Hi, I'm trying to find what happened to my Great-Great Grandmother Lilian Sharman (nee Griffiths).
She was born in 1869 in Hanley, Staffordshire daughter of Thomas Griffiths and Mary Ann (nee Heath). She had three sisters and a brother: Eveline (b. 1868), Laura (b. 1871), Mary (b. 1875) and Thomas (b. 1880). In 1890 she married Robert Edward Sharman and they had two children: George Edgar Sharman (b. 1892, d. 1917) and my Great-Grandmother Violet (b. 1893).
In 1899 Robert Edward Sharman died, the family story is that he had typhoid fever. Within a week his father George Sharman died also of typhoid. After this time Lilian disappeared and as far as I know she never saw her children again. Violet and George (known as Edgar) were raised by their father's sister Hannah, or Anna Sharman, married surname Snow. They were loved and were called sister and brother by their Snow cousins, but I gather Violet was always hurt by her mother's actions.
I had wondered whether Lilian had a breakdown, but Violet's surviving children believe she remarried, they mentioned the surname Beck last time it was discussed. They also think she stayed in North Staffordshire, one of my Great-Aunts believes she was once followed around Newcastle by a servant of Lilian's. I have been unable to trace Lilian on the 1901 and 1911 censuses, I have tried using various spellings of her name and surname (Sharman was often spelled as Sherman eg), and also her maiden name, but no luck so far. Nor have I been able to find a marriage or death record for her.
Does anyone know anything about what became of Lilian? I find it hard to believe that a mother in her right mind could abandon her young children after their father has died, I know it obviously did happen occasionally but would like to find out whether it was the case here.
EDIT: after a few attempts I have attached a photo of Violet and Edgar Sharman.