Sympathy Saturday: William EDGCOMBE and Mary Ann FOSTER

My genealogy program (Legacy) spat out this rather tortuous relationship: that I am William's nephew's wife's 2nd great-greatniece.  That doesn't mean I can't feel sympathy for this couple.

William and Mary Ann married in 1845 in Plymouth, Devon, England.  The first child I can find is a girl, Emma Jane, who was born in 1850.  I can find no further record of her, though, so she may have died young.  If she survived - she was the only child to do so.

Then came Charles, who died when he was three 1854).
He was followed by Eveline Maria, who died when she was one (1854).
Then came Henry Charles, who died when he was four (1859).
Edward Alfred didn't live for an entire year, and died in 1857.
Edwin Henry Charles lived for two years until his death in 1861.
Another Eveline Maria didn't survive a year (1863).

Poor William and Mary Ann!

Friday's Faces From The Past: Uncle Abraham

"Uncle Abraham"

A mystery photo! This one has "Uncle Abraham" on the back.  Is he part of my family tree? Or was this just a postcard/carte de visite type photo - and nothing to do with me?  Do you recognise him?

On This Day: 26 September

Today's "On This Day" person is something of a mystery.  William Edward Murch LEY - or BUCKINGHAM - was born on 26 September 1870 in Plymouth, Devon, UK.  He married Susan Mary STEER in 1894, and together they had nine children.  My grandmother had vague recollections of him being called 'Harry'...and an 1892 Barnardo's report lists him as being 20 (so he would in fact have been born in 1872, and probably within the marriage).

He appears (with family) on the 1901 census as "William L BUCKINGHAM", and on the 1911 census (again, with family) as "William Ley BUCKINGHAM", and he signs himself as "William Ley BUCKINGHAM".  He is proving elusive (read: impossible to find) on the 1871, 1881 and 1891 censuses.  If his parents were truly Joseph BUCKINGHAM and Amanda Malvina LEY (my gg grandparents), then they did not marry until he was two - and I cannot find them in the 1881 census. 

His mother was definitely Amanda - but, if she was unmarried, shouldn't he be called William Edward Murch LEY?  And where did the name 'Murch' come from?

I have been researching this family for over 30 years - with not a lot of success.  Does anybody out there have any ideas of where to turn next?

Wordless Wednesday: John BLAGDON and Susan Emma FARLEY

John BLAGDON and Susan Emma TAPPER (nee FARLEY) - married 30 May 1896 Devonport, Devon, UK

My paternal great-grandparents