Can anyone help me unravel a mystery. The MI inscription for my relative James Stafford clearly states that he was married to Elizabeth and had a son James who erected the memorial. James Stafford, born in Scotland, died in 1905 at 80 and Elizabeth in 1916 at 91, which means they were about the same age, born around 1825. He was a painter and worked with his father and brothers.
I also have the 1881 census record for James Stafford, Painter, born in Scotland , aged 54 living at 36 Athol Street, as he had done for many years, but now his wife is Sarah Ann Stafford (nee Templeman) who he married on 22Nov 1851 at Braddan.
Even if he had left Sarah immediately after the census to set up home with the feisty 54 year old Elizabeth , they would hardly have been able to have produced a son.
Does anyone have any logical suggestions as to how this situation is possible? I am certain it is the same James in both cases. I know people committed bigamy at this time with divorce so difficult but my only reasonable idea is that he perhaps fathered a son in a relationship with Elizabeth and only married her later- once Sarah Ann had died. Can anyone find a death for Sarah Ann Stafford after 1881 or a marriage for James Stafford to an Elizabeth, again after 1881?