Thanks Karen,

Strange though that the birth certificate of both children registers them as Bentley, father Richard and mother as Elizabeth Ann Bentley (formerly Murrain).

Both birth certificates identify William Richard Josling as the Registrar.

I looked on the 1891 and 1901 census for Ashreigney to see if there was any sign locally of Richard Bentley, but none. However, was interested that on both, at "School House" is William Richard Josling. In 1891 his occupation is School Master, but, in 1901, it changed to "Registrer of Births & Deaths". He is
clearly "local" so one would expect he would have known Elizabeth and would it not be surprising if, in making out the Birth Certificate, he did so in a way he would normally do for a married couple. There is nothing on the Certificates to suggest the children were "base children" of Elizabeth even if the father is named or am I assuming too much??

Thanks again for your input,

David