Matthew Brightman  married  Phoebe Hickson in 1840 and the following year had twins Elizabeth and Jane. Matthew worked as a labourer in Bourne, Lincs. The 1841 census below shows  Phoebe, Elizabeth and Jane staying with Phoebes father John Hickson in Pinchbeck. I cannot find Matthew on the census (yet)

Phoebe died the same year as her son Robert (our great grandfather) was born and Matthew died the following year. This meant that Robert and his  brothers and sisters (Elizabeth, Jane, John and Thomas) were placed in the Bourne workhouse, as shown by the 1851 census below.

In the 1861 census Robert and Thomas are still inmates of the workhouse but there is also an Elizabeth Brightman, aged 85, a charwoman. Could this be their grandmother?

This Elizabeth Brightman is also found on the 1851 census living next door to Robert and Rebecca Lattimore, the other grandparents. (see Mystery Letter)

On the 1871 census, Robert was working on a farm in Gosberton as a servant.

At the time of the1881 and 1891 census Robert had become an ironstone miner. He was living with his wife Frances Sarah Warren  and their family at 21 Dundas St, Lofthouse, York. Robert worked in the ironstone mines until they closed and to find work he walked to Hucknall. He found work in the New Hucknall Colliery and then sent for his family. He died in 1894.

Edward Hawkins moved into lodgings with Francis Sarah Brightman and her family when he left the army. He began courting Edith Annie (Annie), and they married in February 1912.