Genealogy Chat

On my g grandparents 1899 marriage certificate in Column 7 (Fathers Name and Surname), my gg granfather is recorded as 'John Ward (decd)'. Howevever, my gg grandfather appears both in the 1901 and 1911 census (consistently and logically with his wife and various children) and I have found a good match for his death in the indexes in either 1920 or 1924.

Any comments or advice on how to deal with this conudrum much appreciated.

Thanks

B

How old were the couple getting married? If they were under 21 and did not have parental consent for the marriage they may have just said that the father was deceased to get around the fact that they didn't have consent.

Even if they said they were 21 they may not have been. People lied!!

Kath. x

Age given on certificate is 30 for g gf (actual age = c. 30) and 21 (actual age was 20 years and 9 months, according to her birth cert) for g gm. Was this rule vigorously enforced in 1899? Just 3 months short of 21?

Thanks

B

I think it probably was enforced which is why so many of our ancestors told the odd lie on marriage certificates.

Kath. x

Although I don't expect they were asked to show their birth certs so difficult to know how it was enforced ...

Perhaps the family were "estranged" so she said her father was dead in case the vicar asked where dad was?

Jill