Hertfordshire Genealogy: Robinson, Flamstead, mid 19th century

Margaret Graham (MRGraham01 @t aol.com) of Bletchley writes William Robinson was born in Flamstead in 1830 and married Eliza Coot born 1834 (a widow whose maiden name was Flitton) on 25.12.1859 in the Parish Church in Flamstead. I cannot find any census with William Robinson on it to see who his parents were, and I am puzzled because on the Marriage Certificate his father's name is given as Samuel Lines. I have just looked at the latest 1841 census at our local library, but cannot find William Robinson on it. There is a Samuel Lines aged 60 living in Flamstead, but no William is mentioned. Either his mother was married to ....Robinson before she married Samuel Lines, or he was possibly illegitimate. I would be grateful for any help you can give.

William Robinson is listed on the 1851 census living at Friars Wash, Flamstead, in the household of Samuel and Mary Lines. He is unmarried and described as "son-in-law" which undoubtedly means step-son. In the 1841 census he is again listed in the household of Samuel and Mary Lines - and is given the name William Lines (this confusion over step-children's surnames is common in census returns.)

The British Vital Records Index shows that Samuel Lines married Mary Robinson at Flamstead on 27 January 1834 and you will need to look at the register to see if she was a widow or a spinster.

October, 2009

Peter Kettle (pkettle @t tpg.com.au) of Sydney, Australia, writes: William was the illegitimate child of Mary Robinson of Trowley [Flamstead] baptised 11 Sep 1831. Mary subsequently married Samuel Lines 27 Jan 1834.

Further checking using familysearch shows that Mary was baptised at Flamstead on 10th April 1813, the daughter of James and Sarah Robinson. Her parents were probably the James Robinson and Sarah Scott who married at Leighton Buzzard, Beds, on 25 November 1811. It would appear that Sarah Robinson (aged 27) was buried at Flamstead on 29 March 1815. (Herts Burial Index). When a wife died with young children (often in childbirth) the husband often remarried quickly and James married Elizabeth Glenister at Flamstead on 29th December 1815 and appears with his wife Betty and 5 children in the 1841 census. Elizabeth (aged 58) was buried at Flamstead in 1844 and a widower, James Robinson, 63 year old agricultural labourer, was lodging with Jesse Howard. beer seller, in Flamstead in 1851.

Margaret Graham (MRGraham01 @t aol.com) replied: Many thanks for the very interesting information about William Robinson, which is very much appreciated. I have found out William was illegitimate, father unknown. Mary Robinson married Samuel Lines 27th January 1834 and they had 7 children.

If you can add to the information given above tell me.