missing links

[foulsham]

Hester Louise Holland married Richard James Balaam in Hackney in June 1891. In 1895 she had a child by John Arthur Greig. In 1902 she married Walter Benjamin Groves. Her status is "Hester Louise Greig formerly Holland, widow
Questions:
What happened to Richard James Balaam? No death recorded.
Who was John Arthur Greig? The child's birth certicate states he is an hotel manager in Dalston, London.
There is a John Arthur Greig born in 1870 at Lambeth and on the 1891 census a 21 yo John Arthur Greig working as a barman in Hammersmith, London.

I cannot find a death for John, or a marriage, and he doesn't appear on subsequent census.

Helpful suggestions welcome. I'm nearly bald from head scratching.
Foulsham

[jamajo]

Hi and a warm welcome to RC,
                      Could this be your Richard in 1891 in Hackney London

Richard Balaam head age 23 b Melbourne Australia
Hester wife age 20 b Dunstable Bedfordshire

            Sue

[jamajo]

    Could this be his death

Richard Balaam quart  Oct Nov Dec  1912 age 45 Greenwich Greater London
              Vol 1d Page 1118

                     Sue

[foulsham]

Hi Sue,
I've just retrieved your email from my junkbox!! The Richard and Hester on the 1891 census I strongly suspect are Richard james balaam and Hester Louise Holland. They appear to have given false birthplaces. There wasn't a Richard Balaam born in melbourne, Victoria around his birthdate neither was there a Hester born in Dunstable. However her father was managing a pub in Houghton Regis 4 miles fro Dunstable in 1891.

I think also that there is a strong possibility that the  Richard who died in 1912 is him. There were no other Richard Balaams born about that time in England.
The Richard that Hester(She is my grandmother and this marriage was not known to any family member)) married in 1891 was the son of james Balaam and Ann Davies and was born in Hackney, Londonin 1867.
Her story gets even more complicated beore she marries my grandfather, Walter Benjamin Groves in 1903.
I appreciate your suggestions Sue and welcome any others you may have.
kind regards,
Don

[jennifer c]

Hi Don,

If Richard died in 1912 and Hester married in 1903 was this a bigamous marriage?

I have found in 1901 census RG13/438/86 1, Berkbeck Road Lambeth

 Richard Ballam 29 Butcher carrier Carm?an? born Norwood
Wife May G 28 born Much Hadham Herts.

What address did Hester give in 1903?

Have you got Richard in Tottenham in 1881?


Jennifer

[foulsham]

Hi Jennifer, that's an interesting question which hadn't occured to me. I'm very innocent!
That's not my Richard Balaam in the  1901 census. Too young, wrong birthplace. that is if you can believe him. I think he is something of a conman.
Hester(Incidentally she is my maternal grandmother) gave as her address in 1903, 740 Old Ford Road, Bow, London. Her father's beer shop. When Hester married in 1903 she gave her name as Hester Louise GREIG, widow. She had a daughter, Vera,  in 1895. The father's name is given as John Arthur Greig. No evidene of a marriage! In the 1901 census she appears as Hester Greig, spinster, working as a barmaid. certainly a colourful background. Not at all like the small, quiet, but funny little old lady that I knew.

I have recently learned that her older brother, John Partidge Holland spent time in a Military prison. What a dissolute lot I'm descended from!

Regards,
Don