BJNL's GENEALOGY

Updated 23 July 2022   William Pratt and Annie Hicks married in 1881 but, by 1891, they were no longer in the same household. It appears that William was left to raise their daughter Katie in his parent's household. What happened to cause Annie to separate from her husband and leave her young daughter behind? Where did she go? Did she move to Lancashire and live as a single woman as a family story suggests? And what of William and Katie? ... I still have lots of unanswered questions but first, some background … William's Background William Pratt was born in 1862 to Thomas and Hannah [Kirk] Pratt of Drayton Parslow in Buckinghamshire. His birth was registered in the 4th quarter of 1862[1]. He is listed in the 1871 and 1881 Census’ as living with his parents and, by 1881, he has a brother in the household as well[2][3]: 1871 - The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1871 England Census; Class: RG10; Piece: 1416; Folio: 6; Page: 4; GSU roll: 828770 via Ancestry.com Thomas

John Fordham, Bachelor, and Alice Pinder, Spinster, married on 15 April 1733 ( 26 April 1733 )[1] at Fleet Prison in London, England[2][3]; a popular venue for irregular and clandestine marriages: Fleet Marriage entry - John Fordham and Alice Pinder via Ancestry.com [London, England Clandestine Marriage and Baptism Registers 1667-1754] The officiating Ministers are recorded as: Wigmore, Hanson, Backler, Ashwell, Cuthbert, and Gaynam[4]. At that time, the rules for marriage within the Church were very restrictive. While most couples married at the family church, a significant number chose, for various reasons, to bypass the regulations and marry outside the Church where requirements associated with a valid marriage were much looser. These marriages are generally referred to as ‘irregular’ or ‘clandestine’ marriages[5]. Irregular marriages were marriages that did not comply with Church Law, whilst clandestine marriages were irregular marriages that had an added element of secrecy. Alt