Hi there

I am trying to track my 3rd Great Grandmother, Eliza Julia Wright Whitehouse and am wondering if I am mixing up 2 people, or was her love life really was as colourful as it would appear!

I have a Baptism record for Eliza, 19th January 1834, in Melcombe Regis, daughter of Eliza and Charles Whitehouse. In the 1841 census she is living with Mother Elizabeth, a milliner, again in Melcombe Regis, however no sign of Charles Whitehouse. In 1851, she is to be found living with Grandmother Susana Dine, in Weymouth. Sometime between 1851 and 1854, she presumably married and had a daughter, Eliza Julia Wright Slade. On the birth certificate for daughter Eliza, her Father is recorded as Peter Slade, however when Eliza married Robert Henry Gee in 1872, Father is recorded as Moses Slade (deceased). I have not located a marriage record for Eliza snr and Peter or Moses Slade.

In 1861, Eliza appeared in the census as wife of Patrick Hall, with children Eliza, Ellen and Charles, living in Bradford Peverell. Eliza jnr is presumably Eliza Slade - I have not located birth or Baptism records for the other 2 children, so am unsure if Eliza snr was their Mother or Step Mother.

In the 1871 census, she appears as the wife of David Bushnell, living in Lyncombe, Somerset, with their children Julia (who is the right age and born in the same place to be daughter Eliza Julia Wright Slade), and Arthur and Eliza's Father, Charles Whitehouse. When daughter Eliza married Robert Henry Gee in 1872, Eliza snr signed the marriage register as Eliza Julia Bushnell.

In 1875, she married Weston Temple Richens in Highworth, Wiltshire and an Eliza Julia W Bushnell was present at the marriage. Again, this seems likely that it would be daughter Eliza Julia Wright Slade.

In the 1881 census, she appears as the wife of Weston Richens (phew!), living with 'their' children, Arthur and Kate Richens and Eliza's Father, Charles Whitehouse.

Now we get to the complex bit! I have found an 1891 census for Robert Gee, born in 1873 to Robert Henry Gee and Eliza Julia Wright Slade, living in Swindon with John & Eliza Lewis and their daughter Kate Bushnell. This would potentially give Eliza snr yet another husband/lover, though the date of birth for her in this census is 1840, not 1834. However, the coincidence of having Kate Bushnell and Robert Gee living with them seem to indicate that this is the same woman!

I have not yet found a death record or burial for Eliza snr - I had been looking for Eliza Richens, but presumably, she might have been buried as Eliza Lewis!

So, what do you reckon? Two different people, or one very colourful individual? There are enough coincidences, crossovers and similarities that I think that this is one individual, but would be very happy to hear your take on it! Eliza jnr and Robert Henry Gee also appeared to have lived a colourful life, but without the numerous liaisons and with a prison sentence (for Robert Henry!).

Thanks

Debs