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Hello,

Just wondering why the name of the father on the marriage certificate would be that of the mother? I have a marriage certificate which states that the father is Ellen Johnson (a woman's name) on the marriage certificate. Anyone got any reason why this would happen?.

Any suggestions as to how to proceed will be gratefully received.

Regards

Rachel

The person was base-born maybe?

When was the marriage would the family be on a census?

Could look for a birth index to get the certificate for parents name

Sorry, do not know what you mean by 'base-born.'

Charles Johnson married Matilda Hill in 1872 full age. Ellen Johnson was his father on the marriage certificate. Charles' occupation was a labourer and lived in Eccleston, Lancashire.

I would really like to find Charles as a child so that I can obtain his birth certificate; however, I have found it really hard trying to find Charles on any census prior to 1881 (which is when he appears with Matilda and a few children)

All help is gratefully received.

Regards

Rachel

Base-born is the term used for an illegitimate child.

There is a Charles son of Edward in Eccleston in 1871. Could this be your relative? If so, is it possible that Edward was shortened to Edw and then mistranscribed along the line - the two strokes of the "d" as "ll" and the "w" as "en"?

Is it possible to view the marriage register for the church etc where the marriage took place?

1881 for ref?

Name: Charles Johnson
Age: 25
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1856
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Matilda
Gender: Male
Where born: St Helens, Lancashire, England

Civil Parish: Widnes
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England

Street address: 5 Pepper St
Condition as to marriage: Married
Occupation: Iron Foundry Striker Manuf

Registration district: Prescot
Sub-registration district: Farnworth
ED, institution, or vessel: 19

Household Members:
Name Age
Charles Johnson 25
Mary Ellen Johnson 4
Matilda Johnson 25
Sarah Johnson
Thomas Henry Johnson 6

Does the certificate show that Charles signed it or did he 'make his mark'? If he couldn't read it's possible the registrar misheard the name and Charles was unable to spot the mistake.

Hi,

Thank you for your replies. I think that you Ivy, have found Charles as a child as the place of residence at the time of marriage was Eccleston. Can you please let me know the census information for Edward and Charles Johnson?

I am not sure how I would go about viewing the marriage register as I live in Devon; and already have the marriage certificate, so am not sure what else I would gain from viewing the marriage register from the church where the marriage took place.

Regards

Rachel

Was the "father's" occupation given on the marriage certificate?

Have you got an occupation for the father on the cert.
The Edward in 1871 is a Grocer

Did they marry in a church as Parish Registers could give different information,?

Both Charles and Matilda made their marks - no signatures there. The "father's" occupation was left blank - which is what I would expect to see for a mother/widow.

Regards

Rachel

Charles and Matilda married in Christ Church, Eccleston.

1871:

Name: Charles P Johnson
Age: 17
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1854
Relation: Son
Father's Name: Edward H
Mother's Name: Alice
Gender: Male
Where born: Crumpotal, Lancashire, England

Civil Parish: Eccleston
Ecclesiastical parish: Christchurch
Town: St Helen
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England

Registration district: Prescot
Sub-registration district: Prescot
ED, institution, or vessel: 15

Household schedule number: 49
Household Members:
Name Age
Alice Johnson 54
Charles P Johnson 17
Edward H Johnson 54
Louisa M Johnson 14
William H Johnson 17

I checked out Crumpsall - it is a suburb of Manchester, just north of the centre, quite a long way from the St Helens claimed as the birthplace on the 1881 census. If he was brought up in St Helens, it might still be your relative?

If the occupation is left blank, then the Edward theory is really only possible if he died 1871/72...

Thank you for your time and research - it is appreciated. I shall have to see if I can find details of Edward's death, to see if the Edward theory works.

Regards

Rachel

Who were the witnesses on the marriage cert?

Marriage certificates are copies. The parties would complete the marriage register entry and a copy would go to the local registry office. Details would be sent on to the general register office. Certificates purchased from the GRO would be in the handwriting of a clerk employed there.

The marriage register entry is the closest to the actual event.