WARNING - long story!
I have finally uncovered most of the story of my aunt by marriage's grandfather. It is not what she was expecting (and I don't yet know if I will actually tell her the detail as she is 85 years old. Decision on that is on hold!) However, I can not yet gain closure and would appreciate thoughts:
OK - William Leader Massingham is born Dec Q 1865 Mutford (Lowestoft) Suffolk 4a.649 (and Bpt 1867) parents Robert and Elizabeth.
1871 and 1881 is in Lowestoft with parents, siblings and extended family.
Mar Q 1891 marries Helen Elizabeth O Gibbons in Norwich 4b.220.
1891 census is boarding, with wife Helen in John Street, Norwich.
Mar Q 1892 daughter Kathleen Elizabeth Massingham is born, Norwich 4b.163. mmn Gibbons
Mar Q 1894 daughter Maud Massingham is born, Norwich 4b.190. mmn Gibbons
Mar Q 1898 a daughter is born Croydon 2a.242, Elizabeth Leader Massingham. She is reg with mmn Gibbons, but I am almost certain (in absence of the actual certificate but going on aunt's family knowledge and further census evidence) that she is the daughter of William L Massingham and Ellen Booth nee Parker.
1901 census: William Massingham (who says he is born Italy - where on earth that came from no-one knows!) is at 55 New Road, Southampton, a Clerk, with "wife" Ellen b. Ireland, and daughter Elizabeth age 2. He is a Furniture Shop Asst.
1901 census: Helen Massingham nee Gibbons is at 43 Warwick St, Norwich, married, with her widowed mother, a sister and the 2 daughters, Kathleen and Maud.
1911 things become interesting:
1. William Leonard Leader Massingham is now at 2 Princes Place, Oxford St, Portsmouth is supposedly Single, aged 41 (!) and a Chartered Accountant.
2. Helen Massingham nee Gibbons is still in Norwich, with her mother, a different sister, and her 2 daughters. Says married 20 yrs (correct), with 2 children, both living (correct).
3. Ellen, now reverted to married name of Booth, is boarding, along with daughter Elizabeth Massingham 12yrs with a single Irish Dock Labourer Peter O'Connor in Fleetwood, Lancs. She says she is married, 23 years (correct, she married (Adam) James Booth in 1888 in Farnborough) and 1 child (correct, she did not have any children of her legal marriage). BTW Ellen Booth's husband Adam James Booth lives to 1949 and dies in Camberwell - I think!
08 Apr 1911 - William Massingham leaves Southampton on the St Louis bound for New York.
17 Apr 1911 - Wm Leonard L Massingham, Accountant, age 41 (!), last residence Portsmouth arrives New York. Gives Next of Kin address in UK as 1 Meadow St, Portsmouth, with no name.
07 Sep 1915 William L Massingham (who has now aged to only 42yrs) marries Elise V Arnollin in Chicago, Cook Co, Illinois. She is 29yrs.
Dec 1918 - US Draft - William Leader Massingham is at 813 Rush Street, Chicago, with wife Elise. He is a Book-keeper.
Feb 1925 - Elise Victorine Massingham applies for US Naturalisation and states she is married to William, whereabouts unknown.
Dec 1927 - Elise Massingham completes her Naturalisation, stating that she is now divorced from William, whereabouts still unknown.
1930 Census - Elise Massingham is divorced, Shade Maker (Factory), living with 2 Roomers in Chicago.
So that is what I know so far, and have documentation to prove.
Can anyone fill in the gaps and/or tell me what happened to the cad William Massingham?
Ellen
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Fantastic, thanks so much!