Jane Symonds was the wife of Richard Meek and the mother of Emma Meek Emma Meek year of Birth 1846. Would like more information regarding Jane, I seem to have hit a brickwall
Thanks Sue

Could this have something to do with it despite the birthplace anomalies?

GR 1841Census, Starve Crow???, Dean Forest (Part of), Banisters, Ross Registration District

Richard MEEK, 30, Ag Lab, Born in County
Jane, 25, Born in County
Eliza, 5, Born in County

GR 1851 Census, Longhope, Bilbute? House,

Richard MEEK, Head, Mar, 40, Ag Lab, b. Gloucestershire, Longhope
Jane, Mar, Wife, 35, Gloucestershire, Longhope
Emey, Daur, Un, 5, Gloucestershire, Longhope
Mary Ann, Daur, Un ,2, Gloucestershire, Longhope

FODFHT

Record_ID: 369
Entry_Number: 30
Year: 1838
Month: Dec
Day: 24
Grooms_Surname: MEEK
Grooms_Forenames: Richard
Grooms_Age: Of full age
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Labourer
Grooms_Residence: Abenhall
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: Meek
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: Joseph
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Labourer
Brides_Surname: SIMMONDS
Brides_Forenames: Jane
Brides_Age: Of full age
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation:
Brides_Residence: [text missing]
Brides_Fathers_Surname: Simmonds
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: William
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Labourer
Licence_or_Banns: Not stated
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: Both mark
Witness_1: Mark of Elisha Matthews
Witness_2: Mark of Hannah Meek
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: James Davies Rector
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P1 IN 1/12
Page_Number: 15
Parish_Chapel: Abenhall

Record_ID: 143152
Entry_Number:
Year: 1812
Month: Jul
Day: 12
Parents_Surname: SIMMONDS
Child_Forenames: Jane
Fathers_Forenames: William
Mothers_Forenames: Sarah
Mothers_Surname:
Residence:
Occupation:
Officiating_Minister:
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P1 IN 1/4
Page_Number: 8
Parish_Chapel: Abenhall

Looks like we've been here before Mike.
http://forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=3036

And also here, although presumably nothing new for Susan, but it may save other readers revisiting old ground.
http://forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=20538

Have also tried searching the forum for "Meek" and "Simmons / Symons" etc but nothing found yet.

Regarding your "birthplace anomalies", I suspect you're like me thinking this is routine stuff and not a deal-breaker, the prior threads all point towards this family being in the north-eastern corner of the Forest (Abenhall, Drybrook, Mitcheldean), perhaps originating from Ross just a few miles further north.

I have checked the census for Emma Meek and found another one aged 5 born Longhope, listed with her grandparents Thos and Sarah Hayward, which could mean that her mother had been married before? Have you a copy of the marriage cert, which would confirm this theory? Or the grandmother had re-married, so she (the granny could have been either a Meek, or a Simmonds/Symonds, you need to look at both names)

Forgot to say married Westbury on severn regn area Dec 1838 qtr, as Simmonds.

Although their residence is given as Longhope both Emma and Mary Ann were baptised at Abenhall,

FODFHT

Record_ID 422
Entry_Number 435
Year 1846
Month Mar
Day 15
Parents_Surname MEEK
Child_Forenames Emma
Fathers_Forenames Richard
Mothers_Forenames Jane
Mothers_Surname
Residence Longhope
Occupation Labourer
Officiating_Minister J. Davies
Event Baptism
Memoranda
Notes
Register_Reference P1 IN 1/7
Page_Number 55
Parish_Chapel Abenhall

Record_ID 493
Entry_Number 506
Year 1849
Month Jan
Day 28
Parents_Surname MEEK
Child_Forenames Mary Ann
Fathers_Forenames Richard
Mothers_Forenames Jane
Mothers_Surname
Residence Long Hope
Occupation Labourer
Officiating_Minister M.S. Suckling
Event Baptism
Memoranda
Notes
Register_Reference P1 IN 1/7
Page_Number 64
Parish_Chapel Abenhall

This might be Eliza MEEK in GR 1851,

GR 1851 Census, Gilwern, Mon.

Thomas PRICE, Head, Mar, 35, Grocer, b. Monmouth, Abergavenny
Mary, Wife, Mar, 34, Monmouth, Llantrissant
Eliza MEEK, Servant, Un, 15, House Servant, Gloucestersh, NK

I know some of this is repetition but it might be useful to have it again,

This one needs some explaining!

