Granddaughter

[Kit]

I've been following a line down the census and someone has thrown a spanner in the works.

A woman has called a girl her granddaughter and I am confident that both sets of the girls grandparents are dead.

So my question is could granddaughter mean something besides being her grandmother?

[kiterunner]

Could mean step-granddaughter? Or it could be a mistake! Can you post up the details and I'll have a try at figuring it out, or PM them to me if you don't want to post it up.

[Kit]

I can post it up Kate, but it is complicated.

This is the background:
My 4g grandfather is Richard Simpson and he died in 1833 in Bradford Yorkshire. His wife Susannah is on the 1841 census (as Susan) with a Francis Simpson. Francis is not one of their children, not that I can determine anyway. (HO107; Piece 1296; Book: 3; Folio: 5; Page: 5)

Susan Simpson died in 1847.

I think Francis's parents are William and Rebecca Simpson nee Sugden. He was baptised 9/9/1827. I think William and Richard are probably brothers. William died in 1843 and Rebecca in 1848.

I lost Francis for a while but found him in 1851, a few years older and married to Hannah Hebblethwaite. HO107; Piece: 2309; Folio: 105; Page: 4 (on the parish register Francis lists Richard Simpson, cordwainer as his father. This fits with Susannah's husband.)

Arrgh I can't find the census. The "grandma" is Ann Simpson and she was 70something years old. It is Francis's child I am looking for - Martha or Mary Louise (born 1861 or 1863). There was another grandchild on the image, not a Simpson, but that name didn't ring any bells.

I'll post this before I lose it and I'll go hunting for the image. :(

[Kit]

Francis died 1885 and Hannah in 1877. As Susannah and Rebecca Simpson died before 1851 that is why the grandmother Ann could not be the grandmother. Unless Hannah Hebblethwaite's mother married a Simpson.

I am having no luck tonight finding either girl in the 1871 or 1881 census. It's very frustrating.

[kiterunner]

Is it this family on the 1871 census, Kit?

18 Long Street, Bowling, Bradford, Yorkshire
Ann Simpson Head W 78 Yorkshire Idle
Martha Do Grand-Daur Unm 21 Drawer in Worsted Factory Do Bradford
Agar Hershaw (or Kershaw? or Henshaw?) Grand-Daur Unm 17 Rover in Worsted Factory Do Do
Mary Ann Simpson Grand-Daur 7 Do Do

[kiterunner]

I hope that's the right people, as I've found them in 1861 too, trying to trace them back to see if they're connected:
11 Holm Top St, Bradford:
Nancy Simson Head Widow 64 Bradford Yks
Martha Kershaw Grand-daur Un 12 Worsted Spinner Do Do
Martha Smith Grand-daur 11 Do Do Do Do
Aga (or Aya?) Kershaw Grand Daur 7 Do Do

[Kit]

Yes that's them, Kate. Can you put the reference up. I spent hours trying to find them.

[Kit]

Found it: RG10/4447 Page 24 Folio 29 or 30

Martha is definitely not mine, she is too old. Mary Ann may be although she was christened Mary Louisa.

I'm missing a few of Francis' children on the census. I've found a potential for son James and I had to laugh, he is with another Ann as a visitor when he is 2, by the time he is 12 he is listed as a son. If everyone adopts visiting children then I'll never find them.

Thanks for looking Kate.

[Kit]

While I remember Hannah Hebblethwaite's mother is Mary and she did not remarry. She died in 1871 as did husband George.