Martha and Matilda

[ladybird]

Can someone tell me please are these names interchangeable?

I have found a 1871 death entry for Martha Townsend ms Stewart wife of Robert (tinsmith)......and I am sooooo (!) hoping it's my Matilda Townsend ms Stewart (husband Robert, tinsmith) as it gives parents names and is the 1st thing I've ever found that even remotely resembles her.

Fingers crossed, 3xg/grandma here I come
Sylvia

[JustJean]

Hi Sylvia

Off the top of my head I'd say it's very possible. Not that I've seen it in any of my line yet but the similarities between the names Martha/Matilda are considerable. One could easily be a pet name for the other. Say nothing of the rest of the data you have that coincides. Remember when fitting in a piece of puzzle...first you study one feature and try and match it with the slot you have open for it. If one little bit fits then go around the edges and make sure all the little bits fit before forcing it in In other words......you have a match on husband name and occupation. Does her place of death make sense? Does the informant make sense? Does it fit with what you know of Robert's death? You have 3 maybe 4 census records to work with before this 1871 death. Make sure it all fits in the same picture

Best wishes
Jean

[paddyscar]

Hi Sylvia:

I've had a look through some name books online and none of them interlink Matilda and Martha. Although Mattie is listed as a form of Mathilda, I didn't find it for Martha, although my own Aunt Martha was known as Mattie.
http://www.babynamesworld.com
http://www.babyzone.com
http://www.popularbabynames.com
Although there is always another book with a different take, and in family searches we all know there are as many trends as there are families
Frances

[ladybird]

Thanks Jean and Frances
You've had me scurrying around between SP and ancestry trying to sort them out. Spent a fortune in credits and found several other family bits while I was about it ...ta for that
They were Travellers and not the easiest to find.

I can't find another combination of Robert and Martha...actually can't find Robert and Martha/Matilda on the 1871 at all though I have Robert and Matilda on earlier census. (If anyone can find them I'd be very grateful

I believe that with Mattie as a pet name (highly likely) the Registrar may have just put Martha on the cert.

For the record...
Death entry
Dec 2nd 1871
Dryfield Farm, Western District of Cadder.
Martha Townsend married to Robert Townsend, tinsmith, age 64, cause of death unknown (about 5 months duration, no medical attendant)
father Alexander Stewart, tinsmith, deceased
mother Catherine Stewart ms Long, deceased.
Informant Robert Townsend, widower

Sylvia
Oh PS
Robert died 27 Dec 1882, Old Monkland Poorhouse, pauper formerly travelling tinsmith, age 80, paralysis 8 months
no parents listed.

[Jack]

Hi Sylvia,
This from Ancestry - but they have the name as TOWNESBY.
I've altered this to what the SP index has - ie TOWNESLY.
A look at the original page may show if either is correct....
The address is the same farm as on Martha TOWNSEND's 1871 DC.
--
1871 census 626A/1 Ed 2, p 11, Lines 1-3 (Cadder Western Dist)
Encampment on Farm of Dryfield.
Robert TOWNESLY, head, 62, Travelling Tinsmith, b Ondill? ARL
Martha TOWNESLY, wife, 62, Travelling Tinsmith's wife, b Ireland
William TOWNESLY, son, 35, Travelling Tinsmith, b Kilbride, BUT
--
Further down the same page 11 on line 18 is a;
Bridget TOWNESLY, head, 74, --------b Ireland
--
Jack

[paddyscar]

Well done, Jack! Makes you wonder sometimes, how anyone gets ahead in this game
Frances

[ladybird]

Thank you, thank you Jack, I dont know how I missed that one
Sorry for the delay in replying, we've had a bit of a "week of it" here.

I've had a look at the image on SP and this is definately my lot on the 1871....looks as if Matilda and Martha were interchangeable as I have this on the 1861...
1861 census
Fair View Drumgelloch Road
Robert Townslay abt 1809 Argyle Head, tinsmith
Matilda Stewart Townslay abt 1809 Ireland Wife
Willm Townslay abt 1841 Argyle Son
Parish: New Monkland; ED: 10; Line: 21; Year: 1861

There are too many similarities for it not to be them.
So now I need to go back to the earlier census and see what sort of spelling they use. Obviously something not "obvious"