Oh My Darling!

I've been tracking a DARLING family (and not the one from Peter Pan.) For some reason I thought it would be an uncommon name but it isn't as uncommon as I thought.

My search starts with SUSAN DARLING who was married to Joseph Parsons in 1830 in Hurley, Berkshire, England. In 1841 they were living in Moulsford, Berkshire and have three children. Joseph's brother Charles is also living with them and another of Joseph's brothers is living nearby.

In 1851 they were also in Moulsford. Joseph is an Ag Lab. Susan is listed as being born in Earley Bottom and they've added two more children. Charles Parsons is living next door to them. In 1861 they are still in Moulsford. Joseph is listed as shepherd and Susan is listed as a laundress, born in Earley Bottom.  There is a daughter Sophie listed who was listed before but I believe it is probably Elizabeth.  The 1871 census finds them still in Moulsford. Joseph appears to have been "retired" by now as he is listed as "formerly shepherd." Susan is still working as a laundress and states she was born in Earley Bottom.

Susan Darling Parsons is mentioned in an article in the Reading Mercury 27 February 1875 where she is called to testify at an inquest for her neighbor William Cox who died suddenly. His death was listed as "died by the visitation of God."

The 1881 census is interesting. Susan Darling Parsons appears to be enumerated twice. She is listed in Moulsford with her husband Joseph. He is listed as "formerly Shephard" and Susan is still listed as a laundress born in Earley Bottom. In Cholsey, Susan is also enumerated with her son William and his wife Mary and family. She is listed as aged 70, born in Earley Bottom. William and Mary have a one month old daughter so it is possible that Susan was there to assist with the new baby?

Susan died in July 1884 at the age of 74.

The confusing part of all of the above is trying to understand where Susan was actually born. She listed Earley Bottom on the census. However she was married in Hurley. The transcript of the parish record does not list any parents. I have found a christening record for Susan Darling in Hurley, Berkshire for 1810. This fits in with the time frame.

I know that there is both a Hurley and an Earley in Berkshire County. There doesn't appear to be a specific town called Hurley Bottom or Earley Bottom. Information about Earley talks about Lower Earley. There are no easily accessible parish records for Earley. The Hurley records do have the christening record for Susan. There is also a possible marriage record for her parents - James Darling and Elizabeth Keep. There are two other children of James and Elizabeth listed in that area - Harriet and William. Harriet appears to have married Henry Street in Wargrave (which is not too far from Hurley) and then Robert Jacobs. William is a mystery.

This Darling family remains a mystery and I'll probably have to get lucky to find the right record to confirm identity.