MARY FOLEY nee LEVETT BORN C.1863

[Holly Bush]

Hi,
This one is driving me mad!
I cannot find the death of Mary Foley (as above).  She was born at Rowley Regis in 1863 & had a twin sister, Sarah. She married a Joseph Foley on the 6th Sep 1881 at Halesowen. They had a daughter, Sarah Ellen, born at Ponthe Lane, Old Hill in May 1887, plus other siblings, John c.1882 & Albert c.1889, both born at Rowley Regis. On the 1891 census, Mary was listed as a visitor with a Catherine & Dennis Costilo at 20 Turners Hill, Rowley Regis, whilst  Joseph was at 30 Garretts Lane, Rowley Regis with the three children. In 1901, Mary was again at the Costellos, only Catherine was now the head & Mary was listed as sister & the address was 166 Beeches Rd, Rowley Regis. Meanwhile, Joseph was at 39 Enville Rd, Kingswinford with daughter Sarah & two servants, one of whom he married in 1928 (Amy L Read), after fathering eight children with her!!! I suppose there is a chance that they divorced & Mary remarried, but I don't know how I can find that out.
If anyone can help me sort this muddle out, I'd be so grateful.
Here's hoping!!!
Holly

[CaroleW]

The GRO index is now available free at www.ancestry.co.uk so you could search for her death which is more likely than divorce. 

If Joseph re-married in 1928 to somebody he had been living with, then my bet would be that Mary died not that long beforehand.  Depending on exactly when Joseph remarried in 1928, I would start with that same year and work backwards.  I reckon she died 1927/28

[Holly Bush]

Hi Carole,

Thanks for your reply. I have been searching on Ancestry & 1837 Online &  believe it or not, I've trawled through the records from 1901 to 1940, noting every Mary Foley who even vaguely matches the age! There is no way that my friend can buy all the certificates, so I'm going to give her a list of what I've found & she is going to try to check parish records etc. in the area where Mary last lived to our knowledge. I actually gave you a wrong date for Joseph's re-marriage, it was Mar Qu 1930 not 1928, but I fully understand what you are saying & will have another concentrated look through 1928, 1929 & the beginning of 1930.
Wouldn't it be a great help if the deaths on line stated, widow of or wife of etc.? Then again, I suppose that would make it too easy for us!!!
Thanks again for answering.
Holly