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Marriage certificate............. Im puzzled......

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Kelly

Kelly Report 22 Jul 2004 18:15

Hi all I have just recieved a certifiacte today from the GRO. Its arrived and im kind of confused. The marriage is from Febuary 1842 between Benjamin Todd & Jane Speight. The space on the certifacte which shows the church they married in is blank.............................. WHY????? Also on the same certificate it sows no fathers details for benjamin todd!! Why is this? Perhaps the stork brought him but maybe not eh...........!! Any thoughts would be appreciated. As ever thanks Kelly xxxx

KathleenBell

KathleenBell Report 22 Jul 2004 18:20

Does it say 'the parish church of' on the certificate as that could mean there was only one church in the town or village. If the space for fathers details has a line through it this would mean that Benjamin was probably illegitimate. Kath

Kelly

Kelly Report 22 Jul 2004 18:30

Hi Kath Its has the normal top line Marriage solemized at......................... (then its blank) next sentance is in the parishof Halifax. There are loads her enow is it possible ther was only one then? The space for fathers name has a line through it so i think your right about illegitimate. Thanks for your advice. Kely xxx

KathleenBell

KathleenBell Report 22 Jul 2004 18:54

Hi Kelly I know in the early 1800's lots of places were very different from what they are now. Perhaps you could ask at one of the churchs in Halifax and see if anyone knows which is the oldest church and then try looking at their parish records. It shouldn't take long if you have got the exact date of the marriage. Kath

Kelly

Kelly Report 22 Jul 2004 18:56

Thanks i will give it a go. Cheers Kelly

Vanessa

Vanessa Report 22 Jul 2004 19:05

The line through the father's name doesn't necessarily mean they are illegitimate. My father simply disowned his father and on his marriage certificate he refused to name him so there is a line through it. Obviously his father shows on his birth certificate and he wasn't illegitimate. Just a thought.

Kelly

Kelly Report 22 Jul 2004 19:43

Hi Vanessa. I hadnt thought of his birth cert. I suppose i assumed he wouldnt be named on it either. I will now look and see if i can find it. With any luck it will name his father oterwise im a little stuck on this line. Kelly xxx

KathleenBell

KathleenBell Report 22 Jul 2004 21:44

Hi Kelly, Just realised that you won't find a birth certificate for Benjamin if his marriage was in 1842. His birth will have been before registration began in 1837. You will have to look at parish records if you know where he was born, and see if a father is mentioned there. Kath