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I have a Robert Simpkin b.c.1845 on the 1861 census with his parents and siblings born Wicken. I then find him in 1871 with Sophia Simpkin, his wife with 4 step children, all with the surname Canham.The youngest being only 1. Im confused because i have found a possible marriage of Robert to Elizabeth Canham in 1862. I have found no marriage to a Sophia after the youngest of her children have been born. I have found Sophia on an earlier census with her previous husband Elias who died in 1865, but the youngest child is 1 years old on the 1871, with a middle name of Elias..........So who married who?? and when, please can anyone help me.Oh and i cant find any of them on the 1881 census.!!!

The 1871............. : Robert Simpkin Age: 27 Estimated birth year: abt 1844 Relation: Head Spouse's name: Sophia Gender: Male Where born: Wicken, Cambridgeshire, England Civil parish: Wicken Ecclesiastical parish: Ely Town: Wicken County/Island: Cambridgeshire Country: England Street address: Occupation: Condition as to marriage: Disability: View image Registration district: Newmarket Sub-registration district: Soham ED, institution, or vessel: 11 Neighbors: View others on page Household schedule number: 25 Household Members: Name Age Emma Lydia Canham 7 John Canham 12 Sarah Ann Canham 10 Walter Elias Canham 1 Robert Simpkin 27 Sophia Simpkin 31

Thank you Tracy, so Sophia married Elias in 1857, had 3 children by him, and then he dies in 1865........ Whose child was Walter Elias, he has his mothers husbands name?

The 1861............ Sophia Canham Age: 21 Estimated birth year: abt 1840 Relation: Wife Spouse's name: Elias Gender: Female Where born: Wicken, Cambridgeshire, England Civil parish: Wicken County/Island: Cambridgeshire Country: England Street address: Occupation: Condition as to marriage: View image Registration district: Newmarket Sub-registration district: Soham ED, institution, or vessel: 11 Neighbors: View others on page Household schedule number: 22 Household Members: Name Age Elias Canham 28 John Canham 2 Sarah A Canham 1 Mo Sophia Canham 21

There is this marriage in 1869, which makes things more confusing :- Name: Sophia Canham Year of Registration: 1869 Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec District: Newmarket County: Cambridgeshire, Suffolk Volume: 3b Page: 1235 The two men on the page are William Butcher or Stephen Howlett. Could Sophia have married again inbetween her marriage to Elias and the marriage (if there was one) to Robert Simpkin? Kath. x

Marriages Dec 1857 Peach* Sophy Peach* Sophia Canham Elias Newmarket 3b 1284 Births Mar 1840 Peachey Sophia Newmarket 14 114

If Sophia had a child out of wedlock after her husband's death, then the child would have Canham as a surname, as that would have been the mother's name at the time. Kath. x

Please can anyone see them on the 1881, it might make more sense then.........

Kath, now im truly confused!! The name howlett is also very big on this side of the family too... Roberts youngest sister married a Howlett!! This is so confusing!!! so she may have become a butcher or a howlett before marrying Robert, as you say if she did marry him............. Thank you for all your help. x

Here is Walter in 1891 with his 'granny' although where has Susan come from!!!!! Walter I Canham Age: 17 Estimated birth year: abt 1874 Relation: Granddaughter Gender: Female Where born: Wicken, Cambridgeshire, England Civil parish: Wicken Ecclesiastical parish: Wicken Town: Wicken County/Island: Cambridgeshire Country: England Street address: Occupation: Condition as to marriage: Education: Employment status: View image Registration district: Newmarket Sub-registration district: Soham ED, institution, or vessel: 10 Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Susan S Canham 19 Walter I Canham 17 Minah Simpkin 76 View Original Record View original image View blank form Save This Record Attach this record to a person in your tree as a source record, or save for later evaluation. Save Source Citation: Class: RG12; Piece: 1295; Folio 171; Page 7; GSU Ann

This is the only one I can find in 1881 (age is a bit out but he is born Wicken - only now he is with Elizabeth):- Name: Robt. Simpkin Age: 42 Estimated birth year: abt 1839 Relation: Head Spouse's name: Elizabeth Gender: Male Where born: Wicken, Cambridgeshire, England Civil parish: Wicken County/Island: Cambridgeshire Country: England Street address: North Street Condition as to marriage: Married Education: Employment status: View image Occupation: Carpenter Registration district: Newmarket Sub-registration district: Soham ED, institution, or vessel: 11 Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Elizabeth Simpkin 39 Jonas W. Simpkin 6 Mary Eliza Simpkin 10 Robt. Simpkin 42 Robt.S. Simpkin 3 Source Citation: Class: RG11; Piece: 1681; Folio: 98; Page: 7; Perhaps in 1871 he was just living with Sophia and then went back to Elizabeth (it all sounds complicated doesn't it, but then so are some families today, lol.) Kath. x

Ann, thank you for that one, i think the grandmother in 1891 must have been a step mother to Robert as Roberts mother was called Ann and died in 1883.. Kath , i shall keep that one for reference too........one day i might discover exactly how they are all connected! Thank you all so much for your help on this!!! Rebecca xx

Ann, yes i wondered where Susan has come from too.......

Susan belongs to a James and Susan... 1881 Susan Simpkin Canham abt 1872 Wicken, Cambridgeshire, England Daughter Wicken Cambridgeshire James Canham 40 Susan Canham 37 Sarah Alice Canham 16 David Canham 14 Susan Simpkin Canham 9 Walter Robert Canham 7 Bertha Canham 5 So, is Walter in 1891 Walter R or Walter I?

OMG - I'm confused now. I'm so glad this is your family Rebecca and not mine, LOL. Kath. x

Not sure if this will help or hinder, but I have found Susan in 1881 Susan Simpkin Canham Age: 9 Estimated birth year: abt 1872 Relation: Daughter Father's name: James Mother's name: Susan Gender: Female Where born: Wicken, Cambridgeshire, England Civil parish: Wicken County/Island: Cambridgeshire Country: England Street address: South Side of Main Road Education: Employment status: View image Occupation: Scholar Registration district: Newmarket Sub-registration district: Soham ED, institution, or vessel: 10 Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Bertha Canham 5 David Canham 14 James Canham 40 Sarah Alice Canham 16 Susan Canham 37 Susan Simpkin Canham 9 Walter Robert Canham 7 View Original Record View original image View blank form Save This Record Attach this record to a person in your tree as a source record, or save for later evaluation. Save Source Citation: Class: RG11; Piece: 1681; Folio: 87; Page: 9; Line: ; GSU roll: 1341402.

Tracy, ive just looked at the 1891 again and noticed that two doors away are susan and james canham so yes im sure that walter is probably not mine now, thank you Rebecca.

This explains that... Marriages Jun 1864 Canham James Simkin Susan Newmarket 3b 923 Could be related lol Ahh - John and Elias are brothers!! And, I think Robert and Susan are siblings too!

Oh, they're not. It's a different Robert. Very confusing. I'll have another look into this tonight or tomorrow. I'm intrigued now!

Oh no Tracy, now im so so confused!!!!!!