Thanks to Karen, Sally and Brian who responded to my previous post on 6th Jan.

Have followed up your comments and thought I would let you know the results.

Births were at Torrington RG (Winkleigh Sub Dist.)cols. 98 & 99, on 20th August 1897, Annie at 2 am and Richard at 2.15 am (so times would indicate twins) at Cottwood, Ashreigney R.D. Father was Richard Bentley a coachman domestic. Mother Elizabeth Anne Bentley, formerly Murrain. Doesn't help much as cannot find anything meaningful for a Richard (the father).

Deaths were both at Islington R.D., Upper Holloway Sub Dist., both at Holborne Infirmary. Richard was first on 23rd April 1898, aged 8 months. His surname is given as Murrain - son of Elizabeth Ann Murrain a Cook domestic of 10 Southern Street, Clerkenwell. Cause of death Enteritis. Anne was second, on 13th May 1898, aged 9 months. Again surname Murrain, a daughter of Elizabeth Ann Murrain, again a cook domestic of 10 Southern Street, Clerkenwell. Cause of death also Enteritis.

There is nothing to suggest Elizabeth was not married to Richard Bentley (or that he was dead) on the birth cert. but with lack of having found nothing for a Richard, and with the change in the surname between the birth and the death, I would agree it does seem to indicate they were not married.

As for the death of an Elizabeth Bentley in 1941, this was at Totnes RD, Paignton Sub Dist. on 21st August 1941 at Churston Court, Churston Ferrers. She was 82 and said to be of St. Josephs Home, Plymouth, a widow of Eugene Bentley, a farm labourer. Cause of death was Senile Dementia and arterio sclerosis, the informant being A (or a) Mc Court of Churston Court. Again nothing further to help, other than the husband was said to be a Eugene not a Richard. So it might be the right one, simply continuing to give mis-information. or might be someone completely different to the one I have been researching.

No more thoughts so will have be go with the belief she probably wasn't married and just gave a lot of mis-information. Does look as though the 1901 census for Kensington is probably her (cannot find anything else), having moved on after the death of the 2 children, but still being a cook, and also born at Lifton - near enough for me, as well as being close to other family through earlier census years, (at least 1851 - 1901). Whether she was the one who died in 1941 must remain a mystery, even if a strong possibility (in the absence of anything else)

Thanks again for all your help

David