My ancestor William GILL married Maria FROST on 10 April 1809 by banns at his birth parish, ie Churchstanton, Devon.

For many years I believed that Maria Frost was born 1787 at Ashbrittle, Somerset, the presumed daughter of Edward Frost and his wife Betty Wood who were baptising other children in that parish. She was born in a nearby parish, and there were no other known nearby candidates.

WIlliam and Maria Gill baptised eight children at Churchstanton between 1810 and 1826. William was an agricultural labourer.

Three died as children. Two daughters married in 1830 and 1836, one son married in 1846, one son became a soldier and married overseas in 1856, and the youngest son appears not to have married.

I cannot find WIlliam and Maria Gill in the 1841 census. There are no Gills at Churchstanton in 1841 or subsequent censuses, after having been in the Churchstanton parish registers since a 1665 marriage.

In both the 1851 and 1861 censuses William Gill born ca 1787 at Churchstanton, Devon, was "married", living with his son William Gill at Wellington, Somerset. I could not find Maria Gill, so I assumed that the census mistakenly recorded William senior as married, and that he was actually a widower - even though this happened in two consecutive censuses.

I therefore assumed my Maria Gill died in 1840 in the Honiton district, Devon, which included Broadhembury where her son William was working in 1841 and married in 1846. However, that Maria turned out to be a one year old child.

Another Maria Gill died in 1840 at Axminster, which includes Kilmington, where her daughter Hannah married in 1836. Again, that one did not meet the criteria of our Maria (wrong age).

Another Maria Gill died at Yeoman's Mill, Kelly, Lifton, Tavistock, Devon in 1864 - but she was a 23 year old dressmaker who died from consumption (too young).

There were no other death for Maria Gill in Devon or Somerset after 1864. A Maria Gill died in Staffs in 1863, several others in Surrey, and the rest died in Yorkshire. None seem likely, as William and Maria had no known children or grandchildren were living in these counties.

Not to worry, I thought. She must have died before civil registration commenced in 1837.

Then I obtained William Gill's 1863 death certificate. A Maria Gill informed the death of William Gill on 2 April 1863 at Wellington, Somerset. Both this William and Maria lived at High St, Wellington according to the certificate, which does not state the relationship between William and Maria. I cannot find another relative named Maria Gill, and I now wonder if it was his wife - and whether she simply happened to be "away from home" for the 1851 and 1861 censuses.

So I went back to the censuses, and started looking for a Maria born Ashbrittle ca 1785, in case she was recorded with another name. That is when I found Maria Frost born Ashbrittle, apparently unmarried in the 1841 and 1861 censuses, living with her unmarried brother Edward Frost. This Maria Frost died on 15 April 1865 at Tiverton, Devon.

I contemplated whether this Ashbrittle Maria was still my Maria Gill, and that she had reverted to her maiden name for whatever reason. However this scenario seemed to be too far-fetched, especially if Maria informed her husband's death in 1863 as Maria Gill and then died in 1865 with the name Maria Frost.

If I could identify a younger relative named Maria Gill, I would be content to assume that Maria Gill nee Frost died pre-1837, and that this other Maria Gill informed William's 1863 death. But I have not been able to find a younger relation called Maria Gill.

I would appreciate comments/advice.
1. Do you know of any baptisms for Maria Frost circa 1785, other than the one at Ashbrittle, Somerset?
2. Do you know of an unexplained burial in Devon/Somerset for a Maria Gill between 1826 and 1840?
3. Do you know of any Maria Gill who was born before 1842 and might be related to my Gill family?