Ever decreasing circles ...

[stanleymansion]

Hi! 

Just when I thought I had it solved I find my great great grandmother didn't die in 1896 after all! But what next? I'm right out of ideas and my fingers are weary from all today's research.

HELP PLEASE!!

• Eliza Jane Lilley born Scarborough Q1 1859.
• 1861, 1871 Census still living Scarborough
• 1877 Q3 gave birth to daughter Gertrude Lilley in Scarborough, father unknown
• 1879 Q2 married James Henry Clarke in Huddersfield
• 1881 Living in Scarborough with James and daughter Gertrude
• By 1891 Gertrude is living with family in Scarborough, Eliza is living in lodgings in Bradford as a widow, and James is dead, not sure of date as a couple of possibilities.
• 1901 Census I'm unable to find Eliza Jane Clarke. Gertrude had married John Bowes in 1900 and was living with in laws. I tracked down a possible death for Eliza but it turns out not to be her!

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I'm left realistically with either a death I haven't traced or a remarriage. I have found a possible marriage at Todmorden Vol 9a Page 481 Q2 1899, not too far from Bradford. I can't however link this to anything in the 1901 census using either of the possible spouses, William Sutcliffe or Harry Campbell. Nor can I locate the other listed female "Lilly".

I've also searched in 1901 using only "Eliza Jane born Scarborough 1859 +/-2". That gave me only one possibility, Eliza Jane Frith, married to John Frith, with 3 children, living Wolverton. The age is slightly out and the eldest child doesn't quite fit the timeline if the ages are correct.  I don't seem to be able to trace either John Firth, who was born in Bedale, Yorkshire or the births of these children!!

It's driving me nuts especially when I thought I had Eliza Jane sussed!
Can anyone help me please? I would so love to tie up this 'lose end'.

Thank you
Lyn 

P.S. Have posted here because of the possible link with Todmorden. Wasn't really sure where to put it ; bloomin' woman could be anywhere!! Lol!!

[Arranroots]

Hi Lyn

The family you have identified in 1901 are not yours - I can see them in 1891 living in Thrapston, Northamptonshire (RG12; Piece: 1220; Folio 135; Page 44)

Why do you say that the death cert is not the right lady?  Remember that info can be wrong, since it was not given by the person themselves!

kind regards, Arranroots 

[Arranroots]

Just found your previous thread here

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,235031.msg1302816.html#msg1302816

I can't help thinking that  you are following this family forward, rather than back - much harder!

Do you have James's death cert?  Where did he die & who registered the death?

There are plenty of marriages that could be her, might take a while to plough through matching them to the census though - presumably you have tried this?

Hoping to help

kind regards, Arranroots 

[stanleymansion]

Hi Arranroots

I know I look like I'm going about things the wrong way  but the problem has arisen because I've already got the full picture going backwards so now I'm trying to find out what became of her using what I thought was the right info.

Poor Eliza has been a sorry tale from the start. The father of her daughter Gertrude was supposed to be "Maurice Lilley" Deceased according to Gertrude's marriage cert. However Eliza's maiden name was Lilley and I haven't been able to trace a Maurice Lilley anywhere, born or died!

As for James Henry Clarke, born Liverpool about 1850, I'm not sure which James it is. One or two fit the bill but... Likewise with the death, as I'm not sure where they were living at the time of death I  don't know which ones might be the right ones!

Do you suppose the marriage certificate for James and Eliza might unearth more clues?

I was sort of looking for a possible remarriage around the Bradford area as that was where Eliza was living in 1891 hence the reason I picked up on the Todmorden one. Bit of a shot in the dark I know! So for example using this marriage I tried cross checking against the 1901 census; there are the 2 females Eliza Jane and a Lilly and 2 males William Sutcliffe and Harry Campbell. I can't tie up either of these two guys with either female. In fact I'm having no luck finding anyone!

What do you suggest I try next? Any help very much appreciated!
Thanks
Lyn 

PS I did eventually find the Frith family! Eliza Jane was previously a Mitchell, born in Scarborough around the right time but obviously not the right one, just as you said!