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Brilliant, thanks ever so much for that 

Hi, I recently acquired my Great x 3 Grandfathers will and whilst I can make some of it out there are a few bits I can't decipher so I was wondering whether anybody would like to give it a go?.

Many thanks


Angela

Sidney was my Grandad's cousin and he was posted with the Lincolnshire Regiment. When Sidney left for France, my Grandad (nicknamed RT) saw him off at Aylsham Train Station and the last thing Sidney said to him was 'Well this is it RT, you won't see me again' and unfortunately he was right Sidney did not return. He died on the 8th July 1944 in Herouville as a result of Operation Charnwood part of Operation Overlord and is buried in Ranville War Cemetery. Me and my father are very fortunate to be visiting Sidney's grave for the first time in three weeks when we go on a D-Day landing beaches tour and I plan to take a poppy cross which has been on my Grandad's grave and place it on Sidney's, they were both a similar age and I like to think that they were close. Will definitely be a poignant visit.

Robert Grays profession was labourer on their marriage certificate and his fathers name was Thomas who was also a labourer. The only Robert Gray I have found so far is one that was living in Wroxham (same as mentioned on wedding certifcate) before and after the marriage and his fathers name matches the one on the marriage certificate Thomas. This makes me think, it is the right Robert Gray but its just strange I haven't found him with Maria after they were married. Not found death record as of yet 😊

My Great x 3 Grandmother Maria Smith is a mystery.. I believe she was born in Coltishall in 1834 and she married her first husband Robert Gray (who was living in Wroxham at the time) in Coltishall in 1856. Their first child Matilda Gray (for whom I have the birth certificate) was born in Great Yarmouth in 1865. I cannot find Maria and Robert ever living together after they were married.
 In 1871 Maria had a daughter (my Great x 2) grandmother Ellen Kirk Gray.I also have Ellen's birth certificate which lists her mother as Maria Gray living at the same address she was at when Matilda was born and no mention of the father. I also obtained Ellens wedding certificate which listed her father as Thomas Kirk who was a lodger in Great Yarmouth at the time of Ellens birth. I cannot find my Great x 3 Grandmother Maria on the 1861 census, she is living in Great Yarmouth with her daughter Matilda on the 1871 census and disappears again on the 1881 census.
She then marries again in 1884 to a gentleman called Samuel Pigney and on the marriage certificate she is listed as a widow and her fathers name and profession match those for her first husband Robert Gray. She appears on the 1891 census and from what I have managed to find out dies in 1892.
My question is can anyone find her on the 1861 and 1881 censuses and also find her first husband? i have found a Robert Gray still living in Wroxham at this time and a couple of the entries appear to suggest he is married but he was still living in Wroxham after Maria marries again so am I barking up the wrong tree with him or could it be a case of bigamy?. i really hope this makes sense as it is confusing to me! 😀