Help Find A Bigamist

[LoesLamb]

Hello. I've still not solved this and the thread hasn't had much input lately. I just thought I'd post here to see if it would spark anymore suggestions.

She could have been found out - criminal records
They could have "fled" the country. (On FindMyPast the records start in 1890, no Ann together with a George or John).

Loes

[cwr1404]

I thought the Methodists might be involved with the "lost" baptisms but I checked the village Methodist church records and got nothing.

Missing Baptisms always suggests the Baptist church to me. Was there a Baptist chapel in the area?

Thanks for the suggestion, but no, there was no baptist church in the village. There was the CofE parish church, Methodists, Salvation Army (but they don't practice baptism) and later an RC church.  As I say though, the baptisms aren't important for the time being.

[cwr1404]

Hello. I've still not solved this and the thread hasn't had much input lately. I just thought I'd post here to see if it would spark anymore suggestions.

She could have been found out - criminal records
They could have "fled" the country. (On FindMyPast the records start in 1890, no Ann together with a George or John).

Loes

Thanks for looking at that. I had considered that they might have emigrated. But seeing as I can't find a likely John George Small on the census, I'm not sure if that was even his real name.

[avm228]

As per my reply #3, I still think that if you obtained Ann's 1881 marriage certificate it might provide useful clues.  Apart from anything else, you could search the 1881 census on an "address search" basis (for the address given for each party upon marriage). Sometimes an address search finds people who are otherwise untraceable because their name has been mistranscribed, or the index is otherwise unsatisfactory. Witness names are potentially also very useful, not to mention finding out what information the bridegroom gave about himself/his father.

[Redroger]

Thanks for looking at that. I had considered that they might have emigrated. But seeing as I can't find a likely John George Small on the census, I'm not sure if that was even his real name.

As a lateral thought, if he is trying to hide he just might have become "John George Little" Worth a search?

[cwr1404]

As per my reply #3, I still think that if you obtained Ann's 1881 marriage certificate it might provide useful clues.  Apart from anything else, you could search the 1881 census on an "address search" basis (for the address given for each party upon marriage). Sometimes an address search finds people who are otherwise untraceable because their name has been mistranscribed, or the index is otherwise unsatisfactory. Witness names are potentially also very useful, not to mention finding out what information the bridegroom gave about himself/his father.

Yes, I think you're right, that's probably the next best step. I've emailed DRO first to see if they also transcribed the addresses, as it seems odd to leave it out of a purchased record when that info would probably have been on the source they transcribed from.

[cwr1404]

Thanks for looking at that. I had considered that they might have emigrated. But seeing as I can't find a likely John George Small on the census, I'm not sure if that was even his real name.

As a lateral thought, if he is trying to hide he just might have become "John George Little" Worth a search?

Great minds...:-) I previously tried Little, Large, Big, Small etc but nothing that lines up.

[Redroger]

Pity that, but if it stimulates the thinking of another reader helpful.

[cwr1404]

I've emailed Durham Records Online and the owner has kindly agreed to look up the missing info in the parish register. She advised it was due to the transcriber not having taken those details over 10 years ago.

Hopefully I should get a reply in the next few days and won't have to get the certificate. Will post update once received.