Genealogy Chat

HI Martin, I have a similar problem. My Eli was born Eli, on 1881 he is Eli. On 1891 he is Henry Eli. When he married he was Eli when his son was born he was Henry. There is still that tiny seed of doubt that I have the right man, but as there are no other Henry's or Eli's that fit I am just crossing my fingers and taking it as read. I'm now searching for living members of the family who may have more info!!

It's quite possible that your Samuel James was known as John. I have a Samuel John that was always known as Jack!

It's just as likely the registrar made a mistake. What was the groom's father's name? I have an original copy of a marriage certificate ( with penny stamp on it), where the witness ( brides mother) is listed as Dorothy Steer. This puzzled me until I looked at the parish records copy of the marriage and found it written as Deborah Steer. The mothers full name was Ellen Deborah Steer and in 1881/91 census she is known as Ellen and 1901 as Deborah. So Dorothy looks like a mistake by registrar.

Thanks for your input Christina. Regards Martin

Hello Martin I find this highly plausible. I have a grandmother called Phoebe Elizabeth Habberley. The only time I have found her called Phoebe is on her marriage certificate. She is plain Elizabeth the rest of the time. And I have a great-grandmother born Eleanor Taylor Henry who from the 1881 census onward is referred to only as Ellen, Ellen is on both her marriage certificates and no one in the family had a clue her name was Eleanor! But her mother was Eleanor, she called her daughter Eleanor, and I suspect she had an aunt called Eleanor. Perhaps it just got too confusing having so many Eleanor's in the family. Was your Samuel James's father also called Samuel, do you know? And how literate was the family? Most of my lot don't seem to know their own ages, so using a different name is a minor matter from their point of view! We are so much more precise, with our well-documented lives.

Any users come across something similar to this before ? I have an ancestor born in 1858 with the name of Samuel James Etherton (source 1871 census - as there was no birth registered for him) Found his death in 1909 on FreeBMD (images) last night and he still has the name Samuel James. On what I believe to be his sons wedding certificate in 1915 the fathers christian name is given as John and he is of course deceased by then so can not argue about it. My evidence that this is definately his son who is getting married is the following. 1. On 1891 census the age/names of the father tie in nicely with what I expect..ie. son age 6 called Samuel Etherton 2. The profession of the father on the wedding certificate ties in with what I expect (from 1891/1901 census) which is Baker. 3. The age of the groom on the wedding certificate puts his birth in 1884...his name is also Samuel Etherton. I have checked on 1837online between 1881 and 1888 and he is the only Samuel Etherton registered in this period. Basically it would be harder to prove the 2 were not related than that they were related, but this unexpected christian name sows a slight seed of doubt...how can I corraborate it ? Regards Martin