EDDY Family of Cornwall

Given the combination of all the following information, I believe it was most probably this Thomas EDDY that married Mary THOMAS. The key info is Thomas's birthplace in the 1851 census and his ages in the 1841 and 1851 census returns, which tally with the baptism. Also, the 2 extras in the household in the 1841 census, Grace and Elizabeth, would have been the daughters of Thomas's cousin, William (son of Thomas' uncle John) who married Grace HOLLOW.

In the 1841 census, ref St Just in Penwith 6-128 (North Row): EDDY«tab»Thomas«tab»47«tab»M«tab»Labourer«tab» EDDY«tab»Mary«tab»47«tab»F«tab»«tab» EDDY«tab»Amelia«tab»15«tab»F«tab»«tab» EDDY«tab»Thomas«tab»8«tab»M«tab»«tab» EDDY«tab»Grace«tab»26«tab»F«tab»Bonnet Maker?«tab» EDDY«tab»Elizabeth«tab»20«tab»F«tab»«tab» THOMAS«tab»William«tab»1«tab»M«tab» Note that by the order I assume that Grace and Elizabeth are not children of Thomas and Mary. Geoff McKee proposes (and I agree) that they are daughters of William EDDY and Grace HOLLOW.

In the 1851 census at 79 Bostrase, St Just in Penwith: Eddy«tab»Thomas«tab»head«tab»m«tab»58«tab»Tin Miner«tab»St Just«tab» Reseigh«tab»Thomas«tab»son-i-law«tab»m«tab»30«tab»Tin Dresser«tab»St Just«tab» Reseigh«tab»Mary Ann«tab»dau«tab»m«tab»28«tab»«tab»St Just«tab» Reseigh«tab»John«tab»g.son«tab»«tab»7«tab»«tab»St Just«tab» Reseigh«tab»Amelia«tab»g.dau«tab»«tab»6«tab»«tab»St Just«tab» Reseigh«tab»Thomas E«tab»g.son«tab»«tab»4«tab»«tab»St Just«tab» Reseigh«tab»Mary Ann«tab»g.dau«tab»«tab»2«tab»«tab»St Just«tab» Note: not sure about Thomas EDDY being recorded as married as I can't find an entry for his wife Mary.

Assuming Thomas and Mary married before daughter Amelia was born, and if the 1851 census entry is the same family as the 1841 census, before daughter Mary Ann was born, the only appropriate marriage is that of Thomas EDDY and Mary THOMAS, on 5 Feb 1822 at St Just in Penwith

Given Thomas EDDY's ages in the 1841 and 1851 census entries, he would have been baptised about 1793. There are 2 possible entries although the ages in the censuses would favour (b): (a) Thomas EDDY son of William EDDY & Mary -, 8 Apr 1792 St Just in Penwith«tab» (b) Thomas EDDY son of James EDDY & Loveday -, 7 Jul 1793 St Just in Penwith

There is one other marriage between a Thomas and a Mary (nee EDDY, on 11 Oct 1843 in St Just, source Geoff McKee), so the following children baptised between 1822 and 1843 most probably belong to this couple: (A) Amelia EDDY 15 Apr 1827 St Just in Penwith (B) Thomas EDDY 24 Jul 1831 St Just in Penwith (C) Thomas EDDY 26 May 1833 St Just in Penwith Note: I can't find a baptism entry for Mary Ann. Mary Ann was not with the family in the 1841 census, but I believe the following entry belongs to her: EDDY«tab»Maryan«tab»15«tab»F«tab»Female Servant«tab»St Just in Penwith 6-101 (New Chapel Street)«tab»

Geoff McKee notes that the marriage register has: Thomas EDDY of Kenwin married Mary THOMAS widow 5 Feb 1822 St Just by banns, he single, in the presence of Elizabeth WILLIAMS and John TREGEAR.

The bit that confuses me is 'Kenwin'. The closest match to this is the parish of Kenwyn near Truro. Although I have found details of 3 EDDY marriages in Kenwyn (1783, 1802 and 1807) and 9 baptism entries (from 1803-1831, from 4 couples), there is no mention of a Thomas EDDY. As I have not seen the original, I can't comment on the accuracy of the translation, but Kenwyn near Truro is unlikely to be correct. Alternatives to Kenwin that are around St Just are Kenidjack, Kelynack and Keigwin, of which Keigwin would seem the closest if it is mis-transcribed.