Mary Ellen Stork

[grabee]

I am trying to find the surname of Mary Ellen Stork.
I know she was born in either Streatlam or Stainton in 1848

[MaryA]

I think her surname is Stork!  Sorry, just had to have that little laugh.

Perhaps you could back up a little, what census do you have her on and where, please give the references too, what children did she have and if you can pinpoint one of their births in the birth index you will be able to get the certificate which will tell you her maiden name, which is what I'm assuming you are wanting.

[grabee]

Hi Mary A
Mary Ellen was married to Edwin Mitchell Stirk (Stork) b 1846 in Holmfirth
and they had the following children:
          Sarah Ann  b 1869 Holmfirth
          Minerva      b 1871 Holmfirth
          Martin         b 1873 Lanchester
          Abraham     b 1876 Hunwick
And more.
I thank you for your advice on finding my gg grandmothers maiden name and will try to implement it.

[JenB]

http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/cgi/search.pl

Looks like Edwin M. Stirk married Mary E. Atkinson, 3rd quarter of 1866, Teesdale 10a, 285
(Streatlam and Stainton are in Teesdale Registration District)

This marriage confirmed by searching on the Durham Registrar's site http://nd.durham.gov.uk/gro/newgro.nsf/search?open&C0776195260426042009

[grabee]

Thanks for that information JenB

[MaryA]

Although the Durham Registrar's site is good for confirmation of the correct person (similar to the UKBMD sites), it is really a pain to search, if you forget to check the "marriage" and it defaults to baptisms, the back button resets the form.  Also I would suggest that if obtaining the marriage certificate you get it from www.gro.gov.uk - you can order online using the reference from the FreeBMD site that Jen gave above, it costs £9.25 rather than £10.

[mim]

Although the Durham Registrar's site is good for confirmation of the correct person (similar to the UKBMD sites), it is really a pain to search.

Afraid I can't agree with you on that point Mary A. I find it one of the easiest sites to search for Co Durham marriages.

mim

[MaryA]

Sorry, perhaps I should clarify.  I forgot to use the drop down year box, just inserted the exact year in the bottom as it appeared to suggest I could, but got an error.  Hit the back button - as instructed, and it reset the form, so all blanks. 

Entered the name again, this time with a year range and searched again, the name didn't appear - why? because it had reset my choice of marriage back to baptism.  Hit the back button again and of course all reset again.

Third time lucky.  The database itself is probably excellent but the manner of searching could be improved on I think, in comparison with other similar search sites.