Genealogy Chat

Hallo Sue It was nice to meet you last weekend! Re: your puzzle - they could have married earlier and possibly in an area you didn't expect. Maybe Thomas' home town - where is he on the 1901 census? Perhaps Ellen worked away from home before she married. Maybe she's been recorded as Helen? nell

I would certainly look before 1910. I have occasions where a couple were married for ten years or more before they had issue, or at least the ones I know about. There could always be older children born in a different Parish. Good luck jim

They may have been married before 1910. You say their oldest child was born in 1912 but this could be the oldest surviving child. Perhaps it's worth checking back as far as 1908. Don't rule out any because they are in the 'wrong' area, or because the name isn't exactly right - Helen Williams, Amelia Williams, Nelly Williams could all be possibilities. If you really cannot find anything, perhaps you could contact the register office you think may have the records as it might have been missed. Also, look under Evans as sometimes one partner is missed off but the other makes it into the index. You may be right in that they never married, as she could easily have adopted her 'husband's' name to avoid any stigma of illegitimacy.

I am trying to find the marriage of my mother-in-law's parents, Ellen Amelia Williams and Thomas Henry Evans. Their oldest child was born in 1912 or 1913, my M-i-L (their second child) was born 12 December 1916 but not registered until 23 January 1917. I have searched 1837 for marriages of Ellen Williams between January 1910 and December 1916 and found nothing. I sent for M-i-L's birth certificate (she only had a small one which doesn't show the father) and it clearly states father as Thomas Henry Evans and mother as Ellen Amelia Evans formerly Williams (which is what she had told me). Are the records on 1837 complete or were some lost during the blitz? Ellen's parents lived in Culworth, Northants and her father was a bellringer at the local church, so I'm assuming they were married there. Thomas and Ellen were living in Marylebone, London when M-i-L was born and Thomas is listed as an insurance agent. I'm trying to find Thomas' birthplace and his father's name(it's such a common name!). M-i-L doesn't remember any grandparents on her dad's side of the family, only that her dad talked often of the Malvern Hills. If they weren't married would M-i-L's birth certificate show her mum as Evans formerly Williams? I have Ellen's family right back to the early 18th century, but nothing on Thomas at all. I'd be grateful for your comments and suggestions Thanks Sue

See below......Thanks....Sue