What Happened to Richard Oates?

[osprey]

he was baptised 10 May 1843 aged 5 weeks in the Truro Wesleyan Methodist Circuit, son of Joseph & Elizabeth, residence Kenwyn. Baptism for older brother Joseph in 1837 shows Joseph senior as a miner. Probable marriage for parents Joseph Oates & Elizabeth Stevens 21 May 1823 in Kea.

[ctrunfree]

the Richard whose death was registered sept qtr 1881 was resident in St Day according to the transcription of the burial on the opc database. Burial was 20 July 1881.

Hmm.  While St Day and Gwennap are only 3 miles apart, if he was buried in July it can't be Susan POLLARD's Richard.  And there is an aged Richard STEVENS living in Redruth at the 1871 Census, who may well be the man registered in 1878.

There's also the possibility that "widowed" meant "separated"-its happened before in my tree.  But I can't find any likely suspects for Richard in the 1881 Census anywhere (there is a Richard OATES of the right age living in Redruth but he has a wife and established family).

Will have to keep looking.