I'm trying to locate information regarding the identity of Thomas Rhodes' wife Martha. According to the 1881 census, Martha was born abt 1852 in Sunderland, Durham, and if other online resources are correct, under the name of Martha Cansfield she was first recorded in Knottingley working as a Servant at the time of the 1871 census. It appears that Thomas and Martha had five children by the time of the 1881 census, but the only possible marriage I have located dates from Wakefield in 1879. If you have had any dealings with Thomas Rhodes and Martha or can give any information which might confirm her true identity (or the identity of Thomas' parents) then please post a comment to this message.

Can you shed any light on this?

In the 1871 census at 17 Prospect Row, Knottingley, Joseph Teal, born abt.1842, is shown as a bachelor living with Elizabeth Speight (visitor) and her children Tom and Alice Speight.

On 28 Nov 1880 at St Giles Church, Pontefract, Joseph Teal married Elizabeth Greenwood, widow (nee Wild, daughter of James Wild).

In the 1881 census, Joseph and Elizabeth are recorded as husband and wife living at Southowram, Halifax, along with Tom and Alice Speight.

On 20 Oct 1867 at Ferrybridge Methodist Chapel, there was a baptism for a Thomas Speight Greenwood (born 25 May 1867) (Is this the same Tom Speight recorded as son of Elizabeth in the 1871 and 1881 census?)

Can you explain where the 'Speight' family name comes into this and how, if this is the same Elizabeth, she became known as Elizabeth Speight?

I am trying to determine the parents of William Hardy, born abt 1837 in Fairburn, Yorkshire. The IGI records a baptism of William Hardy to Harriott Hardy (single mother?) 17 September 1837 at Ledsham, Yorkshire and also a baptism record for 1837 submitted by a LDS member for a William Hardy in Fairburn.

The confusion begins with a pedigree resource file on the IGI submitted by LDS member Harry Lane in which he records William Hardy as the son of John Hardy and Marianne (Mary Ann) nee Joliffe.

The 1851 census records William Hardy, aged 13, at the home of John Hardy and his wife Mary Ann at New Road, Brotherton, at which time William is recorded as their NEPHEW.

It is believed that William Hardy married Ann Hodgson in the June qtr of 1861 at Pontefract so does anyone know the identity of William's parents? Do you have that marriage record?