Genealogy Chat

Hi Billy

I've had a further think about this. I believe Edith Mercer may have been a lot younger than her husband, so they decided to even up their ages in the Register. The Edith Anne Mercer born in 1869 will probably have been the Edith Anne who married in the Prescot Registration District in 1894 (John Davison or Alfred Wilshaw). She would probably be the Edith A Davison found aged 30 in 1901, listed as born in Gateacre, which is next to Childwall, so I think we can forget about her.

My guess is that your Edith Ann could even have been born after 1901. The John William Mercer, her father, would therefore not have been the one who died in the Prescot R. D. in 1905, aged 65, but a much younger man, getting married in the 1890's or early 1900's. You really need to find the death records for your grandfather and grandmother.

Regards

Stan

Okay!! Facts:-

Your mother/father was born …………………..

S/He had siblings?

Daniel Ingham and Edith Mercer were married 21 August 1918

Daniel’s father was probably called William
Edith’s father was probably called John William

If Daniel’s father was described as a cotton card room jobber on the marriage certificate but Edith’s father was described as deceased, then it infers that Daniel’s father was still alive and maybe, even still working. Remember people did change their jobs and I have found examples of older people who seem to have been given easier/simpler jobs when they got older.

Perhaps now you should look for their deaths. If you remember your grandparents, you will have an idea of when to start looking for their deaths in the index [you will need to trawl quarter by quarter]. John Henry Mercer may come up on the search. If you still can't find him that will need a trawl too.

Have you tried looking at the Mormon’s website? Put Familysearch into Google and it will bring it up for you. I have found a couple of marriages on there of William Inghams in the rightish area.

One married Elizabeth Ann Holmes 16 September 1860, both parties being 23.
The other married Mary Ann Law 17 November 1862, both parties being 22.

And there are others....

You could also try putting Daniel and an approximate date of birth [1874 +- 5 years] leave the surname blank in the census form and father’s name William, and see what it brings up. Look for names that have the same basic SHAPE as Ingham [think outside the box!!]. It could have been mistranscribed.

Good luck Billy. You WILL find them eventually, just plod through ‘em all and make sure you look at the original version and NOT the transcribed version. With the best will in the world, people make mistakes.

Victoria

Hi Billy

The Edith Ann Mercer that Keith in Fujairah found was born Edith Anne Mercer Apr-Jun 1869, Prescot 8b 550. That would make her 52 at the date of birth. I have come across few mothers over 44 in my research. However there doesn't seem to be a younger Edith Mercer. The one born in Chorlton in 1879 died there in 1880. I suppose at a pinch the child could have been their grandchild if one of them had an unmarried daughter and they didn't want the shame of an illegitimate child, but it doesn't seem as though either of them was married before. Maybe the 1911 Census will help you to find these people?

Regards

Stan

Yes, My Fathers birth cert dated 17 April 1921 Oldham .reads Father daniel. Mother Edith Ingham formerly Mercer. Fathers occupation Marine store hawker of grimshaw st. Signature, description and residence of informant E Ingham 449 Rochdale rd.
I hope this helps
Billy

Billy, you DO have your mother/father's birth certificate naming the mother and father?

More solid facts eliminates the need for speculation!

Victoria

Hmmm... there IS an Edith and Arthur Crook but given that they are living in Pucklechurch, Glos. in 1901 with one 4 year old this is most likely not your Edith.

More like is Edith and Peter Smith who are living in Blackburn with Alice 11, Cecil 2 and Richard 5. This Edith was born in Padiham about 1872.

Victoria

Hi Billy, I also found that Edith BUT if she was born in 1870 and married in 1918 it isn't terribly likely that she went on to have children since she would be getting perilously close to 50.

I have found a marriage for an Edith Mercer in Blackburn in the July quarter of 1894. She married either Arthur Crook or Peter Smith. It is possible she had children and they took the Ingham name when she remarried.

More confusion. Sorry. I will see what I can see on the 1901 census.

