Frances ?

[Greaves]

That makes sense.

[ciderdrinker]

Hi
Only christening I can find in Huntingdon which may be a relative on Freereg
William s of William and Frances Filavel 2.8.1809 St Mary Huntingdon.
Could be a brother?
Ciderdrinker

[Greaves]

The BRITTON/BRITTEN name raises some questions. When I first came across it, I though that maybe she had reverted to her maiden name following the death of James. But I am increasingly convinced by the FAVEL suggestion.

We know that James was alive in 1841 but dead by 1851. So Frances must have remarried sometime after 1841 to someone named BRITTON/BRITTEN, who must have died by 1861, since she is widowed on the 1861 census.

Does this make sense?

[avm228]

We know that James was alive in 1841 but dead by 1851. So Frances must have remarried sometime after 1841 to someone named BRITTON/BRITTEN, who must have died by 1861, since she is widowed on the 1861 census.

Does this make sense?

This makes sense, with the caveat that the fact that she held herself out as a widow in 1861 does not necessarily mean that there had been a lawful marriage to the late Mr Britton/Britten.  Like you, I cannot easily see evidence of one.  So it may be that she had lived with him without marriage.

If you are lucky her death certificate may describe her as "widow of  _______ Britten" which at least would give you a name for the mystery man.

[bedfordshire boy]

But she was Frances Gilbert widow in 1851 implying that she married Mr Britton after 1851

[avm228]

But she was Frances Gilbert widow in 1851 implying that she married Mr Britton after 1851

Agreed - sorry had not noticed the post said "after 1841".

[avm228]

Only christening I can find in Huntingdon which may be a relative on Freereg
William s of William and Frances Filavel 2.8.1809 St Mary Huntingdon.
Could be a brother?

That's a promising find.  It's also extracted on Familysearch - as FLAVEL:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/J946-16K

[Greaves]

Sorry, but doesn't the 1861 census just say that she is a widow. How do we know who this applies to? Surely she could have been widowed by either James Gilbert who died sometime between 1841 and 1851, or by Unknown Britton, who she might have married after James Gilbert's death and who may have died by 1851.

Though there is of course no evidence of any remarriage.

[avm228]

or by Unknown Britton, who she might have married after James Gilbert's death and who may have died by 1851.

If she'd already been married to Mr Britton by 1851 then it would be very odd for her still to be enumerated as Gilbert in the 1851 census and then to adopt the Britton surname later.