RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => Topic started by: CarolineWebb on Sunday 14 September 25 12:16 BST (UK)
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I have been researching my husband's great great grandmother Harriet Terry, but have got very confused in doing so!
The only birth we managed to find was a Harriet Lawrence (mother's maiden name Terry) for the birth year of 1846. This matches a baptism for a Harriet Lawrence Terry with parents Henry Lawrence and Mary Ann Terry but it says to a single woman so they obviously weren't married.
The birth certificate says that the mother is Mary Ann Lawrence (formerly Terry) although there is no marriage record.
Harriet's marriage certificate says that her father's name was William Terry (a stamper). We then found a marriage for Mary Ann Terry to William Greenhill (a stamper) so presume she has named her step-father rather than her biological father.
Then to confuse matters even more, Harriet aged 5 is living with her grandparents (1851 census) - Samuel and Ann Terry. We can't find her anywhere on the 1861 census.
Then in 1887 we found a marriage for Mary Ann Terry to Henry Lawrence (Harriet's biological parents) , but it says they were bachelor and spinster! Brain frazzled ???
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What county are we looking at here?
I presume England?
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Marriage for Mary Ann and William appears in June quarter 1848 - Aston (Birmingham) RD.
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It wasn't compulsory to state widow(er) on a marriage cert. although most
people did.
I assume William Greenhill was dead by 1887.
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William Greenhill is aged 27 and a Widower - Father is Joseph
Mary Ann Terry is aged 24 and a spinster - Father is Samuel
Marriage was at St Peter and St Paul, Aston - 24 April 1848. Residence for both parties given as Duddeston. William signed, Mary Ann made her mark. Witnesses: Joseph Greenhill and ? Lee.
Image available at Ancestry.
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Can see just 1 death for a William Greenhill correct age & place.
Died 15/12/1890 Erdington Workhouse aged 69.
Possibly the 2nd. marriage was bigamous.
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1881 has a Mar William Greenhill in London, occp Stamper, born c 1819 Birmingham.
1881 Mary Ann Greenhill is saying she is widowed.
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What county are we looking at here?
I presume England?
Oops really sorry, that would be of some help wouldn't it? All this took place in the Aston area of Birmingham
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Can see just 1 death for a William Greenhill correct age & place.
Died 15/12/1890 Erdington Workhouse aged 69.
Possibly the 2nd. marriage was bigamous.
Hmm interesting, if it was bigamous that would make sense of why they said they were bachelor and spinster
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1881 has a Mar William Greenhill in London, occp Stamper, born c 1819 Birmingham.
1881 Mary Ann Greenhill is saying she is widowed.
Great, thank you, I'll look into this :-)