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| Old Spitalfields Market Image: Hulki Okan Tabak | Pixabay |
Maria Thompson, daughter of Solomon Thompson Jnr and Maria Willis, married John Blackett. Well, I'll give this pair of slippery characters the benefit of the doubt: on the census returns they say that they're married, but I haven't [yet] found a record of a wedding anywhere. John Blackett's birthplace is given as Spitalfields and there is a potential baptism at St. Leonard's, Shoreditch on 15 Aug 1811, which would make him the son of a Joseph and Frances Blackett.
Likewise, they appear reticent to register their children:
- Maria Blackett bap. 29 Jun 1834 at St Mary's, Whitechapel
- Henry Blackett born 1847 (mentioned only on 1851 census)
In 1841, Maria Blackett (25) Dressmaker - no sign of John or any child - was staying with her brother Daniel, in Cransley, Northamptonshire.
In 1851, John and Maria Blackett were living in Wellington Place, Back Road, St George in the East with the household comprising: John Blackett (39), Butcher; Maria (38); Henry Blackett (4) and George Collins (24), Carpenter, Widower, Lodger; John Nursey (18) Lodger and John Grant (25) Lodger.
In 1861, at 4, Back Road, St George in the East, were John Blackett (49) Butcher; Maria (47); William Hill Adcock (21) Bookseller's Assistant, Visitor (Maria's brother Daniel's wife's brother's son); Benjamin Thompson (19) Bricklayer, Nephew (her brother Daniel's son) and Henry M Thompson (10), Sugar Maker, Nephew (don't yet know whose son he was).
John Blackett died in 1866, in St George in the East, aged 54.