My great-great grandfather, Joseph CLARKE, was born in Liverpool in 1841. He was the son of Peter CLARKE and Sarah ECCLES. Joseph married Elizabeth SIMMONS in Liverpool in 1864. His occupation between 1861 and 1879 was variously described as clerk, bookkeeper, rent collector and storekeeper. It appears that sometime after he had reached the age of 38 he started a career as a mariner. The last references I find of him are on his daughter's birth certificate in 1881 when he was described as a ship's steward and then in 1887 when he is described as a purser on his son's marriage certificate. Three months before his son's marriage in 1887 his wife, Elizabeth, remarried to Joseph's brother, Ebenezer. On the marriage certificate Elizabeth is described as a widow. I was illegal in England, at that time, for a woman to marry her deceased husband's brother yet she married him legally. She did this by marrying him in Philidelphia where it was legal. It was also the case that such a US marriage would be recognised in England. The son's marriage certificate incorrectly did not describe his father as deceased. It seems likely that Joseph died sometime between 1881 and 1887 although I cannot be certain of the earlier date. I have considered the possibility of the second marriage being bigamous but have dismissed this as the marital homes of the Elizabeth and both husbands were too close. I have also dismissed the idea that Joseph never went to sea and the maritime occupations were just a cover. I am sure of this as there are items of furniture still in existence brought back by Joseph from USA. The question is when and where did he die. The is no record of his death in England, Wales or Scotland. There is also no record of a death at sea. I would be interested to hear from anyone who can give me any suggestions. David Railton