GR 1871 Census, East Dean, Edge Hill, {Nr. Cinderford?}

Moses MATTHEWS, Head, Mar, 24, Iron Miner, b. East Dean, Glos
Mary Ann, Wife, Mar, 23, House duties, Longhope, Glos
Joe, Son, 2, East Dean, Glos
Bertha, Daught , 7m, East Dean, Glos
Thomas SIMMONDS, Widower, 54, Farm Labourer, East Dean, Glos
Jane MEEK, Daught,{ but overwritten and unclear} W, 57, Farm Servant Indoor, East Dean, Glos {corrected}
Jane Ann MEEK, GDaught, 7, East Dean, Glos

These are more straightforward,

GR 1881 Census, East Dean, Plump Hill,

Thomas SIMMONS, Head, Widower, 64, Farm Labourer, b. Glos, East Dean
Jane MEEK, no relationship given, Widow, 68, Char Woman, Glos, East Dean

Living next door to,

Moses MATTHEWS, Head, Mar, 34, b. Glos, East Dean
Mary Ann, Wife, Mar, 31, Glos, East Dean
Joe, Son, 12, Glos, East Dean
Bertha, Daur, 10, Glos, East Dean
Caleb, Son, 7, Glos, East Dean
Lucenda, Daur, 5, Glos, East Dean
Melitha, Daur, 3, Glos, East Dean
William, Son, 1, Glos, East Dean

GR 1891 Census, Shapridge,

Tom W HADDOCKS, Head, Mar, 46, Collier, b. Monmouth
Emma, Wife, Mar, 46, East Dean, Gloshire
Alice H, Daur, S, 18, East Dean, Gloshire
William R, Son, 14, Miner, East Dean, Gloshire
Charles H, Son, 12, East Dean, Gloshire
Sarah E, Daur, 10, East Dean, Gloshire
Mary Ann, Daur, 8, East Dean, Gloshire
Alfred J, Son, 6, East Dean, Gloshire
Minie, Daur,4, East Dean, Gloshire
Arthur W, Son, 1, East Dean, Gloshire
Jane MEEK, Mother to wife, Widow, 77, East Dean, Gloshire
George MEEK, Grandson to Head, 3, East Dean, Gloshire

Marriage of Thomas Hayward:
Year 1826
Month Apr
Day 4
Grooms_Surname HAYWARD
Grooms_Forenames Thomas
Grooms_Age [not
Groom_Condition [not stated]
Grooms_Occupation [not stated]
Grooms_Residence the Hundred of St Breavils[Briavels]
Grooms_Fathers_Surname [not stated]
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames [not stated]
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation [not stated]
Brides_Surname SIMMONS
Brides_Forenames Sarah
Brides_Age [not
Brides_Condition [not stated]
Brides_Occupation [not stated]
Brides_Residence the Hundred of St Breavils[Briavels]
Brides_Fathers_Surname [not stated]
Brides_Fathers_Forenames [not stated]
Brides_Fathers_Occupation [not stated]
Licence_or_Banns Banns
Date_of_Banns [not stated]
Signature_or_Mark Both mark
Witness_1 Mark of Samuel Stevens
Witness_2 Mark of Sophia Stevens
Other_Witnesses
Officiating_Minister Henry Berkin A M Curate
Event Marriage
Memoranda
Notes
Register_Reference
Page_Number 17
Parish_Chapel Hope Mansell

Marriage of William Simmons:
Year: 1812
Month: Mar
Day: 22
Grooms_Surname: SIMMONS
Grooms_Forenames: William
Grooms_Age:
Groom_Condition: [not stated]
Grooms_Occupation:
Grooms_Residence: Forest of Dean
Grooms_Fathers_Surname:
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames:
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation:
Brides_Surname: STEVENS
Brides_Forenames: Sarah
Brides_Age:
Brides_Condition: [not stated]
Brides_Occupation:
Brides_Residence: Forest of Dean
Brides_Fathers_Surname:
Brides_Fathers_Forenames:
Brides_Fathers_Occupation:
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns: [not stated]
Signature_or_Mark: Both mark
Witness_1: Mark of Saml Stevens
Witness_2: Mark of Elisth Stevens
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: Henry Berkin Curate
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes: Part of entry in the BTs very faint
Register_Reference: P220 IN 1/6
Page_Number:
Parish_Chapel: Mitcheldean

Burial of William Simmons:
Year: 1817
Month: Nov
Day: 25
Surname: SIMMONDS
Forenames: William
Residence: of this parish
Age_at_death: 27 yrs
Officiating_Minister: Ja. Mills Curate
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference:
Page_No: 30
Parish_Chapel: Ross on Wye

Note names of Witnesses at both marriages. This suggests that Sarah was widowed at the time of her marriage to Thomas Hayward.

Mike

perhaps a mistake by enumerator, is Thomas a brother to Jane?

Did Emma meek have illegitimate child before marrying her husband, so any offspring of said child would also have surname Meek? and would be a grandchild of Emma and her husband

Did Emma meek have illegitimate child before marrying her husband, so any offspring of said child would also have surname Meek? and would be a grandchild of Emma and her husband

Ref this post from Mike Pinchin;

GR 1871 Census, East Dean, Edge Hill, {Nr. Cinderford?}

Moses MATTHEWS, Head, Mar, 24, Iron Miner, b. East Dean, Glos
Mary Ann, Wife, Mar, 23, House duties, Longhope, Glos
Joe, Son, 2, East Dean, Glos
Bertha, Daught { but overwritten and unclear}, 7m, East Dean, Glos
Thomas SIMMONDS, Widower, 54, Farm Labourer, East Dean, Glos
Jane MEEK, Daught, W, 57, Farm Servant Indoor, East Dean, Glos
Jane Ann MEEK, GDaught, 7, East Dean, Glos

Edgehill is the ridge running above Cinderford, running south-north towards Harrow/Harry Hill and Abenhall/Mitcheldean. Presumably Moses worked at Edgehill Iron mines, near Fairplay Mine on the top of this hill twixt Harry & Plump Hill, see this old map.
http://maps.nls.uk/view/101453373

To find on modern maps, it's a few yards above/north of the more-recently built A4136 Nailbridge-Mitcheldean road, just before the road enters the bends around the Point, the ponds we visited as kids were at "Fairplay" but appear to be marked as Plump Hill Pond nowadays.

