Northern Lass wrote:This is great thanks so much for helping with this
will add to Bcc in notes
See I think she left him when she found out he had a child by another woman in was it 1898?
...
The only thing I can think of is to check...when open all the st thomas dudley burials from
1887 onwards (from when youngest child born lily?)
who is mrs D...is that ellen downes?
I don't think that is very likely.
The story from Grandpa was that Ellen was "stepping out" with Arthur, but when he went off to be a soldier William became "friendly" with her, but when she found it was a bigamous marriage she went home to her mum.
Obviously a mixture of truth and fiction there, but if you look at the time line it kind of works.
BCC: "Arthur Rose enlisted with the Militia: (Reg.No. 3345) 4th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment 16.4.1892. Posted to the King's Royal Rifle Corps 25.4.1894"
His sisters were at school, not sure about the younger boys. Then William becomes involved with Ellen, gets her pregnant in early 1898, he leaves or Jane leaves, and he moves in with Ellen.
I found George Henry as "Harry" in the 1901 census, so this is possibly him at school? Though it could be another. Won't help much anyway.
Harry Rose born 1884, record 1890 Dudley.
I don't know who Mrs D was. I suppose it could be Ellen's mother though I don't see why it should be. A Dodson? Someone else who just boarded kids?