Genealogy Chat

Hi I've received a marriage certificate for my great grandfather who unfortunately has a very common name John Wood. The certificate states that his father is James Wood and one of the witnesses is George Wood (who we've assumed was John's brother). Having looked on the relevant census returns I cannot find John anywhere with a father James. I can however find several entries for John and George with a father Thomas. Does anyone know how the marriage certificates are produced? Is it possible that someone has mistaken the name Thomas for James and written the wrong name on the certificate? Will the GRO check the original record to see if there is a mistake? Not really sure how the process works so any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated. Regards Debs Dates and places John Wood married Annie Templeton on January 2nd 1893 at the Holy Trinity Church in Darwen in Lancashire, he was 26 and she was 22. He is listed as living in Sunnyhurst at the time and she lived at 1 Grime Street. Will you need any further information?

Can you post some dates/places so we can help you look? Deb:)

It is always possible for there to be an error. The vicar could have written the wrong name by accident. Post the details and see if anyone else can help find them. Sam x

Have you found John and Annie in 1901? We need to establish a birthplace. Gwyn

What was the occuption of the groom and his father?

You can't assume that George WOOD was a brother. He may have been an uncle, cousin or other relative...or no relation at all. Is your problem finding a James with both George and John as sons? They may not have been local. Most marriages were in the brides parish. Gwyn

Just assuming that George is the brother, then this family in 1891 might fit. Note that the mother is a widow so father James would be listed deceased on the marriage cert. What was John's occupation? This one's a porter. WOOD, Mary Head Widow F 52 Manchester Lancashire WOOD, John T Son Single M 23 Railway Porter Manchester Lancashire WOOD, Mary Daughter Single F 19 Factory Operative Manchester Lancashire WOOD, Harriet Daughter F 17 Cap Maker Manchester Lancashire WOOD, Margaret Daughter F 15 Cap Maker Manchester Lancashire WOOD, Joseph Son M 13 Lurry Boy Manchester Lancashire WOOD, George Son M 9 Scholar Manchester Lancashire -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RG number: RG12 Piece: 3168 Folio: 114 Page: 32 Registration District: Chorlton Sub District: Ardwick EnumerationDistrict: 24 Ecclesiastical Parish: St Silas Civil Parish: Ardwick Municipal Borough: Manchester Address: 18, Herbert Street, Ardwick, Manchester Deb:)

The whole family both sides are from Darwen as far as I know although I know that somewhere along the line there is a Cambridgeshire connection. Charteris possibley. John was a loomer on the marriage certificate and James/Thomas was an engineer.

Hi in 1881 they are at 7 Dean St Lower Darwen elder brother George is there born c 1865.. Regards Colette

Hi Deb.. here they are in 1891 RG12/ PIECE 3414/ FOLIO 46/ PAGE 35 11 Back Backroom ? St Over Darwen Head Thomas Woods age 50 Factory Engine Driver b Chatteries Cambridgeshire Wife Mary Ann age 47 b Chatteries Cam... Son John age 24 Cotton Loomer b Hodderden Lancs Son William age 22 Cotton Loomer b New Church Lans Dau Sarah E age 20 Paper Sorter b New Church Son Richard age 19 Catcher b New Church Dau Mary A age 17 Linen Winder b Darwen Son Thomas age 15 Winder at mill b Darwen Dau Lucy H age 13 Linen Winder b Darwen Son Moses age 11 b Darwen Dau Ellen age 8 b Darwen Regards Colette

OK. I've found Ann living at home with her family in 1891. Now that we have a birth place for her, we might find her on 1901 census with John. 39 TEMPLETON, Maria Head Widow F 40 Card Room Hand Sligo Ireland 39 TEMPLETON, Mary Daughter Single F 25 Card Room Hand Bolton Lancashire 39 TEMPLETON, Joshua Son Single M 21 Card Room Hand Bolton Lancashire 39 TEMPLETON, Ann Daughter Single F 20 Cotton Weaver Bolton Lancashire 39 TEMPLETON, Fred Son M 15 Cotton Weaver Bolton Lancashire 39 HETHERINGTON, Chris Uncle Widower M 52 House Keeper Bolton Lancashire -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RG number: RG12 Piece: 3413 Folio: 48 Page: 7 Registration District: Blackburn Sub District: Darwen Enumeration District: 9 Ecclesiastical Parish: Holy Trinity Civil Parish: Over Darwen Municipal Borough: Darwen Address: 1, Grime Street, Over Darwen, Darwen Deb:)

Can I just say that I frequently have problems with James/Thomas - the two names are practically identical when written in cursive script. And some of these 'confusions' are in the town of Darwen, lol, so maybe the Registrar had a particularly florid style of script. The GRO cannot help you as their copy is a copy of a copy. Phone Blackburn RO - the lady there is extremely helpful, but even so, you may need a copy of the church register to settle this matter - that is, if it isnt just a straightforward mistake on the part of the Vicar. OC

I'm becoming more convinced that it's this Thomas one because of the marriage record. He married Mary Ann Darby who has the same name and is from the same place as another branch of the family. It's a bit complicated but John and Annie's daughter Clara married a chap called John Lofthouse who's parents were Henry Lofthouse and Mary Darby. Too much of a coincidence I think

Debbie did you not see my reply this morning.. Colette