Searching PRs for Meek Baptisms to mother Emma, no father given, can find this;

Record_ID: 14295
Entry_Number: 149
Year: 1863
Month: Dec
Day: 25
Parents_Surname: MEEK
Child_Forenames: Jane Ann
Fathers_Forenames:
Mothers_Forenames: Emma
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Wigpool
Occupation: [blank]
Officiating_Minister: William Lockett
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P/109 IN 1/3
Page_Number: 19
Parish_Chapel: Drybrook
Soundex: M200

Wigpool is only a couple of miles from Edgehill iron mine, they were connected by tramways in the past, which then went on to Cinderford Ironworks.

I think this is Jane Ann's marriage, husband George is a hammerman which means he works at a tinplate works, probably that at Lydbrook owned by Richard Thomas.

Record_ID: 16775
Entry_Number: 1072
Year: 1881
Month: Jun
Day: 29
Grooms_Surname: WEBB
Grooms_Forenames: George Henry
Grooms_Age: Of Full Age
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Ham?man
Grooms_Residence: Ruardean
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: Webb
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: George Henry
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Baker
Brides_Surname: MEEK
Brides_Forenames: Jane Anne
Brides_Age: Of Full Age
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation:
Brides_Residence: East Dean
Brides_Fathers_Surname: Meek
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: John
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Labourer
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: Both sign
Witness_1: Thomas Hillwater
Witness_2: Mark of Elizabeth Meek
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: C R Greaves Curate
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P275 IN 1/10
Page_Number: 79
Parish_Chapel: Ruardean
Soundex_Groom: W100
Soundex_Bride: M200

I'm new to this thread so hopefully this is relevant, I'm unsure where Jane Ann's "father" John Meek fits in, if at all ?. Who's ELizabeth Meek ?

Think this is them in 1891, looks like George is now working at Lydney Tinplate works, like Lydbrook owned by Richard Thomas, it continued operating long after the Lydbrook site was closed.

1891 Primrose Hill, Lydney,
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
George Henry Webb Head M 31 Labourer Tin Worker. Gloucestershire, England
Anne Jane Webb Wife F 31 Herefordshire, England
Edith Webb Daughter F 8 Gloucestershire, England
Margaret Webb Daughter F 6 Gloucestershire, England
Anne Webb Daughter F 4 Gloucestershire, England
Beatrice Webb Daughter F 1 Gloucestershire, England

1901 Tutnalls Street, Lydney,Glos
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
George H Webb Head M 41 ANNEALER IN TINWORKS. Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Jane A Webb Wife F 41 Ryford, Herefordshire
Margaret M Webb Daughter F 16 Lydney, Gloucestershire
Anne J Webb Daughter F 14 Lydney, Gloucestershire
Beatrice Webb Daughter F 11 Lydney, Gloucestershire
Florence M Webb Daughter F 9 Lydney, Gloucestershire
George H Webb Son M 6 Lydney, Gloucestershire
Mildred Webb Daughter F 2 Lydney, Gloucestershire
Ella J Webb Daughter F 0 Lydney, Gloucestershire
William Webb Boarder M 37 Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

So Jane Ann was born in Ryford, which is only a few miles north off Wigpool & Drybrook area. These transcripts are from FamilySearch, it's possible the actual images contained more specific info re placenames etc.

-----------

LATER UPDATE

Searching again found this, which rather suggests this family may NOT be linked to the Baptism of Jane Ann Meek, mother Emma. ??

1861 Ryeford Jump, Weston Under Penyard, Herefordshire
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
John Meek Head M 33 Agricultural Labourer. East Dean, Gloucestershire
Abia Meek Wife F 33 Linton, Herefordshire
Jane Anna Meek Daughter F 1 Weston, Herefordshire

1881 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
John Meek Head M 50 Collier. Lea Bailey, Gloucestershire, England
Abiah Meek Wife F 50 Linton, England
John Meek Son M 20 Biford, England
Annie Meek Daughter F 14 Biford, England

(Where's Jane Ann ?. Suspect Biford should read Ryford).

And also, for completeness, Jane Ann's groom Geo H Meek "residing Ruardean".

1871 Barton St Mary, Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
George H Webb Head M 38 Journeyman Baker. Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Sarah J Webb Wife F 20 Wiltshire, Wiltshire
George H Webb Son M 11 Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Walter W Webb Son M 7 Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Emma J Webb Daughter F 1 Ericklade, Wiltshire

???

Hi Jeff,

Just to point out that I made a mistake in the original post. It was Jane MEEK's relationship which was overwritten and unclear, not Bertha's.