John James McIver b.1913

[River Tyne Lass]

https://my.northtyneside.gov.uk/category/1017/local-studies-and-information

I see the North Shields library have some records for St Luke.  I could check at some point in the next few weeks to see if they did marry there.

That marriage locator website is a great resource to find some marriages I learned about this on RootsChat.

Are these your ancestors purplefrankie?  Or are you helping someone else out?

[purplefrankie]

Thanks for your offer to look for the marriage, it's very helpful and kind of you.  These people are actually ancestors of my daughter in law.  We are trying to do a comprehensive family tree and I am helping her where I can.  She has, however, just reminded me that there was a marriage between a William McIver and Catherine McCudden at Newcastle in February 1850 at a Catholic Church (the name of which I can't remember at the moment, although she does have the certificate)
Thanks once again for your help

[River Tyne Lass]

Hi purplefrankie,

I popped in to the North Shields library yesterday and looked at the St Luke's records and John and Barbara did not marry at this Church.

I also went to St Peter's Church yesterday as this was open for the Heritage Open Days and the original registers were available to look at. By the way the originals are much clearer than can be seen on microfilm.  As well as looking for my own ancestors' original records I also looked for John and Barbara.  However, they did not marry there either.

As Marriage Locator suggests that the marriage was between the records for two Wallsend Churches, I think it is looking likely now that this took place at the St Columba RC  Church.  I can check this for you at the archives at some point in the next several weeks fitting in with work and family commitments.

[purplefrankie]

Hi River Tyne Lass,

Thanks for looking for me, I really do appreciate it.  Like you, I try to help others if I possibly can.

[River Tyne Lass]

Hi purplefrankie,

I have managed finally to get a little time at the archives this morning to look for that marriage as I said I would.  Unfortunately, I not find this at the St Columba Church either.  I also tried two of the Willington (RC & Anglican) Churches and not there.

This is very puzzling.  Perhaps you could try emailing the registrars office and ask them for the Church code.  The code (at least if they married at an Anglican Church) will identify the Church.

The registrars used to have a great marriage index website where people could search for the codes themselves but they have since taken this down.  The official line is that they will still supply the codes to people who enquire.  Mind, I think the last time I emailed asking for a marriage code must have been at least 2-3 months ago or more and I am still waiting for a reply.  However, this is not to say you might be luckier than me with this.

https://my.northtyneside.gov.uk/category/533/contact-registrars-office

[purplefrankie]

Hi River Tyne Lass,
Thank you so much for trying for me.  It's so very kind of you.  I'll have to try what you suggest and keep my fingers crossed.

Thanks again.

[River Tyne Lass]

Hang fire with the email, if it is not too late.  I called in at the Registrar's this morning and the staff were very helpful.  Unfortunately, a check revealed that the marriage took place at 'W'.  The staff member then got out the actual register (although, of course I was not allowed to look at this); they then found that the marriage was actually at the register office.

Oh well, it was worth a try.

[purplefrankie]

Thank you again for going to all this trouble for me.  It certainly explains why you couldn't find it in the registers.

Your help has been much appreciated.

[River Tyne Lass]

You are welcome.  In a way, I am relieved that it was not just that I was missing an entry.

I have now added a brief note that this was a register office marriage as a 'postem' against their entries on Freebmd - this should be visable at some point in next 24 hours.  I don't know if you are familiar with postems.  I only learned about this on RootsChat.  These are a great way to help others with bmd information that you have.