X00087: Mary Ann Slade Birth Correction

As mentioned previously, I have been trying to correct some information and try to solve some issues with my Slade family.

On the marriage certificate for William Slade and Emma Smith, it lists William Slade as a widower. I've been trying to find out more information about his first wife. The first clues are in the 1841 census.

You can see, William Slade and Emma Smith in the census, as well as their daughter Emma. There are two additional children, however, Mary Ann and Charles. Both children were born before William and Emma's marriage in 1839 and are therefore likely from the first marriage.

I managed to find a baptism record for Charles John Slade (born in 1827) and one for Mary Ann Slade:

This one, however, raised a number of concerns. First the baptism date of 1837 didn't match with the age in the census. As well, it's ten years after Charles was born, so there is quite a gap in time. As well, the occupation of smith for William Smith doesn't match, as William Slade shows as a clerk in almost all records. So I had another look and eventually found this record:

This one seems a better match.The baptism year is 1825, which better matches the census record, and is closer in time to the birth of Charles John Slade. Plus, William Slade is listed as a barrister's clerk which is consistent with other records. So this one makes far more sense.

As well, this gives a better idea of timing for finding further records. William Slade and Mary Ann likely married before 1825, and Mary Ann likely died shortly after 1827, unless there were other children born after Charles John.