Emily (Watson) Cousins (1851 - 1912)

Born 1851 in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England

Ancestors

Wife of William Foster — married 15 Oct 1881 (to 1888) in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England

Wife of Thomas Cousins — married 23 Nov 1891 in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England

Descendants

Died 1912 at about age 61 in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Michelle Wilkes [send private message]

Biography

Genealogically Defined

Emily was born in 1851^[1] in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England^{[2][3][4][5][6][7]} and was baptised on the 5th September 1851 at St. Mary, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England, the daughter of Samuel Watson (labourer)^[8][9] and Sarah Watson of Hitchin Hill^[10].

On the 15th October 1881, Emily married William Foster at St. Mary, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England. William Foster, bachelor, labourer of Hitchin, son of Joseph Foster (labourer) and Emily Watson, spinster, of Hitchin, daughter of Samuel Watson (labourer). Witnessed by Henry Bowden & Emily Watson^[8]

Emily's first husband William died aged 53 years in 1888^[11].

On the 23rd November 1891, Emily married Thomas Cousins at St. Mary the Virgin, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England. Thomas Cousins, 39, bachelor, labourer, of Grove Mill {Hitchin} son of Thomas Cousins (labourer) and Emily Foster, 40, widow of Hitchin Hill {Hitchin}, daughter of Samuel Watson (labourer). Witnessed by Henry Bowden & Lizzie ^[9]

Emily died aged 60 years about 1912 in Hertfordshire, England^[12]

Children

By Henry Smith*

1. Rosanna/Rosina (Rose) Florence Watson b. 1875^[13] Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England^[4][5]
2. Agnes Smith Watson b. 1877^[14] Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England^[4]

By William Foster:

1. Violet Millicent Foster b. 1886^[15] at Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England^[6][7]

By Thomas Cousins:

1. Percy Reginald Cousins b. 1892^[16] at Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England^[6][7]
2. Grace Ella Cousins b. 1893^[17] at Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England^[6][7]

Census

1861 Census of England & Wales: 7th April 1861
Hitchin Hill, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England

1871 Census of England & Wales: 2nd April 1871
Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England

1881 Census of England & Wales: 3rd April 1881
Folly, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England

1891 Census of England & Wales: 5th April 1891
"New Found Out", 38 Sunny Side, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England

1901 Census of England & Wales: 31st March 1901
"New Found Out", 38 Sunny Side, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England

1911 Census of England & Wales: 2nd April 1911
"New Found Out", 38 Sunny Side, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England

Research Notes

• It is likely that the father of Emily's eldest daughters was Henry Smith, son of George & Susan Smith, b. 1853, Hitchin and occupied as a Bricklayer's labourer in 1871^[18] This has been deduced from the fact that Agnes was given the middle name Smith, and her sister Rosina Florence was baptised as if she was legitimate and as if her parent's were married...her parent's being recorded as Harry & Emily Watson, and father's occupation was recorded as Bricklayer. It is likely they would have married, but Henry appears to have died either late 1879 or early 1880 at the age of 27 years^[19]. Both Rosina and Agnes were aware that they had been born illegitimately as they both married using the surname Watson, however, they both gave their father's name as William Watson, so they may not have been aware of the name of their biological father and assumed it was their mother's first husband.

Sources

1. ↑ "General Register Office Birth Index of Emily WATSON" 1851 September quarter, Hitchin Registration District Volume 6 Page 545 Mother’s Maiden Name: BEECH GRO Online Birth Indexes
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "1861 England and Wales Census" Class: RG 9; Piece: 819; Folio: 84; Page: 16 Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1861. Image available at Ancestry.co.uk and FindMyPast
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} "1871 England and Wales Census" Class: RG10; Piece: 1368; Folio: 52; Page: 1 Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1871. Image available at Ancestry.co.uk and FindMyPast
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3} "1881 England and Wales Census" Class: RG11; Piece: 1419; Folio: 60; Page: 15 Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1881. Image available at Ancestry.co.uk and FindMyPast
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} "1891 England and Wales Census" The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Class: RG12; Piece: 1107; Folio: 162; Page: 10 Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1891. Image available at Ancestry.co.uk and FindMyPast
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4} "1901 England and Wales Census" Class: RG13; Piece: 1302; Folio: 79; Page: 17. Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives, 1901. Image available at Ancestry.co.uk and FindMyPast Accessed 19th August 2018
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4} "1911 England and Wales Census" Class: RG14; Piece: 7596; Schedule Number: 206. Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA), 1911. Image available at Ancestry.co.uk and FindMyPast Accessed 19th August 2018
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} "Marriage of William FOSTER & Emily WATSON" St. Mary, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England Marriage Register 1881 Pg. 216 Entry No. 432. Image available at FindMyPast Accessed 19th August 2018
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} "Marriage of Thomas COUSINS & Emily FOSTER" St. Mary the Virgin, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England Marriage Register 1891 Pg. 120 Entry No. 240. Image available at FindMyPast (£)
10. ↑ "St. Mary, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England Baptism Register entry of Emily WATSON" 1851 Pg. 3 Entry No. 17. Image available at FindMypast Accessed 19th August 2018
11. ↑ "Death Index of William FOSTER" General Register Office Death Index 1888 March quarter, Hitchin Registration District Volume 3a Page 336. Aged 53 years GRO Online Death Indexes
12. ↑ "General Register Office Death Index of Emily COUSINS" 1912 March quarter, Hitchin Registration District Volume 3a Page 817. Aged 60 years GRO Online Death Indexes
13. ↑ "Birth Index of Rosanna Florence WATSON" General Register Office Birth Index 1875 September quarter, Hitchin Registration District Volume 3a Page 352 Mother’s Maiden Name: (-) i.e. illegitimate GRO Online Birth Indexes
14. ↑ "General Register Office Birth Index of Agnes Smith WATSON" 1877 September quarter, Hitchin Registration District Volume 3a Page 352 Mother’s Maiden Name: (-) i.e. illegitimate GRO Online Birth Indexes
15. ↑ "Birth Index of Violet Millicent FOSTER" General Register Office Birth Index 1886 December quarter, Hitchin Registration District Volume 3a Page 479 Mother’s Maiden Name: WATSON GRO Online Birth Indexes
16. ↑ "General Register Office Birth Index of Percy Reginald COUSINS" 1892 September quarter, Hitchin Registration District Volume 3a Page 534 Mother’s Maiden Name: WATSON GRO Online Birth Indexes
17. ↑ "Birth Index of Grace Ella COUSINS" General Register Office Birth Index 1893 December quarter, Hitchin Registration District Volume 3a Page 518 Mother’s Maiden Name: WATSON GRO Online Birth Indexes
18. ↑ "1881 Census of England & Wales Class: RG10; Piece: 1368; Folio: 52; Page: 2" Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1871. Image available at Ancestry.co.uk Accessed 19th August 2018
19. ↑ "General Register Office Death Index of Henry SMITH" 1880 March quarter, Hitchen Registration District Volume 3a Page 242. Aged 27 years GRO Online Death Indexes