Occ at Mar of son George, Collier.
Joseph Crossland Death Sep 1857 Barnsley V9c P88

Shown as Mary MERRIWEATHERMary Reg her son George birth without fathers
details.
It is suspected that her birth Surname was Merryweather a cousin to her
husband Joseph Merryweather.
Philippa has in the family archives a photograph of "Grandmother Mary
Walton" who is reputed to be the Grandmother of George born 1873, Kate,
Anthony, Amanda etc and I think this could well be George's born 1843
mother. In your list of St Cath's refs I notice a Mary Merryweather
married in Ecclesfield District in June 1846 so wonder whether this is
our Mary marrying a Mr Walton. Also on the 1901 census there is an entry
in Hoyland Nether for Mary Walton, 78, born Yorks Darton. I haven't
accessed the full entry yet but it seems to fit.
I am now certain that George Merriweather b. 27 November 1843 was the
illegitimate son of Mary Merriweather b. 1822 Darton linking up the two
families of Merriweathers that are in your database.
I have found a marriage for Mary Merriweather to Joseph Crossland at
Darton Parish Church 15 June 1846. Mary is a spinster. I am sure these
are the right people as we have a bible that belonged to George
Merriweather (1843-1904) in which he gives his own date of birth and
those of Amanda Crossland and Anthony Merriweather Crossland that I
believe are his half sister and brother.
I do not think the Joseph Merriweather that George stated as his father
on his marriage certificate was a real person. I suspect George used his
step father (Joseph Crossland's) Christian name with his own surname
Merriweather to cover up the fact that he was illegitimate.
On 1881 census I think I have found Mary as Mary Walton blacksmith's
widow mother-in-law of John Twigg. John's wife Amanda is presumably
Amanda Crossland mentioned above (still need to find the Twigg/Crossland
marriage to prove this conclusively).
I have found some FreeBMD entries that fit with this as follows:
Joseph Crossland Death Sep 1857 Barnsley 9c 88
Mary Crossland & Edward Walton Marriage Dec 1858 Barnsley 9c 164
Edward Walton Death Age 63 Sep 1879 Barnsley 9c 95.
Obviously I need to check these out to ensure they are the right people
but it would all seem to fit.
I have attached a descendant report for Anthony Merriweather that I hope
might make things clearer and by seperate messages a copy of George's
birth certificate and Mary and Joseph's marriage certificate (in two bits
because it was too big to scan whole) for your further information
source=Philippa Blackburn