Hi Charlie, Just back on the computer after a long weekend in Eaton Socon, Cambridgeshire. Thanks for your very informative reply and I am indebted also to Valda for an additional piece of the jigsaw regarding John and Sarah's marriage in 1833. The Christian name of Viner crops up as a strong thread through my families ancestors and may have steered me off course with researching John Viner Catling. He appears on my GGf William Henry Catling's marriage cert, dated 17.2.1868 as his father, occupation cooper. William's wife is yet another Sarah, Poultney. That marriage took place in St Sepulchre, Northampton and my Gf Roland Newcomen Catling was born in Kingsthorpe, just to the north. I had assumed that John Viner C, born c1818 who married a Sarah Brown on 25.12.1842 was the correct connection, but from Valda's 1851 census data, the John Catling aged 55 listed would have been born around 1796. He too married a Sarah and my GGf, WHC is listed as their son at the same address, when he was 7. The other son, Thomas is in fact Viner, not Vince as scrutiny of the written entry reveals. A backmarker was an older term for a cooper.
I was thinking of obtaining this John/Sarah's marriage cert but the listings start in 1837, three years after they wed. Any suggestions as to identifying the references for that cert would be appreciates - I am relatively new to this research which nevertheless is fast becoming addictive.
I would be glad of a copy of John Frederick Catling's marriage certificate. You might like a copy of William Henry's as attached ( I hope !). By the way, he was my GGf's older brother, from those census entries and our ancestors are indeed connected through Mary Eliza Ringrose' marriage. If you are interested, my family tree is on GenesReunited - possibly yours is also. Regards, Hotspur (Peter)
Confusing!