Working on the hypothesis that we have the right Mary Ann BAKER then it is interesting that her mother, Jane LAVIS, was illegitimate.
As I mentioned, it may be from this that the name Thomas Nesham appears.
But to use the name so much later must be of some concern.
Last night I tried to see if I could find a Thomas NESHAM in the 1851 Census - but no luck with anything useful.
However, I just had a look at the 1841 Census and found something of possible interest.
AND it happened AGAIN! - the entry I wanted was on the b****y right-hand page!
But
Plymstock
Thomas NESHAM, 30, Capt. Army, Not In County
Caroline do., 25, In County
Elizabeth do., 3, At Sea
Mary do., 1, In County
Julia do., 7 mths, In County
Now we might be starting to get somewhere.
And I have also now just found this family in 1851. ;D
2 Mulgrave Place, St Andrew Plymouth
Thos W NESHAM, head, mar, 45, Capt. Army. 1/2 Pay, Cornwall Anthony
Caroline do., wife, mar, 38, Devon Plymstock
Elizth. B do., daur, 13, At Sea
Mary F do., daur, 11, Devon Plymstock
Julia (?) do., daur, 10, Devon Plymstock
Emily H do., daur, 9, Devon Plymstock
Thomas P do., son, 7, Devon Plymstock
Margaret do., daur, 5, Devon Plympton
Edwd G do., son, 1, Devon Plympt
Mary ANDREWS, servant, wid., 37, cook, Devon Plympton
Henrietta CARE, servant, mar., 31, nurse, France (British Subject)
Mary COLEMAN, servant, unm., 23, dressmaker, Devon Ermington
Jane HACKADAY, servant, unm., 19, servant, Devon Plympton
Quite a family - AND four servants to boot!
The second initial of Julia's name is peculiar.
It looks like an 'F' but is completely different to the 'F' in Mary's name.
I have searched and cannot find her as Julia J or Julia T either.
In fact these below are the only children for whom I can find a Birth Record in FreeBMD.
Mary Ferquharson NESHAM 1839 September Qtr Vol 9 Page 378 Plympton St Mary R.D.
Thomas Peere Williams NESHAM 1843 December Qtr Vol 9 Page 424 Plympton St Mary
Edward Graves NESHAM 1850 March Qtr Vol 9 Page 41[97] Plymouth
But the one that has me slightly intrigued is the eldest daughter - ELIZth. B - but I cannot find anything more from FreeBMD that might be useful.
There was an Elizabeth Bulteel NESHAM married in 1873 at Totnes but that is as close as I can get.
The BIG question is - might Caroline and Mary Ann be sisters?
Certainly appear to be getting closer to finding a source for that name.