Genealogy Chat

Thank you for your thoughts. More info: Jane was not previously married according to her marriage certificate. Thomas (jnr's) date of birth should read 1848 not 1846, now amended, sorry for the confusion. Thomas (snr) did have an elder brother called Isaac, he certainly had a son called James because he married Thomas (snr)'s next daughter Jane! Hope you are keeping up with this? I think that the Isaac baptised on 27 12 1846 is probably the son of this Isaac, although James's mother was Mary. It could have been a first marriage. Strange its the same name date and place though. But I have the birth certificate for Isaac that shows him to be the son of Thomas and Jane. I expected him to be the younger brother of Thomas (snr) by perhaps another wife but as there is already an elder brother Isaac this is not possible. Thomas (snrs) mother was Mary Glover. Good this init!!! Too many Thomas's, Isaac's and Mary's! Gary

Just had another thought although you may be able to dismiss this theory straightaway. Could it be that Isaac is a much younger brother of Thomas Burgess snr? This sort of thing is obviously possible if one is the eldest of their generation and the other is youngest. Question is therefore, is Jane Matthews the mother of Thomas Burgess snr?

Hi Gary, from VRI 2nd edition,Isaac Burgess Baptised 27 12 1846 Crowden,Kent. Father Isaac Burgess Mother Ann.Does this cause more head scratching,Regards,Tony

I would tend to agree with Andrew re the woman being previously married, but you have Thomas(jnr)born in 1846 and also Isaac born 1846 in a different place which confused me.It does seem unlikely however that there were two sets of people with the same names marrying each other in the same time span but in this game anything is possible!! Let us know how you get on as its interesting Best Wishes Anna

Gary, Could it be that Jane Matthews/Wood was previously married? I've certainly seen birth records on the IGI, where the mother is quoted, for example as Mary Smith or Jones, whereby one surname is her maiden name and the other surname is the one from her first marriage. Hence, if Jane had been previously married, could she have just decided to alternate the surnames. That's the only thought that comes to my mind. Andy.

I have a brother and sister (my great uncle and aunt) Thomas (jnr) and Laura Burgess both born in Brighton in 1848 and 1854 respectively to Thomas Burgess (snr) and Jane (formerly Wood). Thomas (snr) was born in Cowden Kent and Jane in Brighton Sussex. They married in February 1846 in Brighton. I have an Isaac Burgess born in December 1846 in Cowden Kent the son of Thomas Burgess and Jane (formerly Matthews). (Per birth certificate) My question is do you think Isaac is Thomas and Laura's elder brother? The evidence for: 1. Isaac witnessed the weddings of both Thomas and Laura, therefore one would assume a close relative. 2. The parents are both Thomas and Jane. Could there be a mistake with her maiden name? Janes's mother's maiden name was Matthews! 3. Unlikely to be two Thomas Burgess's from Cowden both marrying Janes. 4. The right age to be the first child, although what were they doing in Cowden. The evidence against: 1. Thomas and Jane married in Brighton and their first four children born in Brighton. 2. Mothers name different. Thomas (jnr) is in the 1851 census living in Brighton with his grandparents but no sign of his parents or Isaac. What do you think? All I have left to check are pre 1881 census but this will be some time before I can do this. Gary

Blank so I can format my question.