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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: bronnie on Thursday 16 October 08 00:40 BST (UK)
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My great grandfather appears on one of his children's marriage cert in1925. By 1944 he appears on another of his children's marriage certificates as 'deceased'.
My question; is it safe to assume he died between these dates, or did it often happen that the father was named but the 'deceased ' bit was sometimes omitted from marriage certs and therefore the actual date of death could have been earlier.
He has a very common Welsh name, so I'm desperate to narrow the field as far as poss! Thanks for any advice!
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Unfortunately - many marriage certs can give the impression that the father was still alive when he had died many years earlier so there are no guarantees I'm afraid
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All a marriage certificate proves is a couple using the names shown on the certificate were married on the date (and place) shown on the certificate witnessed by the people shown on the certificate.
All other details, parents abode, occupations etc. may not be true as they rely on the person giving the information telling the whole truth.
In most cases the details will be correct but there may be errors (deliberate or not) and there may be omissions.
Cheers
Guy
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Thanks for your speedy and helpful replies.
The search goes on!!
Bronwen
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Hi Bronwen
As Guy says errors occur - I have one marriage certificate where the groom's father is said to be deceased when I know it should have been the bride's father!
Jan ;)
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Hi Bronwen,
I actually have the father named as deceased on some of my certificates but was told the daughters may have lied so they were able to marry under the required age.
Billa
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Hi Bronwen,
As has been said there are no guarantees. I always assumed, as it happened wrongly, that one of my ancestors was alive when his son was married as it didn't say his father was 'deceased'. I later bought marriage certs. for his other 3 children and he still appeared to be alive. Only later did I discover that their father had died in a mill accident many years before when all his children were small. No wonder I could never find him!
Maggie
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That makes me feel better! I found a death entry for Walter Jones and he was not deceased on his son's marriage two years later. Thanks :D