Genealogy Chat

Is it possible to have a name wrongly transcribed? On my Great Grandmothers birth cert ..Margaret Ann Isherwood...born 27th Oct.1851..Darwen ..Lancashire.her fathers name is down as Richard Isherwood..And on her marriage cert..1869.in Darwen.he is named as Robert Isherwood.This is causing no end of problems trying to tie up loose ends.I know her marriage cert is hers because of my Great Grandfathers name.Can anyone look into it further ?? Thanks for any help. Judith

The information for the marriage certificate would have been transferred from church to local Registrar to national Registrar. Also, is the certificate a facsimile of the national Registrar's copy, or has someone copied it again onto your copy of the certificate (in modern handwriting?) If you can get closer to the original source data, the problem might resolve.

Thanks Ivy for your reply.It is in very good handwriting so I assume it has been copied Judith

Hi again..It has the registration district etc typed on it so I assume it is a modern hand that has written it.

Judith I have a few with the wrong fathers christian name. One it turns out was because they had always known him to be called by his nick name. Another because he chose to use his middle name all his life and ignore what he was actually baptised. I also have another couple which I havent actually got to the bottom of yet but I know they are the right family because of who they married/place/unusual surname etc..... Sheila

Did you get the cert from the GRO or the local RO? If you got it from the GRO, then I suggest you phone Blackburn and ask them to check for you - they are very, very helpful. OC

what does cenus say as to fathers name? Just out of curiosiy - what is her mothers name - there are Isherwood's galore in Darwen but cant see either Richard or Robert in 1861 with a daughter Margaret

It is possible, my grandfather is named Robert Danny on my mum's marriage cert and his name was Robert Denny!

Thanks for all your help.. I will make that phone call..I got the cert from GRO. And Scarlet ribbons..I also can't find those names on the 1861 census. Margaret was born 1851..she missed that census and married 1869 so missed the next one in 1871... Judith

On the marriage certificate....Who are the witnesses? Perhaps they will help to find Margaret in a census. As regards to transcribed names, ..I wonder if the vicar / clerk was concentrating at times. I have a marriage cert. where the bride's father is shown as Janet..instead of James ..his daughter, the bride. was Janet. Gwyn

As you have her birth cert. what was her mothers name?

Errors in transcribing names isn't that rare - my brother's surname is misspelt in the marriage registers and that was less than 40 years ago!

I think this is her in 1861, although it is transcribed as Mary Ann the image is Margaret Ann Richard Isherwood Age: 44 Estimated birth year: abt 1817 Relation: Head Spouse's name: Ann Gender: Male Where born: Darwen, Lancashire, England Civil parish: Over Darwen Ecclesiastical parish: Holy Trinity County/Island: Lancashire Country: England Street address: Occupation: Condition as to marriage: View image Registration district: Blackburn Sub-registration district: Darwen ED, institution, or vessel: 2 Neighbors: View others on page Household schedule number: 170 Household Members: Name Age Amelia Isherwood 2 Ann Isherwood 45 Christopher Isherwood 13 Elizabeth Isherwood 17 Mary Ann Isherwood 9 Mary Ellen Isherwood 16 Richard Isherwood 44 Richard Isherwood 5 Bridget McHughes 18 Christopher Roshon 25 View Original Record View original image View blank form Save This Record Attach this record to a person in your tree as a source record, or save for later evaluation. Save Source Citation: Class: RG9; Piece: 3108; Folio: 60; Page: 33; GSU roll: 543080. kind regards Ann

What do the certificates say about the occupations of the supposed fathers, ..Richard and Robert.....Do they match? Gwyn

Thanks again all. Ann this looks like her Her witness to her marriage was Mary Ellen and Gwyneth ..her fathers occupation are the same on both certificates.

nudge

Thanks for all your help especially to An Olde Crone! I got in touch with the Blackburn RO and they sorted it out for me..the name in question was Richard and it was due to the appalling handwriting of the vicar that it was wrongly transcribed..the registrars own words.So now I have found a whole new branch of the family in the USA. Many Thanks ..Judith