Jean Herbert sent this this message to me direct as she was not sure if it would be appropriate to post here in the forum with it being a little on the large size. Consequently, I have split the details into two parts in order to post it in the forum.

The full contents are also available in a PDF document in our Miscellaneous Documents download section.
Turley Prior and Morse Families.pdf

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Can anyone please tell me what is going on? One minute Daniel Morse is married, next he is single and Lucy and her children disappear. I would welcome any suggestions.

LUCY TURLEY was born 1844 in Blakeney Hill East Dean Gloucestershire. Her parents were Joseph Turley born abt 1819 Blakeney Hill East Dean Gloucestershire and Harriet ? born abt 1820 Viney Hill Gloucestershire.

Baptism of Lucy Turley below taken from Forest of Dean Parish Records

Entry_Number: 1570
Year: 1844
Month: Jun
Day: 23
Parents_Surname: TURLEY
Child_Forenames: Lucy
Fathers_Forenames: Joseph
Mothers_Forenames: Harriet
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Gobialton
Occupation: Mason
Officiating_Minister: C Brooks Gaunt
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P50 IN1/1
Page_Number: 197
Parish_Chapel: Blakeney

Lucy married (1) JOHN PRIOR 1870 in Westbury on Severn. Q4 Vol 6a page 493. He was born 1836 in Tidenham Gloucestershire. His parents were Edward and Betsey Prior

Baptism of John Prior below taken from Forest of Dean Parish Records

Entry_Number: 753
Year: 1836
Month: Jan
Day: 25
Parents_Surname: PRIOR
Child_Forenames: John
Fathers_Forenames: Edward
Mothers_Forenames: Betsy
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Tidenham
Occupation: Farmer
Officiating_Minister: Tho[mas] Thomas
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P333/1 IN 1/3
Page_Number: 95
Parish_Chapel: Tidenham

Lucy Prior (nee Turley) and John Prior had the following children:
Thomas Edward Prior 1871 Tidenham - Father John Prior
John Prior born abt 1875 Swansea Glamorgan - Father John Prior
Emily Agnes Prior born 1876 Tidenham - Father John Prior
Lucy Annie Prior born 1878 Tidenham - Father John Prior
Edith Matilda Prior born 1879 Tidenham - Father John Prior
Minnie Augusta Prior born 1886 Viney Hill - Father not known, could be Daniel Morse, or John Prior.

Not yet found date of death for John Prior

She married (2) DANIEL MORSE 21 Feb 1886 in Cinderford. He was born 1861 in Gloucestershire. On the marriage record it states that Lucy is a Widow. This fact could be disputed as no death record has been found for John Prior. Having said that, on the 1881 census for Lucy and two of her children, John is not shown. Also, he seems to have had several occupations. On one of the baptism records of his children, it shows him to be a farmer, on one of the other children he is shown as Publican. One of the children was born in Swansea, so it seems that the family or at least John moved around a lot. I have so far not found a confirmed census entry for John Prior which can be attributed to Lucy Prior’s husband.

On 1871 Census for East Dean, Lucy Prior age 26 is visiting her brother Joseph Turley in East Dean. She has been married 1 year but no children with her. No sign of her husband John. She may have been expecting her first child Thomas Edward Prior, as he was born in Tidenham in 1871.

Lucy next found on 1881 census with only two of her children (see below)

1881 Census East Dean
RG11 piece 2523 folio 90 page 4
Address: East Dean
Lucy Prior Head Married age 36 born abt 1845 Blakeney Hill
John Prior Son age 6 born abt 1875 Swansea Glamorgan
Lucy A Prior Dau age 3 born abt 1878 Tidenham
(No sign of her husband John)

By this time Lucy and John had more children than shown on the census.

Thomas Edward baptised Oct 1871 is living with his Aunt and Uncle William and Emma Saunders in East Dean. (Emma Saunders is Lucy Priors sister)

Emily Agnes baptised Aug 1876 is living with her grandparents Joseph and Harriet Turley in East Dean. She is 4 years old

Edith Matilda Baptised Feb 1879 - died age 6 months buried Oct 30 1879

So far there has been no record found for the date of death of John Prior.

Emily Prior nee Turley married Daniel Morse in 1886 in Cinderford. She states she is a widow and is abt 15 years older than Daniel.

