Genealogy Chat

I'm puzzled. See below.

James Norman married Harriet in 1830, then married Jane in 1838. The parish records of the christenings of the children from 1830 to 1851 variously have either Jane or Harriet as mother, but Harriet is entered even in the late forties although the 1841 census shows the children living with James and Jane. I sent for the BC of one child with the mother as Harriet and the certificate had Jane. Can anyone think what may be going on here? Perhaps the vicar at the christenings was completely muddled?! Anyone else had this situation?

Since there is clearly an error in the parish records I would think the vicar or parish clerk was having a 'senior moment'. We all do it with people we know! Calling them by the wrong name and almost not realising what we've done! Have you found the burial record of the first wife (see, I've forgotten her name aready!). It might have been before 1837 but you should find it in the parish records. Anne

Yes, am off to the Taunton RO on Wednesday to see if I can find the burial for Harriet. But it seems strange that the vicar could have got so muddled up so often!

Perhaps (say it in a whisper) he was fond of a little tipple!!!! anne

Ness Are you sure shes not Harriet Jane? Perhaps she was sometimes known by one name and then other times the second name. I wonder because my great grandad was sometimes Thomas Henry and other times Henry Thomas. Margaret

Are you sure there weren't two John Normans, one married to Jane and one married to Harriet? I've found in my researches that quite often in a village families intermarried and all the first names are very common so it can be quite a tangle sorting them out. Sometimes the parish baptism register gives the mother's maiden name which helps. nell

Hi, I have the same problem in my tree. I thought that one of mine was Ann, although in the parish records, her children were listed as sons of Ann, Emma or emily. Then I found she had used the name Emma in the '71 census, and she was known by the local folk as Emma. I double checked by ordering a birth cert, as on the parish records it said son of Emma, but on the birth cert. it said son of Ann. Hope I haven't confused you yet! She was Ann and I have no idea why she used the name Emma, as she was christened Ann!

Thanks for all the replies. I had rather assumed that Harriet and Jane were the same person... until I found an earlier marriage to Harriet yesterday on Familyhistoryonline. I don't think there were two James Normans...Holton is a very small village and I had previously gone through all the cenuses at the records office. Looking forward to my next visit! Bit worrying though that parish records can lead one in wrong directions.

Parish registers are just as prone to error as any other kind of record. I have certificates with incorrect info on, census details that are wrong and mistaken church records. It is easy to make mistakes. Having spent a lot of time proof-reading I can guarantee to find errors in virtually all the books I read. nell

Just a thought. Do you know if James' father was James? We were puzzled over parish records as you are but at last, with help of a Will realised that one of the marriages was for Thomas the son and the other was a 2nd marriage of his father.

Yes, you're right, of course....and that is what makes this hobby so frustrating, intriguing, challenging and...... all I want to be doing! James's father was John.....pretty sure about that.

Having found THREE William Broomfields all married to Charlottes of childbearing age, two in the same village and the third nearby, I'd say it's quite possible you have two couples. You have to find them both on censuses and kill them all off. In that same village I have a deaf vicar who keeps on recording Sarah (Sairey?) as Mary. Thank goodness for censuses! Brenda

In one small village, pop about 500, I have seven James Holdens, all fathering children. Three of the wives are called Catherine, 2 are called Ann and two are called Mary. I have only found three marriages, 2 of whom are to Catherines and one, JAmes a widower, to Ann. I have sorted out the children by baptism information under James + Catherine, Farmer, James and Catherine, weaver and James and Catherine unknown, James and Ann weaver - it goes on, and I have 27 children here whose parentage I cannot be sure of! I despair of ever sorting it out. Contrast this with research done on the Isle of Man registers - they ALWAYS put the mothers maiden name - wonderful, thankyou past vicars of Isle of Man.