Identity of John Curtis
When Mary Curtis was married in 1838 her father is given as John Curtis, an Excise Officer.
Later censuses give Mary's birthplace as Ashwell in Hertfordshire whilst her sister Una Ann was born in Crowland, Lincolnshire.
The birth of these two girls was recorded in 1837, despite being several years earlier and gives their parents as John Curtis and Sarah Curtis formerly Oliver.
John, Sarah and Ann have been located in the 1851 and 1861 censuses.
There appear to be a different John and Sarah Curtis in Churchover around this time.
The 1841 Census is less certain, John, Sarah and Ann are all listed, but if this is them there are other children including a girl aged 5. John and Sarah were 54 so it seems unlikely that she was their daugter, as they already had a daughter Mary. She could be child of Unna Ann who remained a spinster.
The other children were Caroline (19) and Josiah (17).
It seems fairly certain that John was born around 1788 in Rotherfield, Sussex and Sarah around the same time in Hoo, Kent.
There is a possible baptism for John and two sisters at Heathfield Indendent Chapel which is about 7 miles from Rotherfield. The older of the two sisters was baptised in 1784 when the parents were said to be from Rotherfield. John and a younger sister were baptised in 1789 when they were said to be from Sharenefs (spelling uncertain and place not known) but John had been born in the middle of 1787. So presumably the family moved some time after he was born.
Therefore it seems reasonably certain that John's parents were Michael and Ann.
Only likely marriage for John Curtis and Sarah Oliver is at Deptford. This is possible, particularly if he was already an Inland Revenue Officer.
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