The mystery of Jane Wiltshire / Annie Down

[chempat]

Is this May's marriage?

Marriages December quarter 1923   
Elizabeth M Bignell    Neath   11a   1916   
Benjamin R Clifford    Neath   11a   1916

and May's granny's marriage:
Marriages September quarter  1863
John Browning     S.Stoneham    2c   109   
Martha Willshire   S. Stoneham    2c   109

[Familytreeme]

Yes they are x

[Kay99]

Sorry - wrong thread

[Familytreeme]

And Benjamin (Reuben) father Herbert married Selina Stephens and had all the children. Selina was from Newport, Monmouthshire - they were married in 1885 and stayed in Newport area until between 1892 - 1895 when they moved to Neath. Selina died in 1905 leaving Herbert with all the children. Herbert must have known he was dying too as he married Annie Downs (JaneWiltshire?) in 1906 then died a few months later in 1906.
The marriage of Herbert and Annie took place in Newport despite the fact that Herbert and Selina were both living in Neath then. I have tried to find out if Selina is linked to Annie in some way - Annie must have known the Newport side of the family I guess for them to have been married in Newport. I'd love to unravel how they knew each other and whether Annie really is Jane!

[Marmalady]

Not that it helps solve the mystery, but what makes you so sure that Herbert knew he was dying?

A speedy remarriage after a man was left with a housefull of children to look after was very common.
They could well have planned a long life together, which was then cut short by a sad accident of fate

[Familytreeme]

You are correct, maybe he didn't know he was dying! My nanna does say that the family story is that Nanny Annie / Jane did marry him in simply in order to look after the children - it appears to have been a marriage of convenience. I guess Herberts death cert would say the cause of death? It would be interesting to see if he died suddenly or not

[Milliepede]

Yes I was going to say the same thing.  If we don't know what he died of then can't be sure marrying to be a mother to the children was a planned event. 

Here is the death registration for Herbert if you were interested in getting the certificate.

Sep 1906
Herbert Clifford 44
Neath
11a 462

[Milliepede]

Background on Selina her birthplace is given as Bassaleg Monmouthshire so she could be daughter of this couple.

1871 - all born Monmouthshire

William Stephens 40
Hannah 43
Elizabeth 18
Henry 14
William 10
Selina 7
Ellen 4

[Milliepede]

1881

Harriet now not Hannah Stephens 53 widow
Henry 24
Harriet 22
William 20
Selina 17
Ellen 14

All the children are various tin plate workers