Page 300 - Just another English family (Sep 2019)
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but, just as likely, could be a member of another branch of the family. Joseph (c. 1795) could well be a brother of John (c.1791), but this proposal would scupper the idea of John (c.1791) being a younger brother of David (c.1775) and Joseph (c. 1776) although this still remains a possibility.
By the time one reaches John (c.1806), there is no real doubt that he is in a different generation from ~David (c.1775) and Joseph (c.1776). He could be a twin brother to Thomas (c.1806) but the appeal to twinning is too easy – and too unlikely – a solution. They are more likely to be cousins. Edward (c.1811) seems likely to be a brother to either John (c.1806) or Thomas (c.1806) – but not both! In a similar way, William (c.1811) could be a twin brother to Edward (c.1811) but, again, this seems unlikely. William (c.1811) is more likely to be a brother to either John (c. 1806) or Thomas (c.1806) – but again, not to both!
At first, the possibilities seem endless, but they are not. Like a jigsaw, the possibilities are finite. If one gets further evidence to endorse one of the possibilities, then the other pieces begin to fall into place.
In relation to the 1841 Census, some other evidence relates to the birthplace of the heads of household. For this exercise, I exclude the two heads of households in which Martha (c.1813) and Sush (c.1776) are living. All but John (c. 1791) are identified as being born in Yorkshire. The puzzle is that no one is shown as being born in Rochdale. The Rochdale branch at some point becomes quite distinct, but what were its origins? Are there some Rochdale Soothills still lurking in the 1841 Census but not yet identified. While this is a possibility, a more ready source is that one of the families had already moved to Rochdale. Meanwhile, we can move form the places of birth of the heads of households to their current addresses.
This other evidence relating to current residences shows the predominance of addresses in Yorkshire. In fact, all but John (c.1791) are living in or
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