Genealogy Chat

See below!

I am having problems with OH's GG grandmother! Living in Trippet Lane Sheffield on 1871 as Margaret Power, gives age as 37 i.e. dob 1833/4, with twin daughters Kate & Mary. 1881 - living in Trippet Lane as Margaret Kelly, aged 46, again dob 1833/4, still with twins. Kate's birth cert states mothers name as Power, formerly Kelly, nee O'Neal. By the way forgot to say - born in Ireland! Browsing on Sheffield Records burials last night and found: Margaret Power of Trippet Lane buried Feb 1890 but aged 50, i.e. born 1839/40. Now would you say this was my Margaret Power??????? Do I really have to send for the d.c. to clear this mystery up????? Why couldn't many of our rellies remember just when they were born!!!!!!!! Help Sue

What was the surname on Kate's birth cert, Sue? Seems strange if she married Kelly then Power that she was Kelly in the later census. Have you looked for her in 1891? If you can't find her I'd pencil in what you have until you feel ready to use pen. Do you want me to have a look or are you right with that?

Trouble is, no matter how good her memory - she wasn't the one reporting her own death!! It could imply that she was 'wearing well'. It does sound as though getting the cert would be a good idea, to be sure, to be sure!! Victoria

Kate & Mary (twins) are both POWER Not looked at this for a long while - I only happed on the burial record by accident. I don't have her on my file as being on 1891. Kate is married with a family on 1891 (she is OH's gt grandmother). I agree it is strange her going back to Kelly - presume John Power either died or left her and she went back to her previous name. He doesn't appear on either 1871 o 1881 with the family - only picked his name up from Kate's birth cert. If she did just revert to her old name it would explain why officially she is Power on the burial record. Sorry folks - have to go out now will pick up the 'thread' when I get back. Sue

What is on the death cert depends upon the memory and knowledge of the informant. Quite easy to give a wrong name in error - or the informant may have misunderstood the registrar's questions and thought maiden name was required. My uncle gave wrong birthyear for my grandfather's death cert. And just to show how things get recorded when my mother registered her mother's death, she was asked about her father's occupation. Well, my grandfather did lots of things to earn a living, including chauffeuring, shoe repairs, agricultural labouring etc. The registrar asked my mum if he'd had any formal training and mum said he'd originally been apprenticed to a blacksmith. The registrar said 'that sounds interesting' and promptly wrote blacksmith on the cert. But he lived until 1972 and hadn't worked as a blacksmith since leaving the army in 1922. Never assume because its on a cert its the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.