so too is the Non conformist - was this "driven" by the MALSON side or the BUDDING side - and may suggest that the elusive marriage is in a non conformist register

although later children were Baptised in Abenhall
1842 MALSON Mark George Mary Abenhall
1845 MALSON Adam George Mary Abenhall
1848 MALSON Oliver George Mary Abenhall

looks like the MALSON family were the non conformists at Mitcheldean Congregational

Yes, that's the family, but Mary died before the 1851 census, so the only information I have about her birthplace is the vague Y (i.e. Gloucestershire) from the 1841.

Many people on Ancestry have her as Mary Ann, the daughter of Richard and Martha Budding baptised in Gloucester in 1812, but I believe that to be wrong, as that Mary (Ann) can be traced marrying a basket maker named Thomas Deen in Gloucester in 1829, and was still in Gloucester in 1871 (as Mary Ann Deen, widow) living next door to her brother Richard Budding, who was baptised with her the same day in 1812. So definitely a different woman, to my mind.

There is an illegitimate baptism in this name in 1815 in Newnham (mother Sarah), but that's a bit late, if her age at death is correct. Also another illegitimate baptism in Tewkesbury in 1810 (mother Ann). Nothing definite to link either to "my" Mary Budding.

My best guess at the moment is that she might have been related in some way to the Elizabeth Budding who had 3 illegitimate children baptised in Newent 1815-1823 (and was imprisoned as a "lewd woman" in consequence), as I have DNA matches to descendants of that Elizabeth's daughter Hannah.

Pete

Long shot - non conformist family

Year: 1835
Month: Feb
Day: 11
Parents_Surname: MELSOM
Child_Forenames: George
Fathers_Forenames: George
Mothers_Forenames: Mary Ann
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Abinghall
Occupation:
Officiating_Minister: John Horlick
Event: Baptism
Memoranda: Son of: Born Dec 19th 1834
Notes:
Register_Reference: D6026 8/1
Page_Number: 21
Parish_Chapel: Mitcheldean Congregational

Child Surname Child Forename Mother's Former Name Year District Office Register Entry
MALSON Mark BUDDING 1842 Forest of Dean Westbury on Severn, Newnham 4 201

1841 Horsepool Bottom
George Malson Male 30 1811 Gloucestershire, England
Mary Malson Female 28 1813 Gloucestershire, England
George Malson Male 6 1835 Gloucestershire, England
Fredrick Malson Male 4 1837 Gloucestershire, England
Luke Malson Male 1 1840 Gloucestershire, England

Year: 1850
Month: Nov
Day: 28
Surname: MALSON
Forenames: Mary
Residence: East Dean
Age_at_death: 42
Officiating_Minister: J. Davies
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P1 IN 1/11
Page_No: 41
Parish_Chapel: Abenhall

1851 Horsepool Bottom
George Malsom Head Widower Male 42 1809 Stone mason East Dean, Gloucestershire, England
George Malsom Son - Male 16 1835 - Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
Jeremiah Malsom Son - Male 14 1837 - Gloucestershire, England
Luke Malsom - - Male 11 1840 - East Dean, Gloucestershire, England
Mark Malsom - - Male 8 1843 - East Dean, Gloucestershire, England
Adam Malsom - - Male 6 1845 - East Dean, Gloucestershire, England
Oliver Malsom - - Male 2 1849 - East Dean, Gloucestershire, England

1861 Harry Hill
Luke Malson Head - Male 31 1840 Mason Drybrook E D, Gloucestershire, England
Rosena Malson Wife - Female 30 1841 - Plump Hill, Gloucestershire, England
William Malson Son - Male 2 1869 - Bristol, Gloucestershire, England
Seberset Malson Son - Male 0 1871 - Drybrook E D, Gloucestershire, England
Mark T Malson Lodger - Male 28 1843 Mason Drybrook E D, Gloucestershire, England
Oliver Malson Lodger - Male 22 1849 Mason Plump Hill, Gloucestershire, England

1891 Haywood Lane ( george remrried_)
George Malsom Head Married Male 83 1808 - Gloucestershire, England
Elizabeth Malsom Wife Married Female 66 1825 Charwoman Ruardean Hill, Gloucestershire, England
Condred Malsom Grandson - Male 5 1886 - Drybrook, Gloucestershire, England

What I'm wondering in particular is if there is some known link between Eastington and the Forest that I'm unaware of. I'm searching for an ancestor named Mary Budding (c.1808-1850) who had children with (no marriage that I've found) George Malson between 1834 and 1848. I can see there were quite a few Buddings in Eastington, though some DNA matches of mine suggest it's more likely Mary was part of the Buddings clan of Newent (some of whom spent time in Stroud and Randwick on certificate before getting removed back to Newent and ending up in the workhouse there).

Any insight anyone can offer would be welcome.