Genealogy Chat

My great-grandparents married 22 April 1941 though they had been partners for over 30 years. On their marriage certificate the surname of my great-grandmother is noted as Ford (widow) and my great-grandfather is noted as a widower. Her father's surname is also Ford. Is it likely that her first marriage was to a Ford or that she reverted back to her maiden name for some reason? Ford is the name given on all her children's birth certificates. Grateful for any advice as I am lost!

Thanks

Beth

Have you tried looking for a first marriage for your great grandparents?

This may hold the key to why they did not marry for so long?

Yes. I have the marriage details for my great-grandfather's first marriage, his first wife died a few years after they married. I have failed to find a first marriage for my great-grandmother as I don't know where she was born for certain.

Beth

My great-grandmother Mary Ford married my great-grandfather Daniel O'Shea 22 April 1941 in Pontypridd, Glamorgan. According to the marriage ceritificate William Ford (Agricultural Labourer) was her father. Mary and Daniel had their first child in 1911, Hannah O'Shea. (Glamorgan, Wales). I have found census details for 1891 and 1901 in Northumberland however am uncertain if this is the Mary Ford I'm looking for as rumour had it that she was from Ireland like my great-grandfather. If I could find a 1st marriage for Mary it would help a great deal. Perhaps her first husband died just before she married in 1941 and this is why Mary and Daniel married so late in life.

Hi Bethan
when were your grandparents born ?

Daniel O'Shea was 61 years of age when he officially married Mary Ford on 22 April 1941. The wedding took place in a register office in East Glamorgan, County of Glamorgan. Daniel was a Colliery Hewer at the time, probably in Llanbradach Colliery (they were residing at 18 Oakfield Street, Llanbradach). He was born in Kanturk, Co. Cork on 12 March 1879 (this would make him 62 at the time of the marriage however, not 61 years of age). Mary was 53 at the time of marrying Daniel. If the Mary I have found in Northumberland is my great-grandmother, she was born 31 March 1888 Murton Farm Cottage, Tweedmouth, Berwick-upon-Tweed. Their first born Hannah was born in 32 Oakfield Street, Llanbradach on 20 October 1911.

Wonder whether putting herself as a widow was a face saver. She may have hesitated to say spinster at her age and knowing her children would be at the ceremony. Looked better to say she was a widow .

If she was from Ireland, then her first marriage could have been in Ireland.
Have you searched on the 1911 for Irish or Northumberland Mary Fords living in Glamorgan?
Why do you think she might have been from Northumberland?
Was there ever any mention of children from a first marriage?

I've had a look at some Irish marriage records today that could be for my own Mary Ford and one possible entry is Jan 1909 in Mallow, Cork although I don't know if her father is noted as William Ford. There are no parents noted online.

Family members have said she was from Ireland however when researching I found a good match in Northumberland. I have no other reason for thinking so.

There was never any mention of children from her first marriage.

Now looking at Irish Mary in Glamorgan 1911 census. Quite a few.

I cannot see Daniel O'Shea in the 1911 census in Wales (or England) - so were they both still in Ireland?

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards.page/board/ancestors/thread/1210711


More on Mary Ford?

The GRO(I) index thru 1958 (excl N. Ireland post-partition) is available at:
https://www.familysearch.org/s/collection/list#page=1®ion=EUROPE

One can purchase certs (or cheaper still, the uncertified images of the rego) via:
http://www.groireland.ie/

The Irish 1901/1911 censuses are free at:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/
[Not heard of any release dates for next census (=1926 in both Irelands)]

Most City of Dublin parish registers are free online at:
http://www.irishgenealogy.ie/
[There are also Carlow, Cork & Kerry OPRs there too]