On another thread altogether one or two experienced Rootschatters said they liked a mystery, so here's my biggest one!
Its focused around my Great-grandmother Lily.
I have reason to believe Lily was born either Eliza or Ellen Rayner to David and Hannah Rayner in West Ham about 1865.
Lily married John Charles Abbott at St James the Great in Bethnal Green, in 1887. Lily's age is stated as 21 (making her born about 1866, and John Charles age is 22, making him born about 1865). The record also states her father's name as David Rayner - occupation Carman - which is how he appears on the census records I have for the family.
Then Lily disappears, but John doesn't!
He turns up in court records, and ends up in out of jail - under the name Abbott, and an alias - Gayner, for breaking and entering, assaulting a police officer etc. etc.
But I can't find Lily anywhere, under 'Lily' 'Eliza' or 'Ellen'. Nor can I find her parents David & Hannah Rayner. David's death is registered in West Ham 1895, but Hannah is still a mystery.
Jump to 1901 and Lily is living with 'husband' Alfred Williams with their children,
Alfred 5, Albert 3, & George 1. they have a further 2 sons, William Henry, and Arthur George. (They had another child in 1894 - Arthur - who died in infancy).
Alfred is the registered father to all these children, with Lily's maiden name stated as Rayner - no mention of previously being an 'Abbott'.
I also can't find a divorce or annulment record for Lily and John Abbott, or a marriage record between her and Alfred Williams.
Jump to 1911 Lily is living with the above children, and listed as 'widowed'. But also living with a 'Boarder' 'Jack' Abbott, who is about the right age to be her husband John Charles!
I've yet to find Alfred's death record, there were a quite a lot of Alfred Williams's in the area at the time, and have yet to find the right one.
There's a lot of questions here, but my big main question is where were Lily Rayner/Abbott, David Rayner (born abt 1833 in Norfolk) and Hannah Rayner (b abt 1843 in Maldon) in 1891?
There are various Lily Rayners, Hannah Rayners, and Ellen Rayners around Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk where the family originally came from, but either they appear to be different people, or I can't categorically determine whether they are the right people.
Any ideas would be very much appreciated!