On the England census records for 1891, 1901, and 1911, Charlotte used the surname Oxborough, even though she had married Robert Grimson in 1892. Does this mean Charlotte thought she was still legally married to John?

John Rose Oxborough

Born: 1850 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England

Father: William Oxborough (1822 to 1900)
Mother: Emily Blowers (1829 to 1901)

Spouse: Charlotte Eliza Pitcher (1849 to 1933)

Married: 1871 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England

Children: None

Died: 1913 in Willington Quay, Northumberland, England

Timeline:

1851 Beccles, Suffolk County, England
1871 Lowestoft, Suffolk County, England
1881 Beccles, Suffolk County, England
1898 Death of brother, Charles
1900 Death of father, William
1901 Willington Quay, Northumberland County, England
1901 Death of mother, Emily
1911 Willington Quay, Northumberland County, England
1913 Death and Burial

Occupation: agricultural laborer (1881), shipyard laborer (1901 and 1911)

Records:

1851, 1871, 1881, 1901, and 1911 England Census Records
England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
England & Wales, FreeBMD Marriage Index: 1837-1915
England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index: 1837-1915

Variations of Surname: Oxbrough

Spouse:

Charlotte Eliza Pitcher:

Charlotte was born in 1849 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England. She died in 1933 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England.

Charlotte’s father was William Pitcher. He was born on 31 JAN 1807 in Ringsfield, Suffolk County, England. He died in 1892 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England.

Charlotte’s mother was Harriet. I do not know her maiden name. She was born in 1813 in Westhall, Suffolk County, England. She died in 1894 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England.

Charlotte had eight brothers and sisters. The oldest three children were born in Westhall. The five youngest children were born in Beccles.

Sarah Pitcher (1830)
William Pitcher (1831)
George Pitcher (1838)
James Pitcher (1839)
Joseph Pitcher (1842)
Robert Pitcher (1845)
John Pitcher (1848)
Harriet Pitcher (1855)

Charlotte had one child out of wedlock:

Eliza Clarke Pitcher (1870)

John left Charlotte and moved to Northumberland County, England.

Charlotte then married Robert Grimson on 3 APR 1892 in Lowestoft, Suffolk County, England. No known children were born to this marriage.

Robert Grimson was born in 1849 in Gillingham, Norfolk County, England. He died on 5 AUG 1917 in Gillingham, Norfolk County, England.

Probate:

Robert had previously married Lucy Spencer on 22 AUG 1869 in Stockton, Norfolk County, England. Four known children were born to this marriage. The children were born in Gillingham.

Edith Grimson (1870)
Jessie Grimson (1871)
Gertrude Grimson (1874)
Francis Grimson (1879)

Lucy Spencer was born in 1849 in Stockton, Norfolk County, England. I do not know when Lucy died.

A Little History:

John and Charlotte were married before the 1871 England census was enumerated. He was working as an able seaman aboard the dandy fishing vessel, Temperance Star, berthed in Lowestoft harbor.

In 1871, Charlotte and her daughter, Eliza, were living with John’s parents in Beccles.

The 1881 England census shows that John, Charlotte, and her daughter were living in Beccles. He was working as an agricultural laborer.

I could not find John on the 1891 England census.

In 1891, Charlotte and her daughter were living in Beccles next to her parents.

The 1901 England census shows that John had moved to Willington Quay, Northumberland County, England. He was working as a shipyard laborer.

In 1901, Charlotte and her new husband were living in Beccles.

The 1911 England census shows that John was living in Willington Quay. John had listed his marital status as unmarried. He crossed this out and wrote widowed. The years of marriage column shows that he was married for 40 years.

In 1911, Charlotte and her new husband were living in Beccles.

Divorce or Desertion?

The 1892 marriage record for Charlotte and Robert shows that they were both unmarried. This may have occurred because the Church of England did not condone divorce and remarriage.

It could also be surmised that John’s move to Northumberland constituted desertion of his wife. If one spouse disappears for seven years, it was considered desertion. This gave the other spouse the right to remarry without obtaining a divorce.

I am not sure what happened between Robert Grimson and his first wife, Lucy. I could not find her on the 1891 and 1901 England census records.

Lucy does appear in the 1911 England census. She was an inmate of the Blything Union Workhouse in Bulcamp, Suffolk County, England. Her marital status was listed as married. The document also shows that she had given birth to five children during her marriage. One child died before the 1911 England census was enumerated.

Did You Notice?

On the England census records for 1891, 1901, and 1911, Charlotte used the surname Oxborough. This would indicate that Charlotte thought she was still legally married to John Rose Oxborough.

Notes:

The surname, Oxborough, originated in Norfolk County, England. It appears in church registers as early as the mid-16th century. As the world population grew, these Oxborough ancestors moved to other counties in England. By the late 19th century, some had immigrated to Canada and Australia.

Creating Your Family Tree

Interested in building a great family tree? Remember these important steps:

Look in your photo albums. You may have old pictures that your parents or grandparents gave you. Or, ask them for copies of photos that they have in their possession. Many people will write names and dates on the backs of photographs. Letters, diaries, and family bibles are also excellent sources for births, marriages, and deaths.

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