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My great grandfather James Sansom joined the Royal Marines Light Infantry.
His wife, I guess, I cannot find a record of his marriage, was Elizabeth Godley, born east Sussex 1859.
In the 1881 census, Elizabeth is in East Stonehouse, Devon with a baby. James Sansom is on the gun ship 'Firebrand' in Durban Harbour S.A. He returned home, presumably as there were two more children born to Elizabeth.
In 1891, the family are in the East Stonehouse workhouse. No records survived the blitz on Plymouth.
The next record I have is in 1904, when he is put on a marriage certificate as deceased. I cannot find any record of his death either. Any help would be appreciated.

1891 census - household transcription
Person: SANSOM, Elizabeth
Address: East Stonehouse Work House, Clarence Place, East Stonehouse

.SANSOM, Elizabeth Inmate Of Workhouse Married F 31 1860 Laundress
Fairlight
Sussex VIEW
SANSOM, John Inmate Of Workhouse M 9 1882 Scholar
East Stonehouse
Devonshire VIEW
SANSOM, Florence Inmate Of Workhouse F 8 1883 Scholar
East Stonehouse
Devonshire VIEW
SANSOM, Daisy Inmate Of Workhouse F 5 1886 Scholar
East Stonehouse
Devonshire VIEW
SANSOM, Elizabeth Inmate Of Workhouse F 13 1878 Scholar
East Stonehouse
Devonshire VIEW

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records Help & Advice 1881 census - household transcription
Person: SANSOM, Elizabeth
Address: 8, Peel Street, East Stonehouse



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ALLEN, James Head Married M 54 1827 Tailor
East Stonehouse
Devon VIEW
ALLEN, Eliza Wife Married F 45 1836
Torrington
Devon VIEW
NERVLAKE, William H Son Single M 19 1862 Seaman (M)
Torrington
Devon VIEW
NERVLAKE, Edith M Daughter Single F 9 1872 Scholar
Torrington
Devon VIEW
NERVLAKE, Mary E Daughter Single F 8 1873 Scholar
Torrington
Devon VIEW
ALLEN, Thomas Son Single M 3 1878
East Stonehouse
Devon VIEW
SANSOM, Elizabeth Wife Married F 22 1859 Mariners Wife
Fairlight
Sussex VIEW
SANSOM, John W Son Single M 0 1881
East Stonehouse
Devon VIEW

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Thank you for that, I dont understand why I cannot find their marriage or his death. I have looked under every spelling of the surname I can think of. If he had died abroad, would that be in the ordinary death records?

1911 census - household transcription
Person: SANSOM, Elizabeth
Address: 16 Well Street Plymouth



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SANSOM, Elizabeth Widow F 51 1860 Laundress Fairlight Essex VIEW

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He may have died at sea then there would not be a death cert as such. If he died abroad then it would not be on the England and Wales BMD

Thanks, I couldn't find her on that census. Thats great.

what about marriage, is it possible that they never got married? Would she have been given any sort of pension? I wonder if that is why they ended up in the workhouse. He may just have abandoned them I suppose. Thanks for the help, this has been driving me nuts for the last two years!

where did you get her maiden name from?

I have her birth certificate, She was born in the workhouse in Ore, Sussex. She was fostered by a coastguard and his wife, called John Cox. They brought her up as their own, but always put her name down as Godley on the census returns. He came back to East Stonehouse when he retired, and she came with them. In 1881 they are living in Admiralty Street and have her daughter Elizabeth on census night and list her as their grandchild. But I have tried to find her wedding under Cox, and that doesn't work either.

No I am affraid I cannot see anything either at the moment

jax

Thanks a lot for your help, I appreciate it.

Happy New Year!

Looks like there were more children:

Births Dec 1893
Sansom Arthur Godley E. Stonehouse 5b 283

Rose

1901 England Census
about Elizabeth Sampson
Name: Elizabeth Sampson
Age: 44
Estimated birth year: abt 1857
Relation: Head
Gender: Female
Where born: Hastings, Essex, England

Civil Parish: East Stonehouse
Ecclesiastical parish: St George
Town: East Stonehouse
County/Island: Devon
Country: England
Registration district: East Stonehouse
Sub-registration district: East Stonehouse
ED, institution, or vessel: 1
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 64
Household Members: Name Age
Elizabeth Sampson 44 Widow
John W Sampson 21
Florence Sampson 18
Daisy E Sampson 15

Rose

Do you actually have any of the children's birth certificates?

Rose

Thanks for information, yes I have all the children;s birth certificates, well the four I know about. They all state the father as James Sansom, . R.M.L.I.,
Would the Navy allow marriages aboard ship?
I found that Daisy died in hospital in Manchester, aged 21. She had moved there with her husband and died from chloroform, 'skillfully administered' durnng an operation. Elizabeth married a train driver and he died young
from bronchitis. My own grandmother Florence died in 1918. John I can't trace the name is too common, family rumour has it he died in the first world was. All in all a very unlucky family.
Thanks a lot for your help.

Looks as though his RMLI record is here - if he was born 1858 - you haven't said. Would be worth getting a copy - you can download it for £3-50 - it might shed some light!

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/navy.asp

Oh thank you so much!!!

I have tried to search for him on that site and it is coming back 'no recors found' what am I doing wrong? Yes he was born in 1858. I will go and try again.

You need to click on "search" in the Royal Marines category. Just put his name in and there are 3 results, 1 of whom was born 1858

I notice he is listed as single in 1881.

Rose