Marriage to Daniel Morse
Record_ID: 3266
Entry_Number: 402
Year: 1886
Month: Feb
Day: 21
Grooms_Surname: MORSE
Grooms_Forenames: Daniel
Grooms_Age: 26
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Collier
Grooms_Residence: Soudley Cinderford
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: Morse
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: Charles
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Collier
Brides_Surname: PRIOR
Brides_Forenames: Lucy
Brides_Age: 41
Brides_Condition: Widow
Brides_Occupation: [not stated]
Brides_Residence: Soudley Cinderford
Brides_Fathers_Surname: Turley
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: Joseph
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Mason
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: He marks; she signs
Witness_1: Mark of Richard Webb
Witness_2: Mark of Jane Morse
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: W[illia]m Lynes Vicar
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P85/1 IN 1/5
Page_Number: 201
Parish_Chapel: Cinderford St Johns

On 3 March 1886 a child Minnie Augusta Prior was baptised in Viney Hill Chapel. Mother Lucy Prior - no father's name given. This baptism was just a few weeks after the wedding of Lucy and Daniel Morse. Who the father was is anyones guess. The child Minnie Augusta was buried two years later under the name of Minnie Augusta Morse.

Children of LUCY and JOHN PRIOR are:

First child of John and Lucy Prior
THOMAS EDWARD3 PRIOR, b. 1871, Tidenham Gloucestershire.

Baptism record of Thomas Edward Prior

Entry_Number: 190
Year: 1871
Month: Oct
Day: 22
Parents_Surname: PRIOR
Child_Forenames: Thomas Edward
Fathers_Forenames: John
Mothers_Forenames: Lucy
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Tutshill
Occupation: Publican
Officiating_Minister: E. Sellon
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P333/1 IN 1/5
Page_Number: 24
Parish_Chapel: Tidenham

continued..

1881 Census East Dean
In 1881 Thomas Edward Prior is living with his Aunt and Uncle William and Emma Saunders in East Dean. (Emma Saunders is Lucy Priors sister)

In 1890 William Saunders died

Entry_Number: 660
Year: 1890
Month: Apr
Day: 8
Surname: SAUNDERS
Forenames: William
Residence: Blakeney
Age_at_death: 45 years
Officiating_Minister: E. S. Smith
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda: 338
Notes:
Register_Reference: P348 IN 1/5
Page_No: 83
Parish_Chapel: Viney Hill

Thomas Edward Prior not found on any further records in this country

Emma Saunders, Thomas Edwards Aunt and sister to Lucy Prior (nee Turley ) died age 60 in 1907 Viney Hill Gloucestershire. She is buried in the same grave as her husband. Records found by Admin on FOD Parish records.
Burial record below

Entry_Number: 390
Year: 1907
Month: Oct
Day: 6
Surname: SAUNDERS
Forenames: Emma
Residence: Blakeney Hill
Age_at_death: 60
Officiating_Minister: W.A.Roberts
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda:
Notes: Grave No. 338
Register_Reference: P348 IN 1/6
Page_No: 91
Parish_Chapel: Viney Hill

Second child of Lucy and John Prior
JOHN PRIOR, b. 1874, Swansea Glamorgan.

Notes for JOHN PRIOR:
Born Q3 vol 11a page 735 Swansea Glamorgan

1881 Census East Dean
John Prior age 6 is with his mother Lucy and sister Lucy A Prior.

Not found on any further records

Third child of Lucy and John Prior
EMILY AGNES PRIOR, b. 1876, Tidenham Gloucestershire.

Notes for EMILY AGNES PRIOR:

Entry_Number: 292
Year: 1876
Month: Aug
Day: 8
Parents_Surname: PRIOR
Child_Forenames: Emily Agnes
Fathers_Forenames: John
Mothers_Forenames: Lucy
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Boughspring Tidenham
Occupation: Farmer
Officiating_Minister: Percy Burd Vicar
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P333/1 IN 1/5
Page_Number: 37
Parish_Chapel: Tidenham
Soundex: P660

1881 Census East Dean
RG11 piece 2523 folio 94 page 11
Address: East Dean
Joseph Turley Head occ: Stone Mason age 62 born abt 1819 Blakeney Hill
Harriet Turley Wife age 61 born abt 1820 Viney Hill
Winter Turley Son occ: Stone Mason age 25 born abt 1856 Blakeney Hill
Abraham Turley Son occ: Coal Miner age 18 born abt 1863 Blakeney Hill
Elizabeth Turley Grandaughter age 19 born abt 1862 Blakeney Hill
Emily Prior Grandaughter age 4 born abt 1877 Tidenham

Emily is not found on further records

Fourth child of Lucy and John Prior
LUCY ANNIE PRIOR, b. 1878, Tidenham Gloucestershire.

