John,
I've replied to you privately, but I am posting it here on the odd chance that someone else has an interest.
Lucy was the second child of John Tupman and Sarah Brown, born 1st March 1841. John was born in Old Brampton near Chesterfield, but moved to Rotherham somewhere between 1854 and 1858 and two of Lucy's brothers are responsible for the Rotherham branch of the family. The majority of the Oldham branches of the family descend from Lucy's grandfather, Thomas Tupman.
I knew of Lucy's children as they are with her in the 1881 Census when she is living with her parents - she is shown as a widow but I have never found her marriage. In the 1871 census she is also with her parents where she is shown as unmarried, so I have always assumed that the children were illegitimate. It could be that the children were not hers and that she "acquired" them after the father died, with the 1881 Census return being incorrect?
Having read your comments I found her on the 1891 Census in Irlam Street, South Wigston, Leicestershire. I think that the family name is Longdon, not Longdin. What makes this interesting for me is that my maternal grandparents both lived just round the corner in Canal Street in 1901 and my maternal grandfather was in Station Street, South Wigston, in 1891. Small world !
Regards,
Alan