Hi there, my Grandma's cousin and I have spent years trying to trace a lady called Martha Lee, here is the story..
Martha Lee born 1871 in Shifnal Shopshire to parents George Henry Lee [1849] & Rachael Deakin [1850]
She appeared on the 1881 census aged 9 living on 'Shrewsby Road' Madeley, Shropshire.
She married my third Great Grandad Joseph Aspland in 1891 Oldham, St Stephen and All Martyrs, Manchester, Lancashire
They had two boys Joseph Aspland 25 July 1891 & George Henry Aspland 21 October 1892
The story then goes, from my relatives, that she left her husband 'Joe' he then bought up the two boys on his own. No one knows what happened to her after this.
However, I have found a marriage between a Martha Aspland and a John Lewis in Aug 1905, Burnley. My Grandma's cousin has been to this church and got some info that it was a more 'relaxed' church and she possibly could have married bigamously there.
She then appeared on the 1911 census living at 3 Back Guy Fold Padiham, Burnley. Martha and John were living with his sister and her kids.
After this I can't find a thing! I have full access to deceased online and I have searched every Martha Lewis and John Lewis, none of them fit. I've even tried name variations in case she started going by a different name. I'm now wondering if she married again and I am currently checking out more marriages.
This lady has died at some point and I would love to solve these years of on going head scratching!
Any advice would be very much appreciated! Thanks in advance