I am trying to find out more about the later life of my illiterate grandfather George Daniel Leggett, born in Corton in Suffolk in 1837. He was a fisherman and had various fishing jobs off the coast of East Anglia. In about 1860 he married a lady, Mary Boynton, in Hull, before the two settled in Scarborough and had three or four children during the 1860s.
The next 20 years of George's life are very unclear as he has not been found on the 1871 nor 1881 censuses, (possibly at sea?). He appears on 2 crew lists in 1882 and 1884. In 1891 (RG12/4059) he is lodging in 88 High Street, Hartlepool, described as widower.
In the early 1890s he is found to be living, probably unmarried, with my great grandmother Jane Leggett. Over the next 10 years he had a series of jobs variously as a fishmonger in Richmond, Yorkshire and the landlord of a pub in Barningham. During those several years George and Jane had 6 children, culminating with the birth of my grandfather (Thomas) William Leggett in 1900.
I have been unable to find George on the 1901 census. The rest of the family is at 10 St Helen's Place, Hartlepool, oddly under the name of Jane's late first husband, Thompson. (Being a former fisherman, possible he was at sea, at age 64).
On the 1911 census for Jane Leggett and family he is described as 'Husband away', and is at 29 Acclom Street, Hartlepool. I do not have any record that they were officially married, and his earlier wife Mary Boynton was still showing herself as married in Scarborough in 1911.
In 1915 on her marriage certificate, his daughter Lavinia, describes her father as deceased, yet records show he did not die until 1921, certified by the man in whose house he was at in 1911. Had she been told her father was dead?
I think it is plausible that George and Jane had some sort of rift round about 1900, as there seems to be little evidence that they were together after this date, especially as she used her previous name on the 1901 census, although the children were all listed as 'Leggett'.
I was hoping to use my 1000th comment on Rootschat with this request, but unfortunately I hadn't assembled the necessary information in time! I would be grateful for anyone who can fill in any of the blanks, as I and other members of the family have run into a dead end.
Martin