Its not uncommon, it has to be remembered that information given in the census is in the main taken as is, there was no checking carried out after the census so the householder could put what they wanted I see Charles appears to be born illegitimately to mother Mary GOODSON Have you checked the baptism in the register? it may give a clue as to the father Also Morris' Directory & Gazeteer 1863 GOODSON Mrs Mary "Marquis of Granby" The 1871 occupation for Charles looks like Relieving Office & Registrar Backed up in the Whites 1872 Directory Grantham Union - The Relieving Officers are - - - and Mr Chales GOODSON for Denton District. The two latter are also registrars of births and deaths for their districts Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) On 02/02/2014 06:21, Jan Moon wrote: > I have a relative Mary GOODSON, who was the Innkeeper in Barrowby in 1861, (I think at the ‘Marquis of Granby’) she is described as a widow but as far as I can find she never married. Was the common? > > Regards > > Jan