Rowland Lloyd - back from the dead after 20 years...?

[KitHannay]

Hi all,

I'm doing some research on a friend's tree and I've come across the strangest thing.

So I have a couple: Rachel Ellis and Rowland/Roland Lloyd, both Welsh. Roland was a mariner/rigger so sailed about. They married in Liverpool in 1864 (I have their marriage cert).

In 1871 I found Rachel living in Wales with two kids - William Ellis and Mary. She's head of the household but married (I found Roland on a ship nearby in that year).

By 1881 the family had moved to Liverpool. I found Rachel living with her husband 'Robert' (I believe this is Roland as all other details match) and their five children.

But in 1891, Rachel is listed as a widow. Still in Liverpool, with four children. This is defo her because one of the children is Winifred and I found Winifred's birth cert (which lists Rachel and Roland as parents).

In 1901, same thing, Rachel is a widow. One of Rachel's children (also called Rachel) gets married in 1898 and her father Roland is listed as deceased.

Flash forward to 1908 when their son Roland gets married, there's no mention of his father being deceased. I know this isn't always recorded in marriage certs but just a few years later in 1911, I've found Rachel living with her husband Roland and some of the kids in the 1911 Census! Alive and well!

What do we think? Shipwrecked somewhere for twenty years? Did he have another secret family somewhere? Has anyone any insights? I'm so intrigued! I'm not sure where else to look!

[Milliepede]

Funny she is recorded as a widow twice if the same husband was alive and well.

What occupation has he got in 1911?  Does the number of years married tally with 1864?

[Milliepede]

Just an evil thought but maybe she got more benefits by saying she was a widow rather than having the support of a husband.

[Milliepede]

Can you post details of the 1911 please as the one I’m looking at doesn’t tally.

My one says only married 26 years and daughter Rachel as unmarried.

[LizzieL]

Bear in mind that in 1891 and 1901, all we are seeing is the enumerator's books which he/she has copied from the householder's schedules. Rachel may have written something illegible or left the column for status blank (as her husband was away) and the enumerator interpreted this as widowed.

added
Another thought
In relation to head: Rachel writes "head" as Rowland isn't there. But she thinks of him as the head and herself as his wife, so she writes "W" for wife in the status column, which the enumerator obviously interprets as "W" for widow.

[Cas (stallc)]

I think Rachel filled in the 1911 census form as it has her signature. For whatever personal reason she included Rowland.

There is this death that names his wife as Rachel. Burial image on Anc*

Name   Raland Lloyd
Age   47
Birth Year   abt 1843
Burial Date   19 Oct 1890
Burial Place   Bootle, St Mary, Lancashire, England

Deaths Dec Q 1890 
Lloyd    Rowland   age 47    W. Derby    8b   367

Also when youngest son Evan D Lloyd (bc 1885, Bootle) marries in 1913, his father Rowland is recorded deceased.

Cas

[LizzieL]

Yes, that would fit. Rachel puts Rowland's age as it would be if he were still alive, but 26 years married  (reply #3) would be the number of years up to his death

[Milliepede]

Well worked out Lizzie that seems to have solved the mystery.

[LizzieL]

Well worked out Lizzie that seems to have solved the mystery.

wasn't me. Cas found the death, I just made the marriage years fit