Worsley

Buried in Smithdown Road Cemetary - grave #368 Col E

I have searched in Dover Registry office for her birth, but can find no trace of a Mary Ann born to Colonel Walker, with or without a foreign lady. I have found the birth of a Mary Ann to a Bombadier John Walker and Sarah (formerly White) on the 9th of June 1840, in the sub-district of Hougham. For this girl to be the same, she would have understated her age at the census by two years. She will also have promoted her father somewhat from the ranks to Colonel of the Regiment, and this seems unlikely. One possible explanation is that she was born on board ship, and Dover was the port from or to which the ship was sailing at the time. But this explanation raises as many questions as it answers.

However, her marriage certificate shows her father's name as John Walker (desc), but his occupation as Cotton Porter. Perhaps this is the same Mary Ann as found above, and her father had left the army to take up this other job.

From Ted's Notes: In 1800 Blackburn House. College for girls.

Notes 2006. I have traced Mary Ann back through the censuses to 1851 when she is shown as 11 years old. So this adds to the 1840 birth date. But the census record for 1851 is not final. A man, John Walker, is listed as a lodger - as are all the other Walkers with him. Lets assume he is the father but now a widow. The family is in poor circumstances, so we really should say goodbye to the notion of a Maltese Lady.

We find her again in the 1861 census, where she is aged 21 and working as a servant in Upper Parliament Street to a relatively wealthy family.

We see her next married to Edward Worsley in Beaufort St. Edward is a captain of a Mersey Flat, and they have three children.

The 1881 census finds her in saddened circumstances. Edward was killed, and she now works as a laundress - but has 7 children - the eldest just 14.

In 1891, there are 4 children at home but all are now working with youngest aged 16.

In 1901, she is living with her eldest child, Sarah, who had married Charles Laynan and their two children.

She died in 1911 with Sarah at her bedside.

from FreeBMD Births Jun 1840 (>99%) Walker Mary Ann Dover 5 108 Scan available - click to view

1911 census - see Sarah, her daughter

LAYMAN, CHARLES JOHN HEAD MARRIED M 38 RAILWAY GOODS FOREMAN LANC LIVERPOOL LAYMAN, SARAH JANE WIFE MARRIED 17 F 40 LANC LIVERPOOL LAYMAN, EDITH DAUGHTER SINGLE F 16 MILLINERY APPRENTICE LANC LIVERPOOL LAYMAN, DORIS DAUGHTER SINGLE F 10 SCHOOL LANC LIVERPOOL GALLOWAY, JANET GARDNER BOARDER SINGLE F 26 RESTAURANT WAITRESS LANC LIVERPOOL WARSLEY, MARY ANN BOARDER WIDOW F 66 KENT DOVER