Missing Marriage

[bluestar1967]

Afternoon all, despite being a seasoned researcher I find myself at a brick wall and decided to try one of these forums to see if anyone can help knock it down. Having talked some friends into starting their family research I've been helping them get off the blocks and have given them all the basic tools and tips etc. That said, one of them has come across an issue I can't resolve so I thought I'd see if anyone else has any more luck!
We have a couple named George DEAN Bn abt 1860 Hanley Staffs and his wife Elizabeth Bn Abt 1865 Mayfield, Staffs.
We have located them in the 1911 census which stated they've been married 24 years, have had 9 children, 7 of which still living.
We have also located them in the 1901 and 1891 census.
In 1891 they appear to have relocated to Wiltshire, but then move back to Staffs.
A couple of their children are given middle names of CHAPLAIN, suggesting that mothers maiden name was CHAPLAIN and indeed have located an Elizabeth CHAPLAIN in Mayfield of the right age.
All of this suggested that an easily located marriage in about 1887 would appear when searched..... therein lies the issue!
Despite advising the friends that the vast majority of couples would have been married and followed the "norm" of society back then, we appear to have found a couple that didn't and for no apparent reason.
Can anyone find a marriage of a George DEAN to an Elizabeth - possibly CHAPLAIN or CHAPLIN (name has been used in both forms) between 1887 to 1891 (when first child Jane was born - there may have been 1 born prior to 1891 but this has not been located and may have been born Wiltshire as they are randomly resident there in the 1891 census)
A number of trees online have this family in them but none appear to have located a marriage and all have the date of marriage as 1887 working back from the 24 years suggested in the 1911 census.
I've also looked to see if Elizabeth may have married before and then bought the maiden name back into play during second marriage for childrens second names.
Thanks in anticipation of your assistance or suggestions.....
Regards
Rob

[rosie99]

Is this one of the children from GRO index

Birth Dec qtr 1899   
Dorothy Chaplain Dean   - Mothers maiden surname   CHAPLAIN 
Stafford    6b   6

[bluestar1967]

Hi Rosie, yes Dorothy born and died same year.

[medpat]

Was she a widow when she married George Dean - that's a possibility

[bluestar1967]

Hi Medpat,
I've searched best I can to find a marriage for an Elizabeth marrying a Chaplain who then dies but nothing matching is obvious to me.. and for an Elizabeth Chaplain marrying anyone who then dies........
Thanks for the suggestion

[rosie99]

For anyone trying to help this is the family in 1901
RG13/2572 f39 p19
George age 38 Boot Fitter bn Hanley
Elizabeth 36 bn Mayfield
Jane 9
Albert G 8
Annie E 7
Joseph W 4
Emma H Sabin 33
Charles H Sabin 4 - birth gives mmn Crates
rest all born Stafford

In 1891 it is just George & Elizabeth living in Wiltshire

[rosie99]

Hi Medpat,
I've searched best I can to find a marriage for an Elizabeth marrying a Chaplain who then dies but nothing matching is obvious to me.. and for an Elizabeth Chaplain marrying anyone who then dies........
Thanks for the suggestion

The births of their children I found on the GRO index indicate her maiden name was Chaplain

[josey]

Maybe George was only known as George? Maybe his middle name?

ADDED: Maybe he was married before?

[wrjones]

The 1911 entry indicates they'd been married for 24 years.

Regards
William Russell Jones.