EDDY Family of Cornwall

In the 1841 census, James's age was recorded as 20 - with rounding this means 20-24. There are two possible baptism entries for James in St Just, son of William and Elizabeth: 24 May 1818 and 02 Aug 1820.

In the 1851 census, at 90 Nancherrow Terrace, St Just (transcription courtesy of Ron Rowe): Eddy«tab»James«tab»head«tab»m«tab»30«tab»Tin Miner«tab»St Just (Ron had James and Mary Ann's birthplaces around the other way) Eddy«tab»Mary Ann«tab»wife«tab»m«tab»30«tab»«tab»White Cross, Somerset? Eddy«tab»Mary Ann«tab»dau«tab»«tab»5«tab»«tab»St Just«tab» Eddy«tab»Sarah B«tab»dau«tab»«tab»2«tab»«tab»St Just«tab» Eddy«tab»Elizabeth«tab»dau«tab»«tab»1«tab»«tab»St Just«tab»

In the 1861 census, in ref St Just in Penwith 15-112 (Nancherrow Terrace): EDDY«tab»Mary Ann«tab»Head«tab»M«tab»40«tab» EDDY«tab»Mary Ann«tab»Daughter«tab»U«tab»15«tab» EDDY«tab»Sarah B«tab»Daughter«tab»-«tab»12«tab» EDDY«tab»Elizabeth«tab»Daughter«tab»-«tab»11«tab» MICHELL«tab»Elisabeth«tab»Visitor«tab»U«tab»23«tab»dressmaker Note: Visitor info from Geoff McKee.

All were born in St Just except for Mary Ann, the family head, who is recorded as born in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. The father, James, is absent but Mary Ann is recorded as M (married), rather than W (widow). In the 1851 census Mary Ann's birth place was recorded as White Cross, Somerset - I can't explain the discrepancy but believe these families in the 1851 and 1861 censuses are the same. The only explanation I can suggest is that perhaps Forest of Dean was mis-transcribed from Taunton Deane, or, more likely, White Cross (which I can't find in Somerset) could instead be White Croft, which is in the Forest of Dean.

There was some confusion over who James married. A possible alternative was Jane UREN, married 27 Aug 1848, but she can now be eliminated.

Conclusions have been drawn thanks to the following information collated from several sources by Paul Chandler (a descendant of James and Mary Ann): I have known that my gg-grandmother was born Sarah Baker Eddy, daughter of James Eddy and Mary Ann Williams of St Just (courtesy of her death certificate). What I have discovered is that Sarah's parents and two sisters also came out to Australia and, with Sarah and family, lived in Ballarat. Thus, there are quite accurate death records concerning the (until now elusive) James and Mary Ann. James is recorded as having father William and mother Elizabeth Rowe. James and Mary Ann's children were Sarah Baker, Elizabeth and Mary Ann. Mary Ann married a William Eddy. In fact, this is the William Eddy, son of Edward Grenfell Eddy and Jane Tonkin, christened on 17 Mar 1843 in St Just In Penwith, Cornwall, England, and was buried on 2 Apr 1912 in Ballarat Old Cemetery, Victoria, Australia. This marriage was a union of cousins, not of 2 people who happened to have the same surname. Incidentally, the "link" is not wishful thinking - I have death and burial dates for Mary Ann's husband which tie in with those you have published for this William.