To cut a 30 year story short, I finally found my great grandparents hiding in plain sight on the 1891 census. Contrary to information I'd found or been given, both had married other people before eloping.
First off, Mary Upton b 1865 at Leamington who by 1881 was in the care of her aunt Mary Bakewell, working as a barmaid at her uncle William's pub in Lichfield.
In Aug 1888 she married local baker's son Walter Humphries. By the time of the 1891 census the couple had a baby Florence Mabel.
By about 1894 Mary had met my ggf and was in Canada where she gave birth to my grandfather.
I'm trying to find out what happened to her daughter and first husband. Florence also passed into the care of Mary Bakewell (what a star!) and was with her up until at least the age of 20 (1911 census, Lichfield). I can't find a probable marriage or death for her after that date - that's problem #1
Problem #2 concerns Walter Humphries. The next (and only) trace I have of him after 1891 is a mention in a newspaper when he seems to have attended his father's funeral at Lichfield in 1895. His brothers continued to run the family business but I can't see what happened to Walter.
The second half of the puzzle concerns the man Mary eloped with, Henry Robinson b 1864 Nantwich (son of Henry, a shoemaker).
I believe he married Ann or (aka Annie) Prince in 1887. I have the marriage cert and all the details check out but it gives his occupation as Confectioner, something I wasn't expecting. I looked back to 1881 and found what I believe to be Henry at Salford working as a baker's assistant ie possibly a confectioner. (His family had connections with Salford). In 1891 he appears with Ann at Nantwich and gives his occupation as a painter (something which I know he carried on until he retired). At the end of 1891 the couple had a daughter Clara but she seems to have died at or soon after birth. As mentioned the next I know of Henry is that he was in Canada c1894. Ann appears on the 1901 census but died in 1907 So, my problem #3 is, have I got the right Henry at Salford in 1881 - I can't think of another way to confirm it. Problem #4 is the fact that at his marriage to Ann he is described as a widower (age 23) but I can't find a possible marriage.
To summarise the timing:
Mary Upton
1881 Lichfield
1888 Married Walter Humphries
1891 Had daughter Florence
1894 In Canada with Henry!
1895 Walter last traced problem #2
1911 Florence last traced problem #1
Henry Robinson
1881 Salford, bakers assistant problem #3
188? Married someone problem #4
1887 Married Ann Price, Nantwich
1891 Clara born
1894 In Canada with Mary!
I don't need to know about Mary and Henry before 1881 or after 1901 I have all the info I need in that regard. I'd just like to trace Mary's first husband and child, find out whether I've got the right Henry in 1881 and determine who he married before Ann.
Any help appreciated - sorry for the essay!
Paul
PS Henry and Mary never married each other as far as I know.
PPS In a bizarre coincidence (at least I think that's what it is) a Henry W Robinson, confectioner was brought to court by his wife Annie at Worcester in 1893 for desertion!
