RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => Topic started by: runlee on Tuesday 03 June 08 12:58 BST (UK)
-
I have recently obtained a copy of a marriage record for my ancestor who married in 1826. I was really hoping to find out the fathers' names, however neither the bride's father or groom's father are named. Is this the end of the line for me, or can anyone suggest other ways in which I may be able to find this information. Would this information perhaps be available from the Banns?
Any suggestions very gratefully recieved!
Y.
-
The father's names are not given in Parish Registers. After Rose's Act of 1812 (The Parochial Registers Act) parish incumbents were required to use specially printed registers, and there is no place for the names. The Banns register book, if it survives will not show them either.
Stan
-
runlee - as Stan says there's nothing official related to the marriage itself, so it's a case of lateral thinking -
using the names of the witnesses - if they have the same surname they may help identify the correct parents on baptism records if they are siblings (could even be a parent)
censuses may similarly help - parents & siblings may be visitors or members of the same household - birthplaces on 1851 & after can help track potential baptisms
wills - if a parent or grandparent left a will they may have listed the children - can be very useful again in tying up a sibling group.
On the other hand your ancestor may have the most common name for the age in the area so there are too many potential parents to work through.....
-
Trouble is, 1826 was well before censuses (and civil reg) and if they were inconsiderate enough to die before 1851, you can't get birthplaces. And you can't get parents' wills if you don't know who the parents were! Been there, done that, and come to a very thick brick wall!
MarieC
-
Does the marriage record give ages for the couple, and does it state what parish they were from? If it doesn't, then try the banns. If it does, then possibly you can try to search the appropriate baptismal register for each of the couple. Unless of course you are researching, Smith, Jones, etc.!
Regards,
Darren