They apparently were first cousins who married in around 1844, might have been scandalous at the time, as they had one child, Caleb 1845-1912, who is my great-great grandfather. Edith's family tree is extensive, but I'm unable to find anything official about William. Both were born in Whitecroft, Forest of Dean. Would appreciate any leads!

Baptism in Forest of Dean Records

at Lydney: 6 June 1858

Caleb KEAR

Father's Name: ENOCH (occupation: Collier)

Mother's Surname: Edith

Residence: Breams Eve

Event: Baptism

Memoranda: about 12 years old

GRO INDEX

KEAR, Caleb - Mother's maiden Surname - just a dash, so no surname

GRO Reference: 1845, June Quarter in WESTBURY ON SEVERN UNION, Volume 11 Page 470

On the census returns, Edith says she is unmarried and living with his family.

?

At Bream around the same time - although baptism was later is this

14 May 1863

William John KEAR (born July 11th 1857)

parents: William John (occupation: Tailor) and mother Esther

Officating Minster: Cornelius Witherby Perpetual Courage

Thanks, I suppose Caleb could have been baptized 12 years later. Edith lived with her father Enoch who is listed incorrectly here as Caleb's father.

Yes I am aware of this, so it's assumed the last name is the same.

I don't think this is the same family. The mother's name listed is Esther. Through all of the research I have done on this family, I am not aware of a second sibling to Caleb. And having one sibling so much younger would be rare unless Edith remarried, which she did not.

I am looking more for the information about William John Kear as I have hit a wall with any parents for him.

You are distantly related to my husband as you share 4x great grandparents, Enoch and Mary (Baldwin) Kear.

From the research I have done I thought that Edith was unmarried when she had Caleb as I have never found any marriage record for her and on both 1851 and 1861 she is living with her parents and listed as unmarried. I think the Enoch referred to on his baptism record (1858) is an error and refers to his grandfather.

I have found no record of a William John Kear but he is unlikely to be a first cousin as Enoch Kear was the only surviving son of Enoch Kear (Snr) and Hannah Hakwins, their only other son William died as a baby, the rest of their children being girls who married into various other forest families.

I am happy to share further information with you if you wish to contact me directly.

Hello Helen, thank you for your reply. I would be happy to discuss and share information with you about the Kears.

I am aware that there are some Phillips descendants from Enoch & Mary Kear! My descendants are: Enoch & Mary Kear > Edith Kear > Caleb & Mary Ann Kear > Richard and Elizabeth Kear > Annie Kear & James Smith - the latter were my grandparents.

Yes it does seem to be quite a puzzle about where the information about William John Kear came from. I have it from a long time ago passed down to me from distant Kear relatives in Yorkshire, and it is also in a family tree by David Richards which has been discussed years ago in this thread: https://forest-of-dean.net/fodmembers/index.php?mode=thread&id=5835#p7553. While the conclusion may be that he could have been the father and never married Edith, I can find no trace of him either. An Ancestry tree I found when I had access to that software had him listed with a death date of May 9, 1888, but I can find no record of that in the GRO.

Helen, I've made my email contactable should you wish to contact me, click the envelope beside my user ID. Thanks.

Sorry for the delay in my response.

There are a number of trees on Ancestry that show a William John Kear as the father of Caleb some of which have his date of death as 9 May 1888 but none of these trees have any source evidence.

I have found a John Kear who was died on 9 May and was buried 13 May 1888 Hedon, Yorkshire who was originally from Cheltenham. It is likely that people may have confused him with the mysterious William John Kear.

Thank you Helen. Yes I've verified this in the GRO and although he would have been born in 1814 this is likely the same person - though I cannot find any proof of a marriage for Edith.

I don’t think this John Kear can be right as he married in Sheffield, Yorkshire in 1840 and had 6 children so it would be unlikely he would be in the Forest of Dean area and marry Edith before Caleb’s birth in 1843.

Thanks very much Helen for confirming this information. It actually is consistent with information that I received back in the 80's, that the father is unknown. Caleb was baptised years later and the name listed as his father is actually his grandfather Enoch.

Actually it was her brother Enoch who is listed as Caleb's father on the baptism record. Her father died the year before.