Many thanks David. This problem has had me stumped for many a year, but since my stroke I do not always remember where I have looked.For a long time I could not locate her in 1911 Census ( and one family tree had her going out to Canada). This bit I knew to be untrue as I had stayed with her, and the family, in Scotland. All the stories of her first marriage were vague, but "CLARKE" was the one consistant fact. Thanks to Alison Faule, we located her in 1911, living in 27 Sunbeam Road Liverpool-a house that still exists.On the Census she is listed as "Marion", born in Peel Isle of Man. With help we found that Robert Richard Clarke died on 14th.July 1913 , the informant was Frances Clarke widow. I now have a copy of the death certificate, from West Derby, Eastern. The name of Stanley is well known in Liverpool- Stanley Park is situated between the two football teams of Everton and Liverpool, but as an area not commonly used any more..
When Frances remarried in 1916 to Philip Henry Quayle she is noted as widow Clarke. This also appears on Philip's Army records. There were no children by the first marriage but as he died with a year of cancer of the liver and exhaustion maybe this is to be expected.It has always worried me that there has beeen no reord for either partner of the first marriage, but as they were so close to the Island in 1911, i have to assume they may well have married there, but can I find it?Again many thanks for your time, and I hope my explanation was not too convoluted. Colin.