Genealogy Chat

I have been trying to solve a mystery in our family but have had no luck so far. I just don't know where to look. My grandfather was born Ernest Fraser Josland on 5/8/1908 to Frederick George Josland and Kate Josland (formerly Watson) (Frederick had previously been married to Janet Elizabeth Salter who died I think in 1899). On his Ernest's marriage certificate he was named as 'Ernest Fraser Josland (also known as Witherden)'. My grandmother took the name Witherden and my father and so on. We know that Frederick died in 1921 so assume that Kate remarried. However we can not find any record of Kate Watson's marriage to Frederick and don't know where to go next either. I can not find any record on the 1901 census although I can't search under the address which was 94 Ifield Road, Brompton/Kensington which may bring up something rather than the name. Am I right in thinking that if they married at a registry office that there may be no record of the marriage? Any advice would be appreciated.

Hi Susan, have you searched the complete index on Ancestry?

In answer to your last question - no, even if they married in a Registry Office the marriage would still have been registered and they would have been issued a certificate. On the certificate it would state that they had wed in a registry office. So there must be a record of it on the marriage indexes somewhere...

It seems to much of a coincidence marriage George Frederick Josland 1906 Jul-Aug-Sep Kensington Greater London, London,

There is an error in transcription for his surname in 1901 census. He shows at 108 Ifield Road Kensington under the name of Frederick IESLAND. Clearly him as it shows him with George 20, Robert 3, so the sons match with the previous censuses, and sister Elizabeth. Julie

Starting with firm facts..........the first marriage..... Frederick George Josland 1875 Oct-Nov-Dec St Giles London, Middlesex Janet Elizabeth Salter Reg

There's a George Frederick Josland born Mar qtr 1881 Kensington reg district vol 1a pg 195. Just found this in 1881 - 94 Ifield Road, St Mary Abbots, Kensington Frederick G Josland Head Mar 32 Carpenter b. Devon Spreyton Jessie Josland Wife Mar 32 b. Edinburgh George F Josland Son 7 weeks b. Midx Kensington Helen Salter Wife Mother 57 Annuitant b. Dumfries

Had Kate been married before? And given a different name on her later marriage?

Thanks guys, you have given me a few more avenues to go down. I will look more at the marriage details for George Frederick (yes it does seem like a coincidence) and also the 1901 census with the misspelt name - have looked at that and yes it is then. That's really great, thanks. Thanks will let you know how I go.

We had wondered whether Kate had been married before too. I am guessing though that on certificates she would have used Watson as maiden name or could it equally have been a former married name? We do know from stories handed down that she married several times but don't know when those marriages would have been - she obviously remarried after Frederick died and this could have been to a Witherden or that marriage could have been later!!!

I have 2or 3 cases where a widow remarried and gave her former married name on the certificate. Luckily, father's name gives her maiden name. Do you have any marriage certificates for her?

No I don't have any marriage certificates for Kate. I haven't found her on the records despite extensive searching - as you said though Watson may not have been her maiden name but a previous married name. Have looked too under Frederick George Josland and there are no marriages other than the one to Janet Salter, the previous wife. Some one on here has found a George Frederick Josland in 1906 which is interesting. I guess I have to order the certificate though to find out if it is really Frederick George!

These are the four names from the page referred to above Margaret Harriet Berriman 1906 Jul-Aug-Sep Kensington Greater London, London, Middlesex Harriet Emma Frost 1906 Jul-Aug-Sep Kensington Greater London, London, Middlesex George Frederick Josland 1906 Jul-Aug-Sep Kensington Greater London, London, Middlesex Wilfred Ernest W Smith 1906 Jul-Aug-Sep Kensington Greater London, London, Middlesex No Kate........... Reg

Thanks Reggie for looking into that for me. I have ordered the marriage certificate for George Frederick Josland so I'll find out one way or another who he married and whether it's the right person or not. Reggie, out of interest where did you get that information you have sent ie all the names with the same codes? Do you have a specific program, are you using a particular internet site that allows you to search in that way, or maybe you have access to something completely different!?! Sue

Update Jim in So'ton, have got the wedding certificate for George Frederick and it is Frederick George's son! I know there was a George but I didn't have a full name. Oh well it means that I have eliminated this record. Sue