Trying to solve a mystery - Romiley England Samuel and Emma Howard

[Leigh-AnnH]

I am looking for information to solve my mystery. 

My 2 x great grandparents were Samuel and Emma Howard of Romiley, Cheshire.
They were married in 1874.  Emma left the UK in 1909 for South Africa with some of her children, she appeared to have followed my great grandfather (her son) John Samuel Howard.

The mystery for me is that she left her husband behind - I have seen his name in a further census and it lists him as married but no other wife.  And then on her death certificate it states that her husband died in Romiley, so they did not divorce.

I have been trying to find information as to why she would have left her husband to emigrate at the age of 55 when she did not have a profession. 

I have being trying to research the economic conditions at the time. Anyone shed some light - or was this a normal occurrence that woman would "abandon" their husbands for foreign shores?

[chempat]

Good for her.

What age were the 'children' that went out, and how well was John Samuel Howard doing out there?

Which children stayed behind - ones that were already married?   Did he take a mistress, so she thought she might as well go?

Did he leave a will?

[Leigh-AnnH]

HI

John Samuel is getting by I would say - engine drive for the railways.  But by no means flourishing.

Yes it was the older children that remained in the UK - and they were probably married (would need to verify that).  The youngest child was about 14.

What I forgot to add that on the 1901 census she is listed as the head of the household but married.
I have found a few Samuel Howards for the same census but cannot conclusively prove that it my ancestor.

[Marmalady]

If she is "Head of Household" in 1901 with no husband in sight, it sounds like they separated well before she went out to South Africa to join her son

[Ladyhawk]

Don't know if you may already have these details......

Baptism on 2nd Dec 1896 of Samuel & Emma’s last child Frances Howard,
father’s occupation given as Innkeeper,
There is a note written on side next to bp date it says
pr. Recd Jan 25th 1897
source Cheshire Diocese Of Chester Parish Baptisms 1538-1911

from 1891 census the name of the Beerhouse is Greyhorse

On 1901 census Harry Brookes is now the Innkeeper on same census it appears as if
Samuel's brother Jesse Howard is living at No 49 with his family

from 1891c Samuel Howard born c1854 Bredbury Cheshire - might this be his death entry?

Samuel Howard age 69 (1854)
Mar 1923 Stockport Cheshire Volume: 8a Page: 32

I have found a few Samuel Howards for the same census but cannot conclusively prove that it my ancestor.

What pob & occupation is given for the Samuel's you have found?

1884 Bp of his dau Lizzie occ. Collier
1888  "          son George occ. Innkeeper

[Leigh-AnnH]

Thank you - yes that would be the death entry for Samuel Howard.

That is correct he has been listed as a groom / collier and ostler - then seemed what I would think is progressed to an Innkeeper / Beerseller.  In piecing the story together after 1901 it would seem he then became a farm servant / gardener. 

Why i have a fascination with the story is that we have a number of photos of Emma Howard, and from the pictures I get a sense that she was a no nonsense matriach. I have then further read transcriptions of one of her son's wills where she appears very hard and wouldn't allow my great grandfather to adopt the orphaned children and that they should be placed in an orphanage. 

So I trying to get an idea of who Samuel Howard was - and what could've happened?

Thank you for all the information. Always appreciated.