Genealogy Chat

I have been searching for ages for the marriage of Caroline Millard and Joseph Tilley in Frome between the years of 1838 (when her first husband died) and 1840 (when their daughter is born, she is definitely Joseph's daughter I have birth cert). The only marriage I can find in Frome between a Caroline & Joseph is June qtr 1840, Caroline Hillyar & Joseph Colley. Do you think the registrar was hard of hearing and these two could be the couple I am looking for? In both cases the surname is similar , if perhaps said in a strong Somerset accent??? Neither were literate so they would not have noticed what was written down.Or am I clutching at straws???? Has anyone had a similar experience of surnames being recorded wrongly in this way?

It's NOT impossible, but I really think you ARE clutching at straws here - I don't think it is them. I could be completely wrong though - what do others think? Dea x

Perhaps these two have driven me so bonkers I can't think rationally anymore!!!!

It's possible, It's also possible that it's a mistranscription. It's also possible that they didn't get married in that area. Are you looking at the wifes maiden name or first married name? i've made the mistake of forgetting that her second marriage would not be using her maiden name. Do you have the cert from the first marriage? If that is really highly likely to be them i'd order the cert and compare the wifes parents to her first marriage cert. Helen

Have you looked after 1840? Even if the birth certificate of the daughter makes it look as if the parents are married, this isn't neccessarily the case. I have a birth certificate of a daughter who was born 9 years before her parents married - even though the birth certificate makes it look like her parents are married. Kath. x

i doubt it either i know mistakes are made but if you say the surnames they dont sound the same,, i have mistakes on my records dermon instead of dorman,,

maybe they never married, I have a couple where the father just let his name be put on the cert but they were never married .

Well, I think its not only possible, but extremely likely - I've seen dafter mistranscriptions than this. Capital H and capital M are easily confused.Likewise a capital T and a capital C - if the writer did a 'greek' looking T. Why dont you phone the local Registrar, tell them your problem and ask them to have a look? I bet its the right one! OC

Hi Helen, the first marriage was before 1837 so no certs available, she had 2 children from the first marriage and I have all their marriage certs so I know about them. I have checked under first married name of Derry, there is nothing coming up for that either. On the birth cert for the daughter of 2nd marriage she gives her maiden name as Millard, there was no mention of Derry, which is why I am wondering if she married under her maiden name too.

Well then i'm with OC have the RO take a look It looks to me that it could be a mistranscription.

have you found them on the 1841 census

I would tend to agree with OC Ive been trying to say Millard and Tilley in a southern accent - which is very hard when yo cum frum Dudley! lol Regards Sara

Yes, they are on 1841 as Joseph & Caroline Tilley, daughter Elizabeth & the two Derry children. Caroline used the name Tilley on all the following census, and her grandson's death certificate in 1874 where she was the informant. So if she wasnot legally married, she certainly kept up the pretence all her life!!! The daughter was born April 1840 and the birth was registered in May. I wonder if they got married just before registering the birth, so as to legitimise the baby? That would tie- in with the marriage in June qtr 1840.

Sara, I've been trying out my best Somerset accent too, good job my hubby is upstairs he would think I was bonkers!!!!

then my gut instinct tells me you are right send for the cert if its wrong I will go half with you !!!

Thanks everyone for your input, I think I will risk £7, otherwise it will drive me mad wondering . I have the address the daughter's birth was registered at, I can compare that to the address on the marriage cert. Hopefully the witnesses might give me a clue too!!!

I would still phone the local Registrar first. They are usually very helpful with queries like this and won't charge you. Make it sound an interesting story - they love a break from routine, in my experience! OC

Presumably this is where you got the info from; if so, then there are four marriages to untangle, so you can't be sure that the Joseph and the Caroline in this list even married each other! Marriages Jun 1840 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASHMAN William Frome 10 626 COLLEY Joseph Frome 10 626 DENNING Elizabeth Frome 10 626 HILLYAR Caroline Frome 10 626 RIDDLE James Frome 10 626 SWIFT Mary Frome 10 626 WHITCOMB Thomas Frome 10 626 WHITCOMB Mary Frome 10 626 Kate.

The local RO will be able to check the original register,don't forget the GRO cert will be the third time the details have been written,the scope for errors the further down the line are far greater than on the original document. Glen

Have you tried www.gomezsmart.free-online(.)co(.)uk ? There are a lot of Frome records on there for Millard and Tilley. I have Millards from Nunney, Frome in my tree so if you come across Keziah or James(1700's) we could be connected. Sue.