J
JessH34
Member
Hello,
I'm a keen family history researcher and stumbled across a thread on another site suggesting that one of my family lines could be linked to Captain Smith. I've followed this through and think there is truth in it, but I've hit a brick wall in the final step trying to prove the link. Help from anyone with information on the family line of Captain Smith's mother, Catherine Marsh, would be much appreciated!
I know that Catherine Marsh was born in Penkhull around 1809 to Ralph Marsh (and I think Rebecca). I'm also fairly sure that she had a sister Hannah Marsh, later Simpson and then Bloore. The Simpsons are next door to Catherine Hancock (nee Marsh) and Edward Smith on the 1841 census, with children similarly named (she had a Thirza too). My presumption that they were sisters comes from the fact that Hannah's marriage certificate to William Bloore also states Ralph Marsh as her father.
What I'm trying to confirm is whether Catherine and Hannah also had a third sister called Mary Marsh (married name Dissington). Mary is my 5x great-grandmother, and the main thing that makes me think she is a sister is that one of her granddaughters, Mary Ellen Carter, went to live with Hannah (by then Bloore) when orphaned. They can be found living together on the 1871 census, with orphaned Mary stated as elderly Hannah's 'relative'. If Catherine, Hannah and Mary were all sisters, this means Hannah took in her great niece. My line of thinking is that Hannah is unlikely to have taken this child in if the relationship was any more distant than that.
So, if anybody can shed any light on other children of Ralph and Rebecca Marsh (I couldn't find any baptism records), and in particular if one of them was called Mary, that would be great. It's difficult working in these times in the early 1800s before registration began, so I know it's a long shot, but would be very grateful for any help!
Many thanks,
Jessica
I'm a keen family history researcher and stumbled across a thread on another site suggesting that one of my family lines could be linked to Captain Smith. I've followed this through and think there is truth in it, but I've hit a brick wall in the final step trying to prove the link. Help from anyone with information on the family line of Captain Smith's mother, Catherine Marsh, would be much appreciated!
I know that Catherine Marsh was born in Penkhull around 1809 to Ralph Marsh (and I think Rebecca). I'm also fairly sure that she had a sister Hannah Marsh, later Simpson and then Bloore. The Simpsons are next door to Catherine Hancock (nee Marsh) and Edward Smith on the 1841 census, with children similarly named (she had a Thirza too). My presumption that they were sisters comes from the fact that Hannah's marriage certificate to William Bloore also states Ralph Marsh as her father.
What I'm trying to confirm is whether Catherine and Hannah also had a third sister called Mary Marsh (married name Dissington). Mary is my 5x great-grandmother, and the main thing that makes me think she is a sister is that one of her granddaughters, Mary Ellen Carter, went to live with Hannah (by then Bloore) when orphaned. They can be found living together on the 1871 census, with orphaned Mary stated as elderly Hannah's 'relative'. If Catherine, Hannah and Mary were all sisters, this means Hannah took in her great niece. My line of thinking is that Hannah is unlikely to have taken this child in if the relationship was any more distant than that.
So, if anybody can shed any light on other children of Ralph and Rebecca Marsh (I couldn't find any baptism records), and in particular if one of them was called Mary, that would be great. It's difficult working in these times in the early 1800s before registration began, so I know it's a long shot, but would be very grateful for any help!
Many thanks,
Jessica
