If there is anyone who likes a mystery, I would really appreciate your help!
My 2nd great grandmother on my dad’s side was called Ann/Annie Catherine Wickens. She was born about 1836 in Northampton to parents Eliza and Charles. She was married in February 1855 to a Thomas Smith and they had 3 children- Charles Wickens Smith, Sarah Smith and Alice Smith. Her husband passed away and she remarried Thomas Kirby in January 1873. He was born about 1832 in Syresham, Northampton; there are a couple of Thomas Kirby’s born in the same area around the same time just to confuse people! He was previously married to Catharine Philips and had 4 children: Ann, Sarah, Mary and Catharine Kirby. Annie and Thomas went on to have 2 more children- Helen/Ellen/Nellie and Margaret Maud (who is my great grandmother). I’ve found Ann on the censuses between 1841-1881, but I cannot find her after that. I have seen newspaper reports of Thomas beating her about 1884. I have also found Thomas on the 1891 census and he is still listed as married. It’s not until 1901 that he is down as widowed. He died in 1908.
My problems are that I just can’t find concrete evidence for her whereabouts in 1891, nor can I find a death. There is a death in 1886, but as Thomas is still married it seems unlikely. There is also an Ann Kirby visiting family in 1891 and she is listed as an aunt, but I can’t find a link between the families. I have looked at her children to see if she was staying with any of them, but nothing has come to light yet.
This is beginning to make me lose my mind! I seem to just be going round in circles, so a fresh pair of eyes may help.
Thank you.
