Sue, Len & Mary: Thank you all for your input.

Re your comments, what I know for sure is Robert Oates and wife Mary Thomson had 5 children, including Eliza ch 1821 St Georges and a younger sister named Margaret ch 1827 St Georges. Margaret married Samson Shelley and is noted as one of the Pledges in Eliza’s Will. In 1881 Margaret is residing with Mary Richardson, Lodging House Keeper bornTexas N America, and is listed as her “Aunt” – an indication I have the correct family connection with Eliza Oates.

David and Eliza’s first 4 children were born England (I know their 1st child was a “native of London, England”). Their 5th child was born Douglas, IOM, the 6th born in Louisiana, USA and the last 2 born in Galveston, Texas, including Mary who was born abt 1855 Galveston, Texas according to the 1861, 1871, 1881 & 1891 censuses (either shown as born USA, Texas N America, America or US America, British Subj).

I have seen the IGI entry showing the marriage between Elizabeth Oates and Robert Wilson 4 Aug.1842. The “Handbook of Texas” suggests David and Eliza’s marriage took place abt 1839 ‘England’. I realize England could well mean IOM as far as most outside of the island are concerned, but have found no record of marriage on the IOM and David was born/christened at Hutton-In-The-Forest, Cumberland and no marriage was found on the Free BMD either or the IGI.

The 1861 census indicates Eliza Richardson, Wife; the 1871 census indicates Eliza Richardson, Head, widow, and as you suggest Sue, would it be possible that when Eliza returned to the IOM with her 2 youngest, she was not legally divorced from David (he remarried in 1858) so she kept her married name. If she had first married Mr. Wilson, would she not have used this as her surname, or even used her maiden name?

Mary Richardson’s marriage registration dated 1882 (husband Henry Edward Bell), shows her father, David Richardson’s occupation to be “Editor of a Newspaper” – another indication I have the right family as this was David’s occupation throughout his lifetime. Also, one of Mary Richardson’s children was named George “Oates” Bell.

Eliza’s Will heading is written “Elizabeth Wilson OR Richardson”; even tho’ there is no mention of her maiden name, perhaps the “or” suggests her two married names only? Her MI is written “In loving remembrance of
Elizabeth RICHARDSON who died 25th April 1876 aged 55 years”, and her burial entry is recorded as WILSON, Elizabeth, aged 55 years/Dsg/BURIED 1 May 1876.

I have a copy of the Last Will & Testament of David Richarson (d 1871 New Jersey), however he mentions only his son David Jr from his first marriage; he left the bulk of his estate to his 3rd wife (death-bed marriage) to care for the keeping of the 5 minor children from his 2nd marriage.

I am convinced that Eliza OATES is the lady married to David Richardson and Mr. Wilson; my research has proven to me several times that Oates is her maiden name even tho’ I have nothing to document this, only references made in various documents. I am at a total loss as to how to continue in order to locate records of her marriages. Your help is appreciated.