William Gibbs from Croydon

[lizdb]

No evidence to that effect, Ripper! William could well just be working away.


Burial 7th Jan 1895
St John, Coulsden
William Gibbs of Hope Cottages, Smitham Bottom, age 45

[groom]

Looks as if your suspicion is right  1901 


RG13; Piece: 3063; Folio: 57; Page: 30  Lincoln

Fred Mann   38      Iron Turner       Lincoln     
Emma Mann   41                     Croydon
Daisy Mann   13                     Croydon
Dick Mann   12                             Croydon
Jack Wright boarder   2               Lincoln

[Ripper]

Thank you Lizdb & groom, so where was William in 1891?

[groom]

Burial 7th Jan 1895
St John, Coulsden
William Gibbs of Hope Cottages, Smitham Bottom, age 45

Oh - we have a slight problem here. Look at this for 1891, especially the address

RG12  Piece number   585  Folio   75  Page   9
Hope Cottages, Smitham Bottom, Coulsdon, Croydon

William   Gibbs   Head   Married        40       Labourer ?   Worth, Sussex
Ellen   Gibbs   Wife   Married       32       Caterham, Surrey 
Ellen   Gibbs   Daughter   Single       15       Scholar   Coulsdon 
William   Gibbs   Son       14       Scholar   Coulsdon, Surrey
Annie   Gibbs   Daughter       8       Scholar   Coulsdon
Aron   Price   Lodger   Married       38       General Labourer   Wiltshire

So either the William who died isn't yours, or your William was leading a double life and was living with another family who were using his name. I'll see if I can find this family in 1881.

[groom]

They are in the 1881 census RG11; Piece: 807; Folio: 90; Page: 24, So it doesn't look as if that death is your William after all I'm afraid.

[Ripper]

So when did he die?
It is possible (I've been told by one of the family) that he was a bit of a "wrong'un" and possibly an alcoholic.

[groom]

In that case I wonder if he was in the workhouse in 1891? Emma says she is married then, so he obviously hasn't died. I cant find a Gibbs/Mann marriage either before 1901, so possibly she wasn't free to marry.

[Bookbox]

Emma says she is married then, so he obviously hasn't died.

Another possible scenario is that William was in an institution (prison, hospital, asylum, etc.) and enumerated in the census with initials only. Such people can be hard to identify unless a full place of birth and/or distinctive occupation is given.

[Ripper]

Thank you Bookbox & groom for your interest, you'd think finding a death would be easier than this!