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Proving rellies pre 1837 Help!!

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Martin

Martin Report 5 Nov 2007 13:22

I am trying to find the parents of an ancestor. I have a Thomas Chisnall born Islington 1782 who married, according to the census, a Sarah Maria born 1791. However, according to the Parish Registers, (St Mary Islington) the mother of the children was named as just Maria. (oldest child born 1814) (I cannot find the marriage registration anywhere) I do know, howvever, there was a Thomas Chisnall who married a Maria Tolley on 1 September 1808 at St Luke, Finsbury, who I think may have been the parents. How can I confirm one way or another please?

Thanks

Martin

Heather

Heather Report 5 Nov 2007 14:34

You find names swopped about all over the place on parish registers, so Sarah maria may well be known to everyone as just Maria. Or of course he may have married twice.

Id be more concerned about the gap from 1808 until the oldest childs birth in 1814 (on the census I take it?)

When you say the parish registers - do you mean youve been to look at the records or just the IGI records? The IGI is far from complete.

Kate

Kate Report 5 Nov 2007 15:48

I had one similar to that. A distance ancestor had two daughters early in their marriage. The first was named Maria and died aged 2, so the next was named Mary Maria.

When Mary Maria married, she was just "Maria", as she was on the baptism records of her children and on the census but she was Mary Maria on her burial record (I think).

Possibly she just preferred the name Maria.

Martin

Martin Report 5 Nov 2007 18:56

Heather. I take your point regarding the gap. One myself thought was rather big. I have looked on the actual Parish Records (as opposed to the IGI, which were actually quite useless). I may well of course have missed an older child .... after a while of looking after record after record your eyes do go a bit wobbly!! However, the surname name is fairly unusual, and the couple married at St Lukes have an acceptable "first names" similarity. There can't have been many couples with the same names at one point in time in the same area ... but how do I prove or disprove it?

Thanks
Martin

KeithInFujairah

KeithInFujairah Report 5 Nov 2007 19:04

Is there any chance they may have left a will?
If so you may find children etc named on there. One of mine even mentioned the wifes father as a benificiary!

Martin

Martin Report 5 Nov 2007 19:22

I haven't found one for Thomas, but there is evidence to suggest that Thomas may have had a brother Edward who did leave a will and which I have a copy of. In it there is a mention of his brother Thomas and his wife Maria in it. Unfortunately I have trouble reading most of it. Is there anyone able to interpret it for me at alI please?

Thanks
Martin