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Thank you Flip. All we need now is William Frost's death and we have the whole picture.

This is the nearest death I can find for William:

London, England, Deaths and Burials, 1813-1980
Name: William Frost
Record Type: Death
Estimated Death Date: 2 Dec 1879
Parish or Poor Law Union: Saint Marylebone
Borough: Westminster
Register Type: Parish Register

Aged 51, died St Pancras.

?????

1851

Henry Bennett 50 - coachman - Peckham, Surrey
Caroline Bennett 50 - Drakwick, Worcestershire
Mary Bennett 22
Sarah Bennett 20 - Marylebone, Middlesex
Betsy Bennett 18
Henry Bennett 16
Caroline Bennett 12
Frances Bennett 7
Hannah Bennett 4

Hello MC

I think that death may be too late. On the 1871 census I think it shows Sarah as a Widow ( Poor copy to read)

Don't discount anything, she may have said she was a widow but may not have been - just moved on?

It's interesting John's birth is registered under both names Frost and Dowling, so I would agree with others that she took up with John Dowling fairly early - but then again why did she still register him as John Frost on that 1871 census?

Peter, as divorce was not an option for ordinary folk back then, if a couple didn't stay together then they often claimed to be widowed.

Bigamy was not at all unusual.

Well well - three years on and I find someone doing the same as me!

I am the grandson of John Dowling/Frost born 1869 and have a respectable family tree onwards to today. However I have no knowledge of my grand dads parents other than their names. Verbal history says -- Irish but census etc suggests born in London.

Any help would be of great use. Where do you both fit in?.

Hello Michael, might be an idea to click on Peter's name and send him a message - he mightn't be checking back on this thread for replies.

Who are the "both" that you refer to?

I am the grand son of John Dowling born 1868.

Please contact

If you wish to try to contact Peter, click on his name