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Would be most grateful for any help with my great grandfathers disappearance after his daughter was born and wife died 6 weeks later in 1886.

My great grandfather Thomas Harris was born on 4th May 1853 in Long Ashton Somerset .He married Amelia Elizabeth Young on 19th December 1880 at All Saints Church Long Ashton.

In their first year of marriage I can find them on the 1881 census RG11/2459 Long Ashton living nearby other relatives.

On 20th May 1886 their only child Eliza Amelia Amy Harris was born and 6 weeks later Amelia died ( 2nd July 1886) aged 28 years.

In the 1891 and 1901 census Eliza is living with her uncle and his wife and their children still in Long Ashton.

By 1911 they are still living in Long Ashton but Eliza (now calling herself Amy) is in service in London and she marries Frederick Parker on 30th March 1911.On her marriage certificate she states that Thomas Parker (an insurance agent ) is deceased.

I have been looking on and off for 2 years on Ancestry and FreeBMD to try and discover what happened to Thomas after Amelia died.I haven't been able to find a sensible death certificate ( have sent away for a couple) or any likely Thomas Harris in the 1891 census.

Should I be looking at passenger lists or military records?Any suggestions at all would be very welcome.

Thank you

Wendy

Deaths Mar 1891 ?????
Harris Amelia 28 Bedminster 5c 588

Have looked for a death of an Amelia in 1886 so far cannot find one...

Regards Vera

Are you sure Thomas Harris didn't change his name? Thomas Parker on the marriage certificate would have been her father in law , what has she put for her father? You could try looking at Passenger lists or the Boer War (1899 - 1902 ) He may have gone to sea but am unsure how you would find out. If he remained in Somerset you could try the Parish records.
My grandfather changed his name twice but not officially by deed poll he was just 'known as' so he was also very difficult to find!

1891

Just thought I would show you this one....it does state Harrill on the image....occupation ag. lab.


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YOUNG, Stephen Head Married M 37 1854 Workman On Public Roads
Long Ashton
Somersetshire VIEW
YOUNG, Mary A Wife Married F 36 1855 Laundress
Long Ashton
Somersetshire VIEW
YOUNG, William Son M 6 1885 Scholar
Long Ashton
Somersetshire VIEW
YOUNG, Alfred Son M 5 1886 Scholar
Long Ashton
Somersetshire VIEW
YOUNG, Walter H Son M 2 1889
Long Ashton
Somersetshire VIEW
HARRILL, Thomas Lodger Single M 38 1853 Agricultural Laborer
Long Ashton
Somersetshire VIEW

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RG number:
RG12 Piece:
1953 Folio:
35 Page:
13

Registration District:
Bedminster Sub District:
Long Ashton Enumeration District:
3 Ecclesiastical Parish:
Long Ashton

Civil Parish:
Long Ashton Municipal Borough:
Address:
Providence, Long Ashton, Providence County:
Somersetshire



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Regards Vera

Is this Amelia's death (names the other way round):-

Name: Elizabeth Amelia Harris
Estimated birth year: abt 1858
Year of Registration: 1886
Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
Age at Death: 28
District: Bedminster
County: Gloucestershire, Somerset
Volume: 5c
Page: 419

Kath. x

Really sorry that was my mistake he was Thomas Harris on marriage certificate.

And I have Amelia's death cert. 2nd July 1886

Thank you for trying to help

Looks like you have her death Kath. Didn't think to reverse her names !!!!

Regards Vera

Thank you all...but thank you Vera I think you have found it....am too excited to think straight.

Am just going to have a look at that but it sounds so likely.

Thank you so much,will be back shortly.

Yes it's definitely him.Thankyou all so much.

Stephen Young on the census that Vera found is Amelia's elder brother.

This means so much to me.For ages I have believed that Thomas in his grief must have just run off somewhere,so it's wonderful to see this.

So this possibly means one of Amelia's brothers helped raise Eliza whilst Thomas lived nearby with the other brother.So hopefully did carry on to see his baby daughter.

I am so so happy for this info - thank you all so much

Really pleased it was the right one.....:-))

Regards Vera

It's definitely him Vera so will now continue to try and find a death certificate in Somerset between 1891 and 1911.

Also when you do a wild-card search on ancestry what is the best way of doing it please?

Thank you again and thank you Kath that was Amelia's death entry too.

Best wishes to you all from a very happy Wendy.

I just put in Thomas Har***** with his year of birth plus 2 ....somerset.

Regards Vera

Thank you very much again - this was a major breakthrough.

Best wishes

Wendy