John William Moor married to Isabella Sturrock

[Andyw65]

I have hit a bit of a brick wall and wonder if anybody can help me please.

From census returns, birth certificates and family legend I know that John William Moor married Isabella Sturrock who went on to have 7 children the first of which was my grandmother. 

On John William's birth certificate (DOB 11/09/1866) his father is quoted as John Moor, merchant seaman and on the 1871 census his mother is shown as a widow living with John and his sister at 3 South Street, North Shields.  Question 1 - was 3 South Street a boarding house as there a lot of families living at the same address?

However, I digress.  from census returns, Isabella Sturrock's father is George Sturrock who is a shoemaker.  Now comes the mystery - John and Isabella's marriage certificate shows John's father as George (not John) Moor and is a cartman. John is also shown as being a labourer, but he like his father was a merchant seaman.  Likewise, Isabella's father is shown as George Sturrock (true) also a cartman.  On the different census returns George Sturrock is shown as shoemaker then Poultry and fish dealer and finally fish dealer.  Isabella is also noted in subsequent census returns as a fish dealer.  One of the witnesses is Ellen Sturrock who was Isabella's sister.  Isabella's birth certificate also states that her father George was a shoemaker at the time of her birth.

Is it beyond the realms of possibility that there were two weddings involving John William Moor marrying Isabella Sturrock, who were both the same age?  I have searched and searched within a 6 year time frame for other john moors and other Isabella Sturrocks, but to no avail.  Do I have the right marriage certificate with the wrong details or the wrong marriage certificate with the right details?

Everything points to this being the wrong marriage certificate and I know that Ancestry is littered with Sturrocks, but I just can't find another wedding that fits.

Could someone come up with any suggestions please?  I'd be most grateful.

PS  our family history group is compiling a book of stories about our grandparents and this is the missing link in my Grandma's story.

Many thanks

[Andyw65]

Ooops I forgot to say that they got married in 1887 and my Grandma was born in 1890

[Milliepede]

On John William's birth certificate (DOB 11/09/1866) his father is quoted as John Moor, merchant seaman and on the 1871 census his mother is shown as a widow living with John and his sister at 3 South Street, North Shields. 

So his real father died when he was very young - did his mother remarry a George by chance so he put him as his father?

If both fathers were put down as George and cartmen I suppose it's possible a mistake was made on the certificate but 

[Andyw65]

Excellent idea - that is one line of further research that hadn't occurred to me    I'll see what I can find. 

Thank you

[Trini]

Hi,
It is quite possible that there has been a mistake made on the marriage certificate if it was transcribed at the local register office (happened to me a couple of times).  Have you seen the Parish Record entry?

They appear to have been married at Holy Saviour's Church in Tynemouth.  I'm not sure what records are held at North Shields Library (and the website is down this evening) but you could email them : Discover@Northtyneside.gov.uk

Regards,
Trini

[c-side]

Alternatively I could look at the church record next time I'm at Northumberland archives - probably this coming week.  Just let me know the date and confirm, if possible, that it was at Holy Saviours

Christine

[Andyw65]

Hi,
It is quite possible that there has been a mistake made on the marriage certificate if it was transcribed at the local register office (happened to me a couple of times).  Have you seen the Parish Record entry?

They appear to have been married at Holy Saviour's Church in Tynemouth.  I'm not sure what records are held at North Shields Library (and the website is down this evening) but you could email them : Discover@Northtyneside.gov.uk

Regards,
Trini

Hi Trini

Many thanks for your suggestion - I'll certainly try their website and email them as well.

The plot is actually thickening.  As per a previous post I tried to discover whether John William's mother remarried, which would explain (maybe) John's father being entered as George.  So I started searching for John's mother and now it looks like she died when John was 8 and his sister 12.  What would have happened to them then?  However, I've sent for her death certificate to see if that can shed any more light on things, but now think I have to widen my search even more to include John's aunts and uncles.  It's only the 2 March and I've already used up my 'certificate allowance'!

As ever, I really appreciate everyone's help and suggestions.

Andy

[Andyw65]

Alternatively I could look at the church record next time I'm at Northumberland archives - probably this coming week.  Just let me know the date and confirm, if possible, that it was at Holy Saviours

Christine

Hi Christine

Thank you so much for your offer to look at the church record - I really appreciate it.  I've attached a copy of the marriage certificate so hope that helps.

It is such a mystery - right names, right ages, right father of the bride but with the wrong profession, witness is a sister of the bride, but wrong father of the groom (but this may now have been an uncle with both John William's mother and father deceased) and wrong occupations for bride and groom and their fathers.

Thanks once again for everyone's contributions.

Andy

PS I tried to attach ta copy of the marriage certificate but the file is too large.  I'll try and figure out how to reduce its size and post later.  On the marriage certificate it says the Parish Church in the Parish of Tynemouth Priory.

[c-side]

Hi Andy

Don't worry about attaching a copy of the cert.  I suspect you might breach some copyright rule if you did!  If you could just give me the date of the marriage I will take it from there.

The parish church of Tynemouth Priory is Holy Saviour's, as Trini says so we are on track with that.

Christine