Carol. In 1851 gold was discovered in Victoria Australia and there are several cases of the husband coming out to make his fortune and leaving wife to come out later . Here we have several scenarios: 1. He died on the goldfields and many did from thirst and was known only as George or died and never found or just buried unknown . Victoria Australia then was just bush and the 100kms to the goldfields from Melbourne could take up to a month . 2. He met someone else here 3. Was he illiterate and couldn`t write home 4. She felt lonely and Peter took advantage and as she could not prove George was dead for 7 years , they decided to forget about marriage .It seems Peter was an honourable man . Laurie -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, 24 May 2011 6:35 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [ENG-SOM] Hobbs, Humphry/Humphries, Burgess Hello everyone I have a bit of a mystery and am looking for suggestions as to what could have happened please! Henrietta HOBBS was baptised 5 April 1833 at Hemington [abode Falkland] to Henry and Henrietta HOBBS. 1841 and 1851 she is with her family in Hemington. FreeReg has a marriage for her to George HUMPHRY on 17 February 1852 in Berkley, Somerset. [Age, father and witnesses fit.] However, come 1861 the only Henrietta I can find is supposedly married to a Peter BURGESS - 1861 CENSUS: The Pippin, Calne, Wiltshire. RG9, 1286, 80, 35&36, sch.197 Peter Burgess, H, M, 42, Master journeyman, Wilts, Calne Henrietta Burgess, W, M, 28, -, Somerset, Falkland Matilda Humphries, Step.D, -, 8, Scholar, Somerset Hemington Clara Ann Burgess, D, -, 4, Scholar, Wilts, Calne Harriet Adel Burgess, D, -, 2, Scholar, Wilts, Calne Elizabeth Burgess, D, -, 4 mos, -, Wilts, Calne And in 1871 and 1881 the above family are living in Hemington. Deaths for Henrietta and Peter BURGESS are in the GRO Index at Frome, in 1896 and 1891 respectively. However - I cannot find a death for George HUMPHRY [also HUMPHRIES in census], I cannot find George in any census later than 1851, and I cannot find a marriage for a Peter BURGESS [some subscribers on Ancestry have him and a earlier wife on their trees, but no information on Henrietta]. The only thing I can think of is that George may have emigrated and Peter and Henrietta may not have married at all. Any other ideas most welcome! Thanks. Carol ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message