Or was it something less romantic? The Hall brothers were born in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire. The eldest William was born in 1826 followed closely by Charles 1828 and John in 1831. In 1841 they are living with their parents, William and Mary, in Church Street, Great Missenden. Dad, William is working as an agricultural labourer. HO107/42 folio 13 page 23 In 1851 William and John are living with their widowed mother in Back Lane, Great Missenden. Both William and John are working as agricultural labourers. HO107/1717 folio 12 page 1. By 1861 they have completely disappeared. I haven't found Charles in 1851. In 1860 he marries Ann Lacey. Ann is living with her mother in law, Mary Hall in Back Lane Great Missenden. RG9/844 folio 26 page15. Ann's status is married and the word Wife has been written in the occupation column. Ann remarries in 1864. She is living with her husband William Franklin in 1871 RG10/1392. I've searched for a possible death for Charles between 1861 and 1864.
I would have loved to delete "in 1861" I didn't notice it until too late. [Mod Edit - Done ] The Hall brothers have been a major brickwall for some years. I've been searching for William and John in Australia and America. Their last sighting in 1851 coincided with the discovery of gold. I wondered if they joined the rush to seek their fortune. They are a 2xGreat Grandmother's brothers.
I could not find them, there are William and Charles Hall on the US census on Family search which fit with yob's but no place of birth is given. FS have the baps for Charles 5/10/1828 and William 27/4/1826 both at Great Missenden. Sorry not much help.
I couldn't find Charles anywhere in the UK. I did notice a Charles somebody else in Grt Missenden living with a Lacey family, also I think a Thomas Hall with more Laceys. But found them in other census and discounted them. I think that if Ann had not heard from Charles in seven years she would have been able to remarry. If Charles went first and did quite well then maybe William and John went out to join him. Big question is where?
I've often thought Charles emigrated sometime after 1860 when he married Ann and died before she could join him. I've been wondering why the word Wife was emphasised on the 1861 census. Perhaps there was doubt about his whereabouts and whether or not he was alive? But this doesn't explain his absence in 1851. A pity they had such common names. If only I could find evidence linking the records in America to the Great Missenden Halls. Thank you both for looking.
Unfortunately, his marriage (registered in March 1860) was just over a year before the 1861 census (April) but you never know, there might be a clue. Good Luck and do please let us know. Meanwhile, I'll keep looking.
I have a Cousin in UK who was searching for two brothers who had come to Australia to find gold. One left & went backt to crewing on ships between Australia & N.Z. he heard later that his brother had been murdered on the Victorian goldfields. she had a cutout from a newspaper but bits were missing. I didn't find anything myself on his death reported.