I was worried I was off on the wrong track (I did that once before and wasted a lot of time)

I preferred Sarah Platt as although they both married a John Malson, Sarah Yearsley married in 1794 which if she was 16 would have made her 54 when Mary Ann was born, possible but not likely.

Groom Surname: MALSON
Groom Forenames: John
Groom Age at Marriage:
Groom condition: Bachelor
Groom Rank or Profession:
Groom Residence: of this parish
Groom Father's Surname:
Groom Father's Forenames:
Groom Father's Rank or Profession:

Bride Surname: PLATT
Bride Forenames: Sarah
Bride Age at Marriage:
Bride Condition: Spinster
Bride Rank or Profession:
Bride Residence: of this parish
Bride Father's Surname:
Bride Father's Forenames:
Bride Father's Rank or Profession:
Licence or Banns: Banns
Date of banns:
Signature or Mark: He marks; she signs
Witness 1: William Bevan
Witness 2: Mark of Sarah Cannock
Other witnesses:
Officiating Minister: John Newport Officiating Minister
Event type: Marriage
Memoranda:
Transcriber's Notes:
Register Reference: P1 IN 1/9
Page No: 15
Parish_Chapel: Abenhall

not sure how this maps to census data

1851
John Malson abt 1798 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Head Abinghall, Gloucestershire
Sarah Malson abt 1798 Gloucestershire, England Wife Abinghall, Gloucestershire
Mary Ann Malson abt 1834 Abinghall, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Abinghall, Gloucestershire

.... about to check - right name wrong dates !

Year: 1787
Month: Jul
Day: 22
Parents Surname: PLATT
Child Forenames: Sarah
Father's Forenames: John
Mother's Forenames: Jane
Mother's Surname:
Place of Residence:
Occupation:
Officiating Minister:
Event type: Baptism
Memoranda: D[aughte]r of
Notes:
Register Reference: P220 IN 1/2
Page No: 8
Parish_Chapel: Mitcheldean

Who was Mary Ann's Mother Sarah Yearsley or Sarah Platt. (I think it is Sarah Platt but can't find anything to prove this.

Received your email & replied direct. I have today been contacted by another Malson Descendant via genes reunited;
she is a descendant of Charlotte & her 2nd husband William Morgan (John Williams died in 1851)there were 2 children of this marriage; Jane Morgan & James Morgan. My contact is a descendant of James.

mattie (Pat Hill)

Diane
U.S. Eastern Time

JOHN MALSON was born Abt. 1796 in East Dean, Gloucester, England, and died 29 Nov 1855 in Mitcheldean, Gloucester, England. He married SARAH 1821 in Abenhall, Gloucester, England. She was born Abt. 1798 in Gloucester, Gloucester, England.

Children of JOHN MALSON and SARAH are:

GEORGE MALSON, b. 1832, Abinghall, Gloucester, England; d. Bet. 1871 - 1879, //, Gloucester, England. He married HANNAH CLUTTERBUCK 13 Aug 1866 in Church of England, Aston Ingham, Herefordshire, England, daughter of BENJAMIN CLUTTERBUCK and SELINA UNKNOWN. She was born Bet. Apr - Jun 1845 in Lea Hamlet, Gloucester, England.

• ...JOHN HENRY MALSON, b. 01 Jan 1874, Mitchledean, Gloucester, England; d. 30 Nov 1956, Los Angels, Los Angeles, CA, US. (my great grandfather, changed spelling to MOLSON when he moved to Canada)
  
• ...ALICE MALSON, b. Abt. 1868, East Dean, Gloucester, England. (married?? 1891 census?)
  
• ...FREDERICK MALSON, b. 1870, East Dean, Gloucester, England.
  
• ...GEORGE H. MALSON, b. Abt. 1872, East Dean, Gloucester, England. (married?? 1891 census?)
  

EDWIN MALSON, b. 1821, Mitcheldean, Gloucester, England. (married??)

JANE MALSON, b. 1822, Mitcheldean, Gloucester, England. She married THOMAS BUFTON 26 Sep 1845 in Abenhall, Gloucester, England. He died Bef. 1865.

CHARLOTTE MALSON, b. 1825, Abinghall, Gloucester, England. She married JOHN WILLIAMS Abt. Jun 1846 in /, Gloucester, England. He died Bef. 1851.

RICHARD MALSON, b. 1827, East Dean, Gloucester, England; d. Oct 1863, Mitcheldean, Gloucester, England. (married?? 1851 Census??)

ANN MALSON, b. 1829, Abinghall, Gloucester, England. (married??)

MARY ANN MALSON, b. 1834, Mitcheldean, Gloucester, England. She married DAVID BALDWIN 02 Nov 1852 in Abenhall, Gloucester, England, son of JAMES BALDWIN and ANNE HOWLS. He was born Abt. 1833 in Abinghall, Gloucester, England.