Fred, this looks interesting and hopefully should give you some more to think about if you haven't already seen it.
It explains what Abraham was up to around the time you were querying in 1887/1888. Taken from :
The Nottinghamshire Guardian, Saturday May, 11th 1895.
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A Nottingham Divorce Case.
In the divorce division on Tuesday, before the President (Sir Francis Jeune) the case of Booth versus Booth was heard. The petitioner, Mrs Augusta Booth sued for a divorce from her husband, Mr Abraham Booth, a photographer and publican, of Nottingham, on the ground of his adultery with the petitioner's sister, Gertrude Fletcher. There was no defence.
Mr E Short appeared for the petitioner, and said the parties were married at Holy Trinity Church, Nottingham on the 26th March 1878. They had lived together at the Vernon Arms, Waverley Street, Nottingham, and there were two children of the marriage living. In the early part of 1887 a sister of the petitioner, Gertrude Fletcher, went to live with the respondant and his wife at the Vernon Arms. In addition to being a public house keeper the respondent was a photographer, and the sister assisted in the business.
On the 6th November 1887 in consequence of a quarrel, the petitioner left her husband. After that time the respondent and Gertrude Fletcher lived together as husband and wife.
Petitioner gave evidence to the same effect as counsels statement, and said she was now living with some friends at Derby. She first had suspicions of her husband 12 months after she left him. She then heard that her husband and her sister were living together, but did not bring proceedings because her mother wished her not to do so. When her mother died last year she at once instituted proceedings.
Other evidence was given to prove that the respondent and the sister, Gertrude Fletcher, had been living together, and that they had a child named Violet.
A decree nisi with costs was granted.
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Pels.
