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It doesn't seem very likely that he would be deliberately giving you duff info! But could it be that he has mis-remembered the name? Or that William died and Mary Ann married Mr. Cunningham and just never mentioned to the child that she had had a previous husband? Kate.

Hi Kate, Although this man is 77 he is phoning all over the world to family members trying to get infomation about the Scottish side of the family tree, he was just onto my brother-in-law the other day and was asking for information. He told him I had all the wrong information about the Collins family from England and only he had the correct information. He also phones relatives in Canada and Belguim telling them I have all the wrong information on my family tree. Betty

Oh, right, he sounds weird! Well, then, I take it back, perhaps he did deliberately give you duff info. What I would do if I were you is get the marriage cert between Mary Ann and William Wharton to see if it is the right Mary Ann, and if it is, then look through the death indexes to find out when William Farra(r) Wharton died (by the way, I can't see him on the CWGC WW1 deaths). Then you could search to see if Mary Ann re-married after his death. Kate.

Hi again Kate, I will do all that maybe within the next few days. Thanks again for all your help. Betty

Betty Are you saying that the register office in Durham says your information is wrong? Heather

Hi heather, Yes that what they said, husband of mary Ann Collins is not William Farrar Wharton. Betty

I am utterly confused now, Betty, if you are saying that Durham told you that Mary Ann Collins didn't marry William Farrar Wharton. Why do they have it on their website then? But anyway, if you order the cert from the GRO I am sure it will turn up eventually. As for if you order it from Durham, I don't really know. Kate.

1901 census Mary A Collins aged 29 born Benfieldside Durham was a housemaid living with Jane Coates and son Frederick at Haydon, Northumberland. Could she be your Mary Ann? Heather

Brenda well spotted, have you sent Betty a PM? This must be his birth... Births Mar 1878 CUNNINGHAM John Graham Gateshead 10a 777 Georgina.

Hi Brenda, yes Cleveland as far as I know is right by Teeside & county Durham. Georgina.

Hi Everyone, Well I am here at last, sorry I didn't know so much was going on with my thread. I just can't believe it! you were all so busy when I wasn't there, sorry about that, had appointment at the hospital yesterday afternoon with hubby. I would just like to thank you all so very much for all your hard work in finding Mary Ann Collins and her husband. Special thanks to Reg, Georgina, Kate, June, Suzanne, Jess Bow, Mo, Kathleen, Heather, Brenda and Janice. Best wishes and many many thanks from Betty

Hi Betty And last but not least.. The reason why they have said it is the wrong marriage.. Her Father was called Frederick Collins St Cuthbert's Church, Shadforth 2nd June 1900 William Farrar Wharton, aged 26, bachelor, Occ. Groom, residence Thorp Arch. Father William Wharton, Occ. Blacksmith. Mary Ann Collins, aged 29, spinster, residence Sherburn Hill. Father Frederick Collins, Occ. Coalminer Both Sign Witnesses Joseph Cummings and Dorothy Jane Collins. Both Sign.. So it looks like the Cunningham marriage at Gateshead is the correct marriage for her.. Hope that this helps Mo..

Hi Mo, Yes I did say to them that the father of Mary Ann Collins must be Thomas Collins for this to be the marriage certificate I wanted. That's how I found out it was the wrong Mary Ann Collins and the wrong husband, it should have been Cunningham. Plus the info from family relative saying her husband's name was Cunningham. Anyway all's well that ends well as they say, I have the correct one now. Thanks for looking that up for me Mo, it just confirms it for me too. best wishes Betty

Glad I could of been of assistance Mo