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Oh Mel, it gets worse---
On looking at the 1901 where Elizabeth is living with John as "married" there are three more little Locketts
Thomas born 1894
Fred born 1896
Harry born 1900
In the 1911 John and Elizabeth are Whittaker and Harry and Fred are Locketts-----I think my gt gt grandma led a bit of a life and we will never know the real truth no matter what certificates say, only she will know really.
Doesn't help with Samuel----bet he's at the bottom of the canal

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

The certificate I sent for arrived today.
Joseph Lockett born 30th March 1891, 4 Hillary St Burnley. No father. Mother Elizabeth Lockett washerwoman no maiden name. Her mark and date of register 6th May 1891.
They are at the same address as the 1891 census. Don't understand why there is no maiden name. But interesting she has not given the name of the father. I think we can safely say he was no longer on the scene, either dead or left.

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

The plot thickens!
Still, it does take him away from home for certain. Wonder if John was the dad...not that we'd ever know

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Mel

Searching for lost relatives? Win the Lottery!

If John was the father he wasn't giving his name to it. I wonder if he is on the birth certs of the last three children------I could spend forever at this and never answer the original question.

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

I don't suppose you know what church they used....if they had a church?

Out of curiosity...do you have the marriage?

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Mel

Searching for lost relatives? Win the Lottery!

Marriage and baptism details below of Samuel and son James (my gt grandfather).

Details from marriage cert
28th Sept 1872 Register Office Auckland Durham
Samuel Lockett, 23yrs, bachelor, coal miner, Bowden Close, father James Lockett--coal miner
Elizabeth Holt, 18yrs, spinster, Bowden Close, father James Holt--coal miner
Both signed with their marks
Witnesses Joseph Haydock and Thomas Warburton

Some of their children were baptised at St Peters Burnley, but I couldnt find them all. James was born in Durham (from census info) but I have never been able to find birth or baptism details for him. He was born c1874 and I think I am right in saying registering of births wasn't compulsory until 1875, although it came into being in 1837.

James' wedding cert
The Parish Church of St James's Burnley
Received copy of marriage cert. Witnesses John Parker Lce - not sure what that is, and Harriet Green
James Lockett, 21, bachelor, weaver, 30 Clegg St, Burnley, father Samuel Lockett--collier
Ada Foy, 19yrs, spinster, weaver, 7 Arch Place, Burnley, father Gilbert Foy--deceased

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

I just wondered if her maiden name was known and if they did actually get married.

You're right about the birth registration but I thought is was 1867.....it was years after the registers began though.

Frustrating!!

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Mel

Searching for lost relatives? Win the Lottery!

Although they were married in 1872 on the previous years census they were living as man and wife.
1871 census both born Lancashire
Samuel Lockett, head, 22yrs, coalminer
Elizabeth Lockett, wife, 19yrs,
Slatyford, Gosforth, Durham
In the 1861 census they were both in Rochdale area. I suspect he went to Durham looking for work as a coalminer and she went too, and they lived as man and wife until she was of age and then sneaked off to the registry office and told no one. I don't recognise either of the witnesses.

His father another James was born Shoreham, Rochdale and is in the area up until the 1871 census when he is in Burnley working as a miner. I suspect that is why Samuel went there.

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

I have been over and over this and the only one I can find is a Samuel Lockett who died in 1888 Burnley aged 1yr. I have sent for that certificate in the hope it was a transcription error and he should have been older.
I have looked at the obvious ones which Mel mentioned who could have been him, but they aren't.
I have looked to see if he went back to Durham, but can't find him there.
I have looked at every Lockett for 20yrs or so. Zilch.
Back to the headache.

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

The only other possible explanations I can think of....Samuel was not his first name but the name he used? It sometimes happens doesn't it.

He was a convict?

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Mel

Searching for lost relatives? Win the Lottery!

If he was a convict would he not still be in the census?
On the censuses, his marriage cert and the marriage cert for his son he is Samuel.
I now realise why I left this family line and hadn't looked at it for ages------very frustrating.
I think I am grabbing at straws getting that death cert but I live in hope.

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

Not if he was transported....were they still doing that in the 1880s?

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Mel

Searching for lost relatives? Win the Lottery!

Ooo they might have been, I will have a furtle.

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

The last convicts were transported to Australia in 1868 - see, for instance,
http://australia.gov.au/about-australia ... h-colonies

Charon

Thanks Charon,
I think I am just treading water with this one and getting nowhere. Very frustrating as it's not all that long ago, so he should be easier to find.

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.