Hi Kerry,
I've just had a look at the Hackney marriage register entries of 1818 and 1831 and although not a handwriting expert, my humble opinion is that the James Traies signatures were done by the same person - they both have an unusual distinctive downward stroke on the final s, they both have a similar upward slope of the surname - the capital T has an extra flourish ...
What do you think?
The 1818 register entry -
http://www.trease.org.uk/traies/txb/txb19j_as_mcert.jpgThe 1831 register entry -
http://www.trease.org.uk/traies/txb/txb19j_ml_mcert.jpgIf the consensus is that they are the same person, here are four possibilities:-
1. The 1818 bachelor status is a mistake - but both James and wife Ann could write their signatures and probably could read as well so they would surely have spotted it.
2. The bachelor status is true. He and Hannah never married so he was technically a bachelor and would not become a widower if she died.
3. The bachelor status is a deliberate falsehood.
4. James, husband of Hannah Traies is a different person.
Do you have the 1842 and 1857 marriage certificates to hand - could you check whether they bear the same signature?
I wonder if the answer to this will also explain why we can't find the baptisms?
Bob