Henry Pearson, mystery man

Ari’s 4x great-grandfather, Henry Pearson, was born in about 1838 in Cromford, Derbyshire, but has proved difficult to trace.

According to his marriage certificate, his father was a labourer also called Henry, but I can find no census records for 1841 or 1851 that fit this family, nor any record of a birth or baptism.

The alternative theory, which is supported by various records, is that he was born in 1842 to Mary Kitchen Pearson. In this version of his story, in 1851 he is living with his grandmother Elizabeth Pearson in the almshouses in Cromford.

Mary then married Jabez Fenton, and the family can be found in 1861 living in Scarthin Nick, Matlock. If this is the right story, then we probably won’t ever know who his father was.

Henry died on 17 Aug 1911 in the almshouses at Wirksworth, aged 73, occupation general labourer, and was buried two days later in the public cemetery there. I would love to know the truth about his origins and solve the mystery!

Ari, this shows how you are related to Henry:

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