Caroline was born in around 1837 in Ashgate/Ashcott Somerset. Her father was John Smith a general labourer who had died by the time Caroline married John Rue in 1888.
The first record I have of Caroline is the 1881 census which shows her living in Langport Road, Somerton, Somerset. She was Caroline Royes a 44 year old widow, a Charwoman and living with her were Samuel Royes aged 16 a labourer her son, Elizabeth Royes aged 7 a scholar her daughter, Ellen Royes aged 5 also a scholar also her daughter and Robert Royes aged 3 a scholar (!) her son.
On 24th July 1888, Caroline Rayes (nee Smith) a 47 year old widow, married the 35 year old John Stephen Rue in the Register Office in Bridgend. At the time they both lived in Tynewydd. He was a Blacksmith.
In the 1891 census Caroline is shown as “Charlotte Rue” although it is certainly her! She is 50 years old. Her husband John is with her, he is 38 and a gas works labourer. Living with them in Somerton are her children William Royes aged 14, Robert Royes aged 12 and Eliza Royes aged 9 as well as a 59 year old lodger, Samuel Norris.
The ages of the children in the 1881 and 1891 census do cause some confusion. I am not sure why William who would have been 4 in 1881 is not with his family, and it seems that she had an Elizabeth who was 7 in 1881 and then had an Eliza born in 1882 – after she was widowed. None of this is impossible but it does seem a little odd!
John died on 11th April 1898, aged 46 years old at Holton Road in Barry, Glamorgan. It is not clear whether Caroline was with him as the death was registered by an apparently unrelated “R Spear”.
In the 1901 census we see Caroline Rue a 64 year old widow living in 2 Arthur Street, Barry, Glamorgan with her daughter Eliza Royes aged 20 and a 22 year old lodger, Tilly Molt.
Caroline died on 30th July 1914 in 68 Gorngsyngharad (?!) Road in Pontypridd. She was 77 years old and had bronchitis. The death was registered by her son, Robert Royes who was living at 3 Norton Bridge Road, Pontypridd.