Notes for LUCY ANNIE PRIOR:
Baptism of Lucy ann Prior

Entry_Number: 323
Year: 1878
Month: Mar
Day: 1
Parents_Surname: PRIOR
Child_Forenames: Lucy Annie
Fathers_Forenames: John
Mothers_Forenames: Lucy
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Bouyghspring Tidenham
Occupation: Farmer
Officiating_Minister: Percy Burd Vicar
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P333/1 IN 1/5
Page_Number: 41
Parish_Chapel: Tidenham

Fifth child of Lucy and John Prior
EDITH MATILDA PRIOR, b. 1879, Viney Hill Gloucestershire; d. 30 Oct 1879, Viney Hill Gloucestershire.

Notes for EDITH MATILDA PRIOR:
Record_ID: 105687
Entry_Number: 368
Year: 1879
Month: Jun
Day: 8
Parents_Surname: PRIOR
Child_Forenames: Edith Matilda
Fathers_Forenames: John
Mothers_Forenames: Lucy
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Viney Hill
Occupation: Publican
Officiating_Minister: E S Smith
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P348 IN 1/1
Page_Number: 46
Parish_Chapel: Viney Hill

Edith Matilda Prior died age 6 months and was buried on 30 Oct 1879 at Viney Hill Gloucestershire

Burial record of Edith Matilda Prior
Entry_Number: 403
Year: 1879
Month: Oct
Day: 30
Surname: PRIOR
Forenames: Edith Matilda
Residence: Viney Hill
Age_at_death: 6 months
Officiating_Minister: E. S. Smith
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda: 302
Notes:
Register_Reference: P348 IN 1/5
Page_No: 51
Parish_Chapel: Viney Hill

MINNIE AUGUSTA PRIOR/MORSE, b. 1886, Viney Hill Gloucestershire.

Notes for MINNIE AUGUSTA PRIOR/MORSE:
Record_ID: 105858
Entry_Number: 539
Year: 1886
Month: Mar
Day: 3
Parents_Surname: PRIOR
Child_Forenames: Minnie Augusta
Fathers_Forenames: [not stated]
Mothers_Forenames: Lucy
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Blakeney Hill
Occupation: [not stated]
Officiating_Minister: E S Smith
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P348 IN 1/1
Page_Number: 68
Parish_Chapel: Viney Hill

(Notice on the record that no father's name is shown. Might be an ommision, he could be dead, or John Prior is not the father of the child)

1886 was the year Lucy married Daniel Morse

Minie Augusta Prior baptised 3 March 1886
Her mother Lucy married Daniel Morse 21 Feb 1886. Child baptised after marriage of Lucy and Daniel

Minnie Augusta Prior died age two years, She was buried under the name of Morse
Entry_Number: 1433
Year: 1889
Month: Feb
Day: 13
Surname: MORSE
Forenames: Minnie Augusta
Residence: Cinderford
Age_at_death: 2 y[ea]rs
Officiating_Minister: J.H.N.Barton
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P85/1 IN 1/13
Page_No: 180
Parish_Chapel: Cinderford St Johns

Last known record of Lucy is her marriage to Daniel Morse in Cinderford 1886. After this date no trace has been found of her or any of her surviving children. Not on 1891 or 1901 census. Searched under name of Morse and Prior. Lucy’s sister Emma Saunders, who was looking after one of Lucy’s children cannot be found on 1891 but possible record found on 1901 census.

Now to add the strange bit

Lucy and her children not found after 1886 when she married Daniel Morse
BUT Daniel Morse was found on both 1891 and 1901 Census.

1891 Welsh Census Ystradyfodwg Clydch Glamorgan
RG12 piece 4424 folio 42 page 31
Address: Ystrad Road
Daniel Morse age 30 single occ: Miner, is lodging with a James Speed and family, occ: Haulier age 29 born Westbury Gloucestershire. James wife is Sarah Ann Speed age 27 born 1864 Forest of Dean

1901 Census Ruspidge
RG13 piece 2420 folio 125
Address: Ruspidge
Daniel Morse age 40 single is lodging with his brother in law Thomas Turley age 47, born abt 1854 Blakeney Hill. Thomas's wife is Mary Ann Turley age 48 born abt 1853 Blakeney Hill.
Mary Ann is Dan Morse's sister
Thomas Turley is Lucy Morse (Turley,Prior) brother