Hi, many thanks for this.
Unfortunately, the Daniel and Mary you mention are not the family connection to me.
I know for example, Mary Speake on my side of the family was in Dana Prison, Shresbury in 1881, and her son Frederick (who I remember as a child as Uncle Fred - although he is strictly my Great Uncle) was in a local poor house.
Frederick then also shows up with his mother in later censuses, (including one whereby Mary is also housing a Watkins, listed as her Aunt, but I have no idea if Watkins is her - Marys' - maiden name, or a sisters married name) before he (Frederick) shows up in the 1911 census living with his sister Sarah, her husband William and my very young Grandfather.
I'm just hitting blank walls trying to tie either a marriage down - assuming they did marry, because I believe Mary was sent to prison for the offence of concealing the birth of a child! If this is accurate, we have no idea who this child is.
It's now a situation I wish I had talked to Uncle Fred more, as I'm sure he would have been able to give me more information.
As it is - I have Mary on the census records, including her with Frederick and Sarah in Pontesbury (which also ties in with what I had been told before I began to search) - but no birth, marriage or death records for Daniel, other than he is listed as Sarah's father (deceased) on her marriage certificate.
I am now wondering if he existed as a husband for Mary, or if the children were born out of wedlock, as even in the census showing Sarah as 6 yrs old - there is no mention of a male head of the household. Of course, if he died between the two census dates, while Sarah was an infant - again there is no sign of his death using dates within that 6 year period.
It is beyond frustrating. Believe me, I'd love nothing more than for it to be the ones mentioned, however it just doesn't tie in with what I know from my Grandfather while he was alive, nor records (that have helped confirm some of what he told me).
I live locally, (just north of Shrewsbury), so I suspect I will have to pop to the church in Pontesbury to see if they have any possible records to access, as I think it's the only option left for me now. Either that, or for someone in Fred Speakes family to realise the connection and give more information my way.
Thanks again.