William John Buckle b. circa 1866 married Annie Jane Richardson on 19 April 1885 in Southwark, Surrey, England. They had 3 children - Annie Jane b.1887, Charles Howard b.1890 and Ethel Margery b.1892. At the time of their marriage in 1885 William was a Confectioner and his father, also William, was a Carman. Annie Jane's father John Richardson was a Potter. The family lived in Lambeth, London at least until 1892 when Ethel was born but I can find no trace on the Lambeth census for 1891.
On the 1901 census the 3 children are recorded as the "adopted" children of George and Annie Mellors and living at Barley Lees Farm, Great Longstone, Derbyshire. I can find no trace of the parents William & Annie Buckle at any time after 1892 when Ethel was born.
One branch of the family believe that William and Annie were divorced or seperated and that the children were sent away to avoid the scandal. A second branch believe the children were orphaned. I can find no relationship between the Buckle, Richardson and/or Mellor families.
Can anyone help to unravel this mystery please?