Genealogy Forum UK

First some background information. Some of you may remember a post I made last year about Stephen Istvan BESZNAK a Hungarian musician who joined the British army and married an English girl, well some progress has been made and I have finally got around to looking into this interesting family.

Stephen had two sons, both went into army and were also musicians, and there are other interesting stories to tell, but this one is concerning Arthur S BESZNAK born 10 APr 1857 Lambeth Walk. He joined the Grenadier Guard as a boy solider and drummer. In 1878 there is a record of him marrying Elizabeth Annie (TOLFIELD), see Image below. A few years later, Arthur went off to fight in the Egyptian war in 1882, there is a splendid photo of him in Queen Victoria photo collection, again see below.

However in 1885 He marries Rose Harriet Elizabeth (BRYAN), SO what has happened to Elizabeth Annie (TOLFIELD) ?

One theroy I have is that Arthur decided that he did not like Elizabeth and just abandoned her. This seems even more plausible when the index records for his second marriage show that his name has been entered as BREZNAK with another correction of BREZNAR, but this could just be another transcription error and I will think about getting certificate later on.

So Yes, what happened to Elizabeth ? Strange mystery so far, any input will be useful thanks.

Put wrong Marriage certificate up here is right one

It would be worth getting that marriage certificate to see if he is listed as a widow or not.

Have you tried the Grenadier Guards archive? http://www.grengds.com/static.php?content_id=9
I know you got some military records for him, but I wonder if it is possible that his first wife travelled abroad with him and died there? If he ended as a Chelsea Pensioner then I would have thought his "dependents" were kept up to date in his records.

He joined the Royal Marines band and then went on to run the Union Jack pub with his wife at 2 Bonfire Corner Portsmouth.

I will email Portsmouth office and explain the name discrepency, easier than risking the GRO.

Is this still a Brickwall, or have you solved it?

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