This shows the family living in Canal Street, Wolverhampton.

Her husband, John, aged 33, is a locksmith. He was born in Tettenhall, a village near Wolverhampton.

Mary Ann is aged 33. She was born in Bridgnorth, Salop.

Their children:

• Jane is age 8
• John is age 11 months

This shows the family living in Falkland Street, Wolverhampton.

Her husband, John, age 42, is a locksmith. He was born in Tettenhall, a villiage near Wolverhampton.

Mary Ann, is age 43. She was born in Bridgnorth, Salop.

Mary Ann, his wife, is age 43. She was born in Bridgnorth, Salop.

Jane is now married and living with her in-laws.

Someone called Esther (?) is listed at age 18 - as a general servant. It is possible that Esther was simply listed as a daughter even though she was no relation - just the census-taker making a mistake.

John is listed as being 12.

A new daughter, Selina, is listed as being aged 4 and a young son Robert as aged 2.

Two lodgers - Samuel Russell age 44 (a taylor - sewing man) and Alfred Massey age 28 (a bricklayer) were also living in the house.

Mary Ann (age 52) is now a widow. She is now living in Canal Street again with her son, John (age 22) who is a locksmith. The census shows that she was born in Bridgnorth, Shropshire.

Her daughter, Jane's family are living next door,

Jane's husband, John Walton, was aged 33 and a key maker.

Jane, was 27.

There are four children at Jane's home:

• Mary Ann, age 8
• James, age 6
• Fanney, age 4
• John, age 1

So Mary Ann is surrounded by grandchildren!

Mary Ann (age 63) is a widow. She is living in Wheeler's Fold, Wolverhampton with her son, John's family. She is working as a char woman - a cleaning lady. The census erroneously says she is the 'wife's mother'.

John Childs - age 33 - is a locksmith

Emma Childs - his wife - is 26

Their children:

• William - age 7
• Selina - age 5
• Richard - age 3
• Caroline - age 10 months

Mary Ann (age 74) is a widow. She is living in John Street, Wolverhampton. It is stated that she is the mother of the householder, but she cannot be William's mother unless she was married before and his family took the child - or he was born out of wedlock and her family kept him as a child.

There has been no previous listing of Esther. Esther would have been born in 1833 - the same year as Jane, so it was unlikely that Mary Ann is her mother.

On researching William Mattocks to see if I can ascertain the link I found details of his marriage at St. Peter's Church. Wolverhampton.

From this I can confirm that Esther was the child of John Childs and that she had married before. It would be a great coincidence if there were two John Childs married to Mary Ann with a child John (who served as a witness).

William Mattocks (age 40) is the head of the household. He is a holloware turner.

His wife, Esther, is 48. she is older than him and may well have been married before, as Esther Preston - age 25 is also listed as a daughter of the household - and *Florrie Preston - age 2 - is either Esther Preston's daughter or Esther Mattocks's daughter and the ditto was incorrectly placed!

Their children:

• Francis - age 16
• Sarah - age 13
• Harriet - age 9 - (MATTOCKS Mary Harriet - dau.of William & Esther - Christened at St Peters, Wolverhampton on 23rd Dec 1871 - Wheelers Fold - Occupation: Tinner)
• Edward - age 7
• Arthur - age 5
• (Florrie - age 2)*