Genealogy Chat

Is there a way, please, of finding the right marriage certificate where you don't have the exact year, other than spending dozens of credits going through several years of records? I have been looking for the marriage of Fanny Elizabeth King (born approx 1882 in Winkfield Berks) to John Johnson sometime before 1912. They continued to live at the same address in Winkfield, so it would have been in that area I think. I thought I had found it at one stage, but it turned out to be the wrong one and I can't face going all through them again! Would be grateful for any help!

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Name: Francis Johnson to Fanny e King
Year of Registration: 1911
Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
District: Wallingford
County: Berkshire, Oxfordshire
Volume: 2c
Page: 749 (click to see others

Try using the free bmd site (www.freebmd.org.uk) for stuff that is pre 1925.

If you are buying GR credits it's the most expensive way of searching records.

Nothing obvious for the names you give pre 1912 though

Thank you Lindsay and Glen (etc!),

The Wallingford one is the one I sent for, but the GRO emailed me back with a credit because the groom wasn't John Johnson - they didn't say what it was though. I only have the name John from his son's marriage cert- is it possible he could be Francis on one and John on the other do you think?

I didn't know about free bmd - will certainly try it - have spent a small fortune so far! I really appreciate the help, thank you.

Chris

1901
Fanny King Frederick,
Elizabeth abt 1885 Winkfield, Berkshire, England Daughter Winkfield, Berkshire
1891
Fanny King Frederick,
Elisabeth abt 1883 Winkfield, Berkshire, England Daughter Winkfield, Berkshire
birth
Fanny Elizabeth King 1883 Oct-Nov-Dec Easthampstead (1837-1937) Berkshire

I would be tempted to get the birth cert for the son and see what is recorded on that.

Names can and sometimes do get changed around over time, the trouble is proving it.

Just lately GRO have been a bit pedantic, when ordering just put one name that you are sure of if you know the refs.

Sorry, I should have said that he is also shown as John on the son's birth cert. I have actually found a fair bit of information for her family, and am trying to follow the Johnson line - because it is such a common name, I am having a problem pinning down the right Johnson on the censuses (censii?). I thought if I could get their marriage cert it would tell me more.
You are all very kind to help with my ignorance!

Can't fault your theory Christine, trying to pin down some details and not assuming a census entry is the only way to be certain.


Re GRO ref checks

If you put down a name then the GRO will only issue the cert if the details match exactly. If you put down a name as George and the register says Geo. they don't send the cert.

I shall know better in future!

It may well be he used his second name Chris.

I think your're probably right - I foolishly thought that because it was written on an official document it must be his right name!

The trouble is a lot of our ancestors didn't use their given names, none of my aunts used theirs and it made searching so difficult. I think they may be playing with us !

Thank you to everyone - you have all helped put it into perspective - my only problem now is that I don't know how to close this!