Recently I visited the Tresmeer cemetery, Cornwall in search of graves and came across the grave of Catherine Ebbott.
The headstone read
?In Loving Memory of
Catherine Ebbott
of this Parish
who died 24th May 1902
Aged 85 years. Thy will be done?

I was very excited when we located the grave, however I had to wait until I got home (to Australia) before I could figure out who Catherine Ebbott was ? she was the wife of my third great granduncle! It was the only grave in this parish church that I could find that had any connect to my family, there may have been others but after a while it becomes overwhelming trying to remember all the possible connections.

The mystery of Catherine Ebbott nee Mathew
Further Research revealed that Catherine was born in 1817 as Catherine Mathew and christened in 6 Apr 1817 in Tressmeer and lived there until she married Gregory Ebbot. Soon after the couple married they went to the USA. The following year after marriage they had their first child Caroline Ebbott, both mother and child returned possibly sometime in 1849 to England. Caroline may have been pregnant with her second child, Elizabeth Ann Ebbott (although I am unable to verify this) when she returned. It would appear that Gregory never returned to England.

In the 1851 Census Catherine is living with her parents and eldest daughter, Carolene who was 5 years old. Carolene was listed in the census as being born in America. Although Catherine is listed as married her husband is not present. Between 1861 and 1881 Cartherine is always listed as married but there is never a husband mentioned.

On 01/19/1854 there is a record of divorce proceedings for a Gregory Ebbot and Catherine Ebbot in Jefferson County, Wisconsin it was Gregory Ebbot, the plaintiff, who filed for divorce. The outcome of this application has not yet been researched yet, I am still waiting for a reply from the Dodge/Jefferson Counties Genealogical Society, Watertown, WI

In 1861 Census Catherine appears to be living by herself in the house next to her parents.
In 1871 Census Catherine is still listed as married but is living by herself and listed as an annuitant
In 1881 Census - Catherine is living by herself next to the Bluett family still married but still no husband list and she is listed as retired.
In 1891 Census Catherine is 73 Living On Her Own Means
In 1901 Census Visiting John & Elizabeth Fryan and listed as single.
Unfortunatley I have not been able to locate Gregory her husband until 1870 when there are two posibile candidates one living with the Ottawa, Waukesha, Wisconsin, United States working as a farm labourer and living with the Bluett family. There is also a second Gregory Ebbott living in Sullivan, Jefferson, Wisconsin, United States who has become a citizen of the US and farms a large property and has children with a woman Mary who is 30 years his junior.
Then the question is who/where is Catherine?s husband, I am presuming he was still alive as she is never listed as a widow? Does anyone recongnise this family or have any suggestions on how to approach the problem? Then question is who/where is Catherine?s husband, I am presuming he was still alive as she is never listed as a widow? Does anyone recongnise this family or have any suggestions on how to approach the problem?