Hello Glen

You have managed to find out the information I found as well. I believe Martha was actually born in Great Yarmouth Workhouse. Her mother was Caroline Bland and Martha's middle name is Caroline. Interestingly Martha had a sister Julia born 1862, in the Workhouse.

I found Martha in Bermondsey in 1861 but couldn't find her in 1871 but she is then 'married' to William Brighton sometime after 1871. The marriage in 1906 is theirs, I am certain. Their third child was May Lily and she was my grandmother. She used to tell us that her father had divorced but I would have thought divorce in those days was not very common and only for the fairly wealthy. At that time William was still making his name as a boatbuilder so not wealthy but on the 'up'.

In 1871 he was still living with his first wife who my grandmother used to say 'was a wrong 'un' but don't know what she meant by that. By 1881 he had met Martha who was a housekeeper in a large house in London and they had 'married' and had returned to the Yarmouth area. Mary Ann, William's first wife I think moved to Yarmouth after their 'divorce'. I have her living there until her death in - 1906 - which is why I am certain that the marriage in 1906 is definitely William and Martha

He was born to a George Brighton and Lucy Bloom and had 4 sisters. He died in 1915 and Martha died I think about 193'ish but would have to delve more into my records to confirm that.

Hope you continue to have good luck researching your own family history.

Many thanks

Carole