Ellen died before Thomas re-married, leaving open the probability he married bigamously, especially considering the lies and false witness by he and Moorfield in the marriage certificate. Thomas and Martha are buried in an unmarked grave in Shrewsbury. They lived for many years in Soho Terrace (no longer exisitng) in Castlefields near the gas works by where I went to school.
Hi John
Many thanks for clearing that up for me. Sorry I missed your first post as I have not logged in for a couple of weeks. I am doing the research for a friend who currently has the file. I hope to be able to contact you again in the new year. I am sure she would love to see some old photos.
Family history never ceases to amaze. Thanks again. Will be in touch.
John
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Hi John. I looked at original of 1911 census and although his wife isn't living there that day, it does say that he has been married 36 years, 8 children prior to 1911, 2 whom have died ( it has been crossed off , been put there in error as wife has to put that info in her column ) however, it proves that he has only 1 wife ! I have checked marriages for you and can't find any resemblance to either Ann or Martha ? Very strange ,. Ann could be her middle name though !? In 1901 there is a daughter called Florence aged 3 months old, you could send for her birth cert ? That would tell you what her parents names were? Her birth reference is;
Births Mar 1901
Hodgson Florence May Atcham 6a 642