Victoria

Billy,

That eliminates two sources of possible mistranscription, but I still suggest the LOCAL RO,
as they copy it to the GRO in the first place. If it was a church wedding, it might also be entered in the parish register - this would be the original record sent to the LRO, but there might also be a duplicate register kept in the church - one copy might be more readable than the other (or even different). You'ld have to google a contact for the church, and contact them to find out if there are any records and how to access them - even if the actual building no longer exists, its congregation will have been transferred to some other church - not uncommon with urban churches.

Rang the GRO today and they confirmed that the ages on the Marraige cert was correct so that does mean that they lied about there ages and infact they were 10 years older than what they said. I am still not convinced, how can i put my mind at rest and move on, its playing on my mind, i think i have done all the other bits like the 1881 census and the 1891 census, any more ideas as how i can put this behind me and move on.

Billy

Local Register offices can be great, they will often check things out for you for free. As Malcolm says, try ringing them or writing to them - pretend you are a bit unsure, they might be sympathetic - they might tell you if you have the right marriage or whatever else. If you want to order the certificate it is £7, don't pay any more, but you might have to pay postage.

The GRO reference will be of no use to the local register office, just give them names and dates.

If you have the wrong person, it will cost you nothing.

Regards

Margaret

Billy -

If there's a mistranscription, it could be that the original register (or the GROs) entry is not very clear - why not phone up the local register @ Bury (or wherever) and ask them if they could check his age at marriage - it would have been copied from their records for the GRO, then again at the GRO for the certificate you hold.

www.gro.gov.uk

Costs £7 with the reference

Billy,

The GRO - you can do it on-line if you want.

Don't send off for a lot at once, just in case.

M. Steer

Wheres the best place to get certs from !

Billy,

I've been doing this for quite a few years and still get confused.

Certificates are worth their weight in gold.

You have your Grandfather's Marriage Certificate - do the witnesses give you any clue?

A Death Certificate will give you a place (maybe an address that you recognise) also the name of an informant (which could be a relative but not always).

A birth Certificate will give you both parents names.

When you check the Census Returns don't just look for one person, check out the whole family and have a look to see who the neighbours are, they may be relatives.

Above all, take your time.

M. Steer

Thanks M, this is all getting confusing i am a bit nieve when it comes to it

Billy,

Birth Registration:

Daniel Ingham
Oct.- Dec. qtr. 1873
Blackburn
8e 319

His Birth Certificate will give you his Father's name and occupation and his Mother's Maiden Name.

Could be a bit expensive, though, if it's the wrong person.

M. Steer

Kieth you are a STAR, what can i say, so Edith was born in 1870ish and Daniel was born in 1873ish

This looks like them in 1881

Name: Edith Ann Mercer
Age: 11
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1870
Relation: Daughter
Father's Name: John W.
Mother's Name: Elizabeth
Gender: Female
Where born: Childwall, Lancashire, England

Civil Parish: Much Woolton
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England

Street address: 36 Gateacre Brow
Education:

Employment status: View Image
Occupation: Scholar

Registration district: Prescot
Sub-registration district: Much Woolton
ED, institution, or vessel: 4
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Ann Mercer 71
Archibald M. Mercer 8
Edith Ann Mercer 11
Elizabeth Mercer 40
Elizabeth Mercer 42
John W. Mercer 41

Source Citation: Class: RG11; Piece: 3721; Folio: 87; Page: 13

And 1871
Name: Edith Mercer
Age: 1
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1870
Relation: Granddaughter
Father's Name: John W
Mother's Name: Elizabeth
Gender: Female
Where born: Childwall, Lancashire, England

Civil Parish: Much Woolton
Ecclesiastical parish: Childwall
Town: Gateacre
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Disability: View Image

Registration district: Prescot
Sub-registration district: Much Woolton
ED, institution, or vessel: 4
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 45
Household Members: Name Age
Anne Mercer 62
Edith Mercer 1
Elizabeth Mercer 32
Elizabeth Mercer 29
John Mercer 67
John W Mercer 31

Source Citation: Class: RG10; Piece: 3855; Folio: 85; Page: 10

Sue, I think the 1881 actually says Daniel, but could be David as well.