Sometimes you come across a name that stands out – this one isn’t spectacular but still stands out. You’d think it would be easy to fit out all about the man. Judge for yourself – and if you do find out anything else, please let me know!
His birth was registered in the June Quarter 1856 in Wortley Registration District (South Yorkshire) as Wilson Mickelthwaite.
He then disappears (well, he’s not on the 1861 and 1871 censuses – ah-ha! see below) until 1881 when he is shown (as Micklefit) living with his wife Elizabeth in Wombwell. It says he was born in Chesterfield (which isn’t Wortley). He was a miner.
But in 1889 he married Elizabeth Drudy in Wakefield (as Micklefit). It seems likely (from age and birthplace on the census details) that this is the same Elizabeth on the 1881 census. The marriage record does not show a father. Maybe this is the reason he is missing from those early censuses.
He and Eliza are on the 1891 census in Sharlston (as Micklefith). They then go missing again in 1901 but Wilson turns up in 1911 in Rotherham married, but not widowed (as Micklewaite) – but Elizabeth doesn’t show.
I’ve not found a death registration for Wilson but there is a possible Elizabeth Micklethwaite (surprise!) died in Wakefield in 1929.
So lots of pieces of the jigsaw are still missing – not surprising when the variation in name is considered. However, when you write it all down like this, it makes you think, and have another look … and I found some more pieces!
Being probably illegitimate (from the marriage record) I wondered if Wilson’s surname was Micklethwaite or Martin – so having not found any Micklethwaites in 1861 or 1871 I checked for Martins. In 1871 Wilson M Martin aged 14 (no relationship specified) is in the home of Mary Ann Bone, along with Sarah Martin aged 70, “mother” (of Mary Ann I presume). In 1861 Wilson Mickelfit is a visitor aged 4, as is Sarah Martin aged 59, in the home of Henry and Mary A Bone. Both entries are for Kimberworth (Rotherham, Yorks).
Mary Ann Martin married Henry Bone in 1855 in Sheffield, but that’s before Wilson was born, so I think it’s less likely she was his mother. Sarah Martin was in Thurgoland in 1851 with husband John and daughter Emma 12 and son Thomas (Mary Ann could be the one who was a servant in Sheffield). So maybe Wilson was the son of Emma and some unknown Micklethwaite – there were plenty around the Thurgoland area. Emma appears to have married William Bagley in Wortley in the September Quarter 1856 (once she’d passed baby Wilson to her mother!)
Another couple of jigsaw pieces found. Maybe something else will turn up next time I look!
Andy Micklethwaite's Family History Blog 