Looking for Prince William

[Mary from Italy]

I'm helping my BiL with his tree, and I'm having a lot of trouble with one family.

William Prince (born Coventry in 1867) married Annie Merrick (born Sutton Cheney, Leics., abt 1869) in Leicester in 1890.

We have the birth certificate of their first child Alfred James Prince, born in Leicester on 4/5/1890. The address on the birth cert is 196 Syston Street, Leicester, and William's occupation is shoe riveter. William's sister Emma Jane Tidmarsh and family were at that address in 1891.

I have William on the 1871 and 1881 censuses, but I can't find him and Annie together on any census. I also have Annie in 1871 and 1881 with her parents.

I can't find any of the three in 1891, but I have Annie with Alfred and siblings in 1901 and 1911.

It looks as though William and Annie separated; he was living in Kidderminster by 1918 (details from Alfred's brother William's service record), and later died there, whereas Annie stayed in Leicester.

Can anyone find William in 1891/1901/1911, or Annie and Alfred in 1891?

In 1881 there's a William Prince in Leicester Workhouse, who I think is the right person; I'm wondering if they were all in the workhouse in 1891, but I can't find any likely candidates.

I was hoping Annie might have been with her parents in 1891, but I can't find them either. They were George Merrick, born Sutton Cheney c. 1847, and Elizabeth née Botterill, born Barwell, Leics. in 1848 (at least I think so - haven't found a definite birth for Annie yet). I haven't found a likely death for either of them so far.

[ElizabethHerts]

Who is Alfred Tidmarsh, the boarder, with Annie and the children on the 1901 census, Mary? Is he a relation of William as you said his sister had the surname Tidmarsh? Did his sister die?

[Mary from Italy]

Yes, it's his sister's husband - she died in 1897.

[ElizabethHerts]

Mary, I have looked and looked every way I know, and it's very frustrating! Annie kept on producing the children, despite no sight of William! I wonder if they were all his?

[Mary from Italy]

I'm beginning to doubt it, frankly, as I've never found them together. Sooner or later we may have to buy some of their certs to see who their fathers are.

No idea if her brother-in-law Alfred was more than just a boarder, and in 1911 she and the children are boarding with another man, who's shown as married, but his wife's missing. His children are with relatives, but I can't see his wife anywhere.

Assuming William deserted his wife I suppose she may have shacked up with other men rather than ending up in the workhouse with the children.

Unfortunately Alfred James died in his 40s, and none of the living relatives know anything about his parents.

[Mary from Italy]

The third child, William, born in 1893, gave William Prince as his father when he joined the army, and when he was killed on the Somme, William senior asked for his medals to be sent to him. Poor Annie didn't even get those.

[Mary from Italy]

Anybody else fancy a go at this one? It's really annoying me.

(Thanks for trying, though, Elizabeth :))

[kiterunner]

I had a try for quite a while yesterday but I got nowhere, sorry.

[Mary from Italy]

Thanks Kate, at least I feel less stupid if other people can't find them either :)

I've even tried passenger lists just in case, but no luck there either.