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Author Topic: Caroline/Mary Swift, Stourbridge  (Read 1397 times)

Offline Anny

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Caroline/Mary Swift, Stourbridge
« on: Sunday 02 February 14 03:56 GMT (UK) »
Can anyone help please.
I have Caroline Swift born 1853 in Kingswinford (have birth cert and baptism) and in she's still named Caroline in 1861 (per census) but by 1871 census she's shown as Mary Swift with the same family details and from then is only referred to as Mary in all further documents.  Mary Swift is married in 1871 to James Masters in St Julians, Wellow. I thought that maybe she had changed churches and been baptised again just prior to her marriage but have been unable to verify this, I can only use the internet to search as i'm based in Australia and had no luck so far and can't think of any other reasons for the Christian name change. Any help or guidance would be much appreciated.

Online KGarrad

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Re: Caroline/Mary Swift, Stourbridge
« Reply #1 on: Sunday 02 February 14 07:34 GMT (UK) »
Quote from: Anny on Sunday 02 February 14 03:56 GMT (UK)
Can anyone help please.

I thought that maybe she had changed churches and been baptised again just prior to her marriage but have been unable to verify this,

Why would you think this? ???

The family seem to have a habit of using second names?!
Thomas (born 1860) on the 1871 census appears to be named Edwin on the 1861?! ::)
Garrad (Suffolk, Essex, Somerset), Crocker (Somerset), Vanstone (Devon, Jersey), Sims (Wiltshire), Bridger (Kent)

Offline Anny

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Re: Caroline/Mary Swift, Stourbridge
« Reply #2 on: Monday 03 February 14 04:32 GMT (UK) »
Thanks for your reply, I hadn't noticed other members of the family changing names. Will look into that aspect in future.

Online KGarrad

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Re: Caroline/Mary Swift, Stourbridge
« Reply #3 on: Monday 03 February 14 07:40 GMT (UK) »
Under the laws of England & Wales, anybody can use any name they like - just as long as there is no intention to deceive or defraud!

If Mary wanted to call herself Caroline - then that was OK.
Maybe she was baptised or registered as Mary Caroline?
Garrad (Suffolk, Essex, Somerset), Crocker (Somerset), Vanstone (Devon, Jersey), Sims (Wiltshire), Bridger (Kent)

Offline Anny

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Re: Caroline/Mary Swift, Stourbridge
« Reply #4 on: Tuesday 04 February 14 02:13 GMT (UK) »
I have both baptism and birth cert and both just show Caroline.  Maybe she just preferred being called Mary when she got older.  Thank you for your help.
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