Return to my Pond/Bond problem

[ElizabethHerts]

My 2x-great-grandfather, Henry William Pond/Bond was economical with the truth, to say the least!

Here are two previous threads about the problem:

http://www.genealogistsforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=3835&highlight=Pond

http://www.genealogistsforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=19050&highlight=Pond

When Henry married Eliza Brewer, maiden name Jeffcoat, in 1859 he states he is a widower. I have never found his first marriage.

In 1844 a Henry Bond marries Mercy Steel:
http://interactive.ancestry.co.uk/1623/31280_197200-00059/2883408?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.co.uk %2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fdb%3dLMAmarriages%26rank%3d1%26new %3d1%26so%3d3%26MSAV%3d1%26gss%3dms_r_db%26gsfn%3d Henry%26gsln%3dBond%26dbOnly%3d_F00058A6%257c_F000 58A6_x%26dbOnly%3d_F0005A5D%257c_F0005A5D_x%26dbOn ly%3d_F0005A49%257c_F0005A49_x%26uidh%3dxt1&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults

This is the marriage of my great-great-grandparents:

http://interactive.ancestry.co.uk/1623/31281_A101849-00085/1271243?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.co.uk %2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fdb%3dLMAmarriages%26rank%3d1%26new %3d1%26so%3d3%26MSAV%3d1%26msT%3d1%26gss%3dms_db%2 6gsfn%3dEliza%26gsln%3dBrewer%26msgdy%3d1859%26dbO nly%3d_F00058A6%257c_F00058A6_x%26dbOnly%3d_F0005A 5D%257c_F0005A5D_x%26dbOnly%3d_F0005A49%257c_F0005 A49_x%26uidh%3dxt1&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults

Bearing in mind of Henry's propensity for lying, what do you think?
The father has a different name - James Bond (!)
However, my Henry's father Henry was given as a Coachman for all his children's baptisms.

I admit the signatures don't seem very similar.

Question - was Henry really a widower when he married Eliza?
If he had been married before who was his first wife and did she die?

This is really a record of my thought processes while I continue to grapple with him. By the way, my great-aunt was always very reticent when asked about him.

[ElizabethHerts]

Well, I have found Henry and Mercy with son James on the 1851 Census:

White Hart Mews Yard, All Hallows London Wall, City of London, Middlesex

Henry Bond Head Married Male 28 1823 Carman Wandsworth
Mercy Bond Wife Married Female 32 1819 - Hampshire,
James Bond Son - Male 2 1849 - London, Middlesex

Archive reference HO107 Piece number 1532 Folio 226 Page 26

So it isn't my Henry as he was born c. 1808.

[ElizabethHerts]

Yet another twist in the story.

The marriage of the assumed brother of Henry William Pond/Bond to Sarah Watts can now be found on the new FREEREG:

Field Value
County Somerset
Place Bath
Church name Walcot - St Swithin
Register type PR
Register entry number 63
Marriage date 18 Jul 1843
Groom forename John Plowright
Groom surname POND
Groom age Full age
Groom condition Bachelor
Groom abode 20 Lansdown Crescent
Groom occupation Servant
Bride forename Sarah
Bride surname WATTS
Bride age Full age
Bride condition Spinster
Bride parish St Saviour. Walcot
Groom father forename Charles Henry
Groom father surname POND
Groom father occupation Coachman
Bride father forename Francis
Bride father surname WATTS
Bride father occupation Labourer
Witness1 forename Edward
Witness1 surname COOPER
Witness2 forename George
Witness2 surname ALLWRIGHT

This is very interesting as Henry's father was Henry, as was the father of John Plowright Pond. Another twist in the story. Henry Pond senior was a coachman.

[tenterfieldjulie]

Heavens Liza .. James Bond no less!!

[ElizabethHerts]

Julie, I've got three of those in my tree - all Cornishmen!

[tenterfieldjulie]

Of course the best sort!!! Having more Cornish blood than anything else, I might add lol
I've emailed you. Cheers.