Married or not?

[gnorman]

Hi guys, i'm just wondering if anyone can help with a lost marriage for my great grandparents.

My Great Granddad was Robert Jones born in Oldham in 1886. His bride to be was Emily Thomas, also born in Oldham in 1880 and recently widowed from her first huband, William Jones (no relation to Robert).

William died in France during April 1918 and Robert and Emily had there first child in 1919.

Ive not been able to locate a wedding certificate anywhere so cant say for certain if they did legally marry.

Can anyone help in my search please?

Luke

[andycand]

Hi

There is a possible marriage between a Robert Jones and Emily Jones Wrexham Reg District, Sept Qtr 1919 Vol 11b Page 616. Strictly speaking I would have thougt maiden name would be Thomas on GRO index. Do either of them have a connection to the Wrexham area?

Andy

[KGarrad]

Hi

There is a possible marriage between a Robert Jones and Emily Jones Wrexham Reg District, Sept Qtr 1919 Vol 11b Page 616. Strictly speaking I would have thougt maiden name would be Thomas on GRO index. Do either of them have a connection to the Wrexham area?

Andy

The GRO Marriage Index doesn't show maiden name of the bride!
A widowed woman can marry again under either her maiden name or (more usually) her married name.

What appears on the index is whatever name she told the registrar!

[karenbest500]

Hi Luke,

Is it possible they got married before William died?

There is a marriage between Emily Jones and Robert Jones Dec 1917 in Ashton (close to Oldham) 8d 877.

Regards

Karen

[heatherjulie]

hi

It looks like the one in Ashton could be correct

from www.cheshirebmd.org.uk

Robert Jones Emily Jones
Robert Jones Emily Thomas
RM/129/100
It was a Civil marriage so the only way to be certain is to buy the certificate

Heather

[gnorman]

This Ashton record def seems to fit the bill perfectly and would explain why I've never been able to find them before.

It seems strange that they married before William had been killed in action, he wasn't a prisoner of War so, as far as i know, he hadn't been missing presumed dead at all before his death.

Thank you all for this fantastic assistance, I'll order the certificate immediately

Luke 

[karenbest500]

Hi Luke

Perhaps Emily hadn't seen William for a long period of time and had given up on him, as they were married in 2nd Quarter of 1900 or perhaps they had not been together as a couple for many years and could not afford to divorce, as happened to many people in those days.

[avm228]

Or perhaps they were divorced? Do William's military or CWGC records disclose his marital status?

[gnorman]

It would seem, after some checking that the military records contain two dates for Williams death, both are the same aside from the year, on of which is April 1917 and the other April 1918 - I'm guessing its therefore just an administrative error. Had me puzzled for a while but without all of your help i may never have discovered this or found the marriage, thank you all x