Genealogy Chat

Were underage people eloping to Gretna Green in the 1800s please?

Hi Carol, According to the Gretna Green Website it was 1754, hope this helps. Regards Gen

Thanks Gen, I have been hunting for G Grandfathers first marriage His first wife died in 1887 age 30, and have been through all the indices from 1868 to 1890 when he married again. I thought that they may have eloped. He was a coachman at the time, so not so humble as a servant.

Hi Carol, Are you using Free BMD because his marriage may not have been transcribed yet, other than that I think I saw somewhere on the message boards that it was not until the middle 1870's that they had to register by law, maybe he slipped through the net, like most of my ancesters I might say. Good luck anyway. Gen

I have done a free surname search at Scotlandspeople and not one with my surname. For Britain, I went through every fiche at the LDS centre.

Poor you I get a headache looking through one fiche, don's suppose you know the area he married, I realise scotland but do you have a town? regards Gen

Of course, it is possible that they never actually married, and she just took his name. She is named as FLEW on her death certificate with formerly CROSS, as if married. The same on childrens birth and death certificates.

Gen, I couldnt find it on England and Wales, so thought that maybe they eloped. Not there on the free search. Maybe I should try Ireland

Strange, I just found a Cross in my tree but they were from Somerset, if I come across anything I will let you know. Regards Gen

My James Flew was born in Somerset, Cleeve. In 1881 they were living in Bedminster.

What was her first name? Gen

Not sure if this is any help, but a friend of mine is researching her family tree of the CROSS family. Most of them came from Southampton but she has found ancestors in the Somerset area...

Her first name was Catherine According to 1881 census born in Bridgend.

I shall email you both and open my tree for you.

Thanks for that, you never know even if we are not connected we may be able to help. Gen