« Reply #10 on: Monday 16 August 10 19:24 BST (UK) »
If I've read the thread correctly he disappeared before 1891? When was the last child born?
Possibilities -
he went to live with someone else, maybe committing bigamy (perhaps marrying with a different surname)
he left the country
That would explain why you can't find him in censuses.
I do sympathise - my husband's gt x 3 grandfather James Robins (not Robens though one of his daughter's was once recorded as such!) is around for the baptism of all 12 of his children and takes out insurance policies for his property. But 1841 census for the area is missing; 1851 his wife is Head of the Household although married and 1861 she's a widow. Meanwhile James isn't on the census and he doesn't appear to have died.
On the other hand - his son William was in Parkhurst in 1871 so I'm wondering if father spent a bit of time in prison too - though I still can't find him on the census!
Chowns in Buckinghamshire
Broad, Eplett & Pope in St Ervan/St Columb Major, Cornwall
Browning & Moore in Cambridge, St Andrew the Less
Emms, Mealing & Purvey in Cotswolds, Gloucestershire
Barnes, Dunt, Gray, Massingham in Norfolk
Higho in London
Matthews & Nash in Whichford, Warwickshire
Smoothy, Willsher in Coggeshall & Chelmsford, Essex
