The wife of William Henry Cox, my great granddad, was alive on the 1901 census but showing as a widow. I am hoping that the Maud aged 21 on the IOM 1901 census is the daughter of my great granddad who was on the 1881 Plymouth census. You are absolutely correct he was born in Birmingham (well according to this census and the 1891 anyway), the wife on these 2 censuses are the same person (Ellen/Helen Fanny born in Sussex. I haven't been able to track down the son Lionel at all. The couple had another son, who is my granddad, he was staying with his mum's relatives on the 1891 census in Hastings Sussex.

Can't remember whether I have mentioned this but Ellen/Helen Fanny Cox had a passport dated 1895, I have often wondered did the rest of the family go with her or what? She then appeared on the 1901 census with her son Gordon they living in Middlesex.

My theory is that the couple seperated, Gordon was living with his mums relatives, Maud went to live with her dad on the IOM. I might add this theory of mine has only came to light this Friday (31st) when I googled his name and it showed up with him being entered in the Brown's Directory 1894, which apparantly the details are collected 2 years prior to the publication. I then made a trip to my local library and found an entry for a William Henry Cox on the 1901 IOM census, the age of 60 years is consistant with the 1891 age of 50 (in 1881 it said he was 43 years). On this 1901 census his occupation is of an electro plater, in the Kelly's directories of Sussex 1891 he is listed as an electro plater, on his son's birth certificate he is an electro plater. But ......... on his marriage certificate in 1877 he is a jeweller.

What I am trying to confirm is whether this is my granddad living on the IOM in 1901, I think there is a strong possibility that it is. What is really important, is that I hope he married this Alice that appears as his wife on the 1901 census and she is just not stated as being a wife, so that I can find a marriage certificate for them or a parish record of the marriage.

Finding a marriage for William Henry Cox and Alice? is key or failing that a marriage for Maud Cox.

Thank you all for your interest, and comments regarding this, you could all be contributing to knocking down this huge brickwall of mine.
Ewan