I have a mystery which has had me stumped for a good 15 years. There are two women born 22 years apart in Kilton, Somerset, both with the name Elizabeth EXON who "married" the same man named William MANN.
The first Elizabeth EXON was born in 1844 and married William MANN in Kensington, 15 April 1875. They divorced in 1889 and another woman named Elizabeth EXON is named under the claim for adultery. The "new" Elizabeth EXON and William MANN then have two children; Cecilia Exon MANN born in 1890 and William MANN born in 1891. Both are described as the children of William and Elizabeth MANN of 101 Walmer Rd in their baptism records.
In the 1891 census they family are recorded under the surname MANN. In the 1901 census, Elizabeth is living with her son William EXON and is recorded as the boarder of William MANN. She is also using the surname EXON again. Their daughter Cecilia has died of measles.
In the 1911 census, William, Elizabeth and their son are recorded with the surname EXON. They are recorded as being married for 22 years which would have been 1889, the same year as the first wife Elizabeth EXON filed for divorce, but there isn't a marriage record.
William MANN senior died sometime between 1912 and 1918. His son William MANN, is using the surname EXON when he married in 1918 and his death in 1936 is registered under the surname EXON.
The mystery is Elizabeth EXON as she doesn't exist prior to 1881 and disappears after 1911. Co-incidentally, both Elizabeth EXONs worked for the same family with the surname WALTHAM who lived in Stanford Rivers, Essex. Elizabeth (b. 1844) worked for the WALTHAM family in 1861 and Elizabeth (b.1866) worked for the same family in 1881.
Its a very complicated situation and if anyone can find details of the Elizabeth EXON (b. 1866) prior to 1881 or after 1911, I will be eternally grateful.
Thanks for reading my long winded post
