A mystery............ any ideas on how to solve it? - Genealogists' Forum

Margaret in Burton · #1 13-09-09, 18:22

An ancestor of my OH.

Thomas John Stanbridge born 1829, Kiddington, Oxfordshire.

Married Elizabeth Wells 1853.

1871 census RG10; Piece: 1458; Folio: 99; Page: 16

1881 Elizabeth is listed as a widow. RG11; Piece: 1521; Folio: 101; Page: 3

Cannot find a death after many years of searching.

Family story is that he walked out one day in his slippers and never returned.

Surely if someone goes missing there would be a newspaper report at least.

I have looked at 19th century newpapers but didn't find anything. Doesn't mean it's not there, just that I didn't find anything.

Any ideas?

kiterunner · #2 13-09-09, 18:41

If you mean the British Library 19th Century Newspapers database then it doesn't cover the whole country by any means, so it could be that it was in the local paper for that area but that one isn't in the database. Of course, it would only have been in the paper if someone reported it. It could be that the family story is wrong and the couple agreed to separate and he moved out, in which case it wouldn't have been in the paper. Or could just be that the family didn't want it in the paper. Of course it would be difficult to look through all the editions of the local paper over ten years to see if there was a report!

If he walked out on his wife and didn't want to be traced, he may have used a false name and his death could be registered under that name. Or it could be he died in a place where nobody knew him and he could be registered as unknown. Or could he have emigrated?

vallee · #3 13-09-09, 18:43

wonder if hes another bigamist ??? I had a quick look but no deaths bwteen 1871 and 1881

Margaret in Burton · #4 13-09-09, 18:43

I know you are right Kate.

I have been telling myself that for years, It's so annoying at it's OH's GG grandad and one we can't get a death cert for.

Margaret in Burton · #5 13-09-09, 18:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by vallee

wonder if hes another bigamist ??? I had a quick look but no deaths bwteen 1871 and 1881

I have checked marriages as well Val, didn't see anything. Bigamy did cross my mind. Don't have one yet, well not that I know of anyway.

kiterunner · #6 13-09-09, 18:49

What was his occupation, Margaret?

Merry · #7 13-09-09, 18:51

Do you have the birth cert for Agnes, b 1877ish?

He was a surveyor in 1871, Kite.

Merry · #8 13-09-09, 18:52

I wonder if Agnes' baptism would give any clues?

kiterunner · #9 13-09-09, 18:57

So he may have left a will or an estate that went to administration. Have you already searched the National Probate Calendar, Margaret?

Merry · #10 13-09-09, 19:02

That will be Enstone which was where he/his family were in 1871/81.