Genealogy Chat

I have just received an email that I will not be getting the marriage cert I had ordered for Sarah Spence. The groom has the wrong name! This is the second time! Luckily I had checks so it only cost the search fees, but I would much rather have paid and received the proper cert. I thought I was going to knock down that brick wall at last! Sorry, just needed a moan! I have a few other brick walls to try, but I give up on Sarah!

Do you know what husband's name she needed? And when and where? (Roughly) Merry

Please don't give up. Maybe she got married more than once? I spent ages looking for one of mine marrying. I knew her probable maiden name, from her father's name shown on cert. when she married as a widow to my great grandfather. It wasn't until I found yet another previous marriage that the whole picture emerged. Gwyn

Go on, tell us who she is!!! Merry

Hi Merry I think I have already had help from people with this one, but : Sarah Spence b.(shows differently on each census) 1823, 1836,1828 St Lukes Middlesex. married William Edwards b. c1819 or 1818 St Lukes. I have them on all the censuses. The cert was for a marriage in Marylebone where the groom was not on the page. A previous one was for a marriage in Lambeth. I have checked William for brides and Sarah for grooms till I am blue in the face. I know she is the right one as her name is on the birth cert of her daughter. Thanks for your words of encouragement Gwyneth, I had wondererd about a previous marriage but because of the birth cert I don't think there was one. Maggie

Oops, make that 1826 on the previous, not 1836.

Don't for get, for the future, if the groom's name is not transcribed, you can always look him up on the GRO indexes. If he's not there then you save yourself the search fee! Merry

Which was the first census where they showed as married? Can you give some details so I can look up the page please? Merry

Merry I have them married on the 1851, living in Shoreditch with Catherine, Sarah Jr. William Jr. William Sr is a watchmaker. I have them on the rest of the censuses. I have a possible Sarah Spence on the 1841living at home in St Pancras, but can't prove it is her. Also have a possible William Edwards b. 1821 living Shoreditch with his parents and sister Elizabeth. He is an engraver. Sorry it is taking awhile for me to answer the posts, I have the kids over here today. Thanks. Maggie

Is this the William you found in 1841? This is for 1851, William Joseph Edwards is a 'portrate engraver' ..................................................................... Maria Balding abt 1840 Islington Grandchild Shoreditch Middlesex Elizth Edwards abt 1785 Shropshire, England Wife Shoreditch Middlesex Joseph Edwards abt 1779 Westbury, Wiltshire, England Head Shoreditch Middlesex >> Willm Joseph Edwards abt 1818 Chealsea Son Shoreditch Middlesex

Oh Merry I hate to sound thick, but where do I look up the GRO indexes? Have I been missing something all this time?

No Gwyneth; That is very similar though. The one I found was Elizabeth b.1786 no birthplace shown Joseph b. 1781 no birthplace shown Elizabeth b. 1821 Middlesex William b. 1821 Middlesex all living 19 Vaughn Terrace St. Leonard Shoreditch.

The 1851 family are at that same address . Does that eliminate William Joseph then? Gwyn

Hi Gwyneth I had another look and I think I was wrong then about that being William with family in 1841 after all. That is definitely him in Shoreditch 1851 with family. I know he had a daughter Catherine, also that he was a watchmaker and was born in St Lukes. This is why it is all so confusing, all these people with the same names etc. Thanks for helping. Maggie

The GRO index pages are available to view free via Ancestry and also FreeBMD (though they are quicker to find and load via Ancestry!....''England and Wales BMD Index'' on the Search Page on Ancestry, at the bottom under Special Collections). Also you need to be aware of the coverage charts on FreeBMD, so you can see what years have good coverage and what don't (go to FreeBMD Main Page, Information, Coverage Charts and select births, marriages or deaths). Is this your family in 1851? Celina Edward abt 1860 Shoreditch, Middlesex, England Daughter Shoreditch Middlesex Catherine Edwards abt 1849 Shoreditch, Middlesex, England Daughter Shoreditch Middlesex Henry Edwards abt 1859 Shoreditch, Middlesex, England Daughter Shoreditch Middlesex Jane Edwards abt 1853 Shoreditch, Middlesex, England Daughter Shoreditch Middlesex Sarah Edwards abt 1828 St Lukes Old St, Middlesex, England Wife Shoreditch Middlesex Walter Edwards abt 1855 Shoreditch, Middlesex, England Son Shoreditch Middlesex William Edwards abt 1822 St Lukes Old St, Middlesex, England Head Shoreditch Middlesex William Edwards abt 1847 Islington, Middlesex, England Son Shoreditch Middlesex Which child do you have the cert for? Merry

Merry 1861? Gwyn

Oops! 1861 lol! Merry

and 1851? Catherine Edwards abt 1849 St Lukes, Middlesex, England Daughter Shoreditch Middlesex Sarah Edwards abt 1823 St Lukes, Middlesex, England Wife Shoreditch Middlesex Sarah Edwards abt 1841 St Lukes, Middlesex, England Daughter Shoreditch Middlesex William Edwards abt 1821 St Lukes, Middlesex, England Head Shoreditch Middlesex William Edwards abt 1847 St Lukes, Middlesex, England Son Shoreditch Middlesex Merry

Hi Merry Thanks for that. Have I been using Ancestry all this time and not taking full advantage of it? I am off to check that now. That is them in 1861, it should be Selina, not Celina, and she is the one I have the cert. for Her father William is shown on it as a Watch Glass Maker. On other censuses he is also called a jeweller. They are living 9 Red Lion St Shoreditch at the time of her birth Dec 11 1860,St. Leonards. Registered 22 Jan. 1861. Yes, that is the ones I found on 1851 too.

It's tempting to wonder if this is Sarah with the eldest child in 1841, though Willliam is MISSING!! Drat.....I was hoping his occupation would tie them down. Sarah Edwards abt 1826 St Luke Middlesex Sarah Edwards abt 1841 St Luke Middlesex Of course, no marital status and her age rounded down to 15. Merry