Unfindable couple / Male was in Navy

[Neale1961]

Brad – some background information for you on Mary Elizabeth SAYLES

Mary Elizabeth SAYLES -  born 12 June 1877, baptised 29 June 1877 St John the Evangelist, Westminster
Father:- Edwin Thomas SAYLES a labourer   
Mother:- Maria, nee HEMMING
Edwin Thomas Sayles died in 1885, and his widow Maria seems to have partnered with a Mr. LeBeau


Mary Elizabeth SAYLES married 5 Nov 1899 Harlesden to Albert Alfred HARMER
4 children born: Edith May 1899, Julia Louie 1902, Alfred William 1905, James Carl 1906.
Her husband Albert Alfred Harmer died in 1907.

[sparrett]

For interest as we wait and hope regarding the GRO 

Here are two instances of the written name of woman SAYLES/HARMER/( and possibly AKA BROOKS.)

The top one from 1921 where it looks as if each resident has written their own name on the schedule

The bottom one from the marriage certificate of Mary Elizabeth SAYLES to DARMER

Particular attention to the name ELIZABETH .

Same hand? I think yes.
The inserting of the second name and perhaps also the scribble over in the first name were done by Mary Elizabeth to correct something she was not satisfied with after her original writing of her name on the page.

She herself carried out the alteration. IMO

Brad, I don’t have access to the 1921 census, but Sc00p says that it would appear that the name Mabel Harmer was written and then changed to Mary Elizabeth Harmer. Others may be able to comment on what they see.

[Neale1961]

Yes, I would agree, It does look as if she has first written Mabel, and then changed her mind to Mary and added Elizabeth.
The formation of letters in the writing of her name, is similar to her signature on the marriage certificate.

[Sc00p]

...It does look as if she has first written Mabel....

I don't agree that she completed the form. IMO Joseph completed it and she probably changed it later.

1911 snips where each completed their own forms as household head - Look at the H in Halliford.

[bradwaterss]

Hi guys, document has arrived

Cannot clearly upload a picture on here so created a Dropbox link for you all to see

https://shorturl.at/mYB1G

[mckha489]

How very fortunate Julia Louie Harmer also made the statutory declaration.

[bradwaterss]

Is anyone able to decipher/elaborate?

I don’t quite fully understand

Thanks

[mckha489]

Maybe something like this

The death was registered by Mary Elizabeth
The registrar probably assumed she was the widow, as would have been presenting in that guise, and filled in surname as Brooks.
The death certificate then arrived in the post and someone, maybe Julia?, said “but your name isn’t really Brooks “
So they had to go back to the registrar and swear an affidavit that M.E.Brooks on the certificate should read M.E. Harmer (as sworn by Mary Elizabeth Harmer & Julia Louie Harmer).

Julia Louie is Mary Elizabeth’s daughter by Mr Harmer (need to go back in the thread to find his name)
And confirms the connection (I.M.O). I think the underlining of the name on the cert would have happened at the time of the corrected entry note.

[sparrett]

It Says

In  column 7 for Brooks read Harmer and omit widow of deceased.
Corrected on 19th June 1922 by me (Name of registrar ) on production of 2 statutory declarations made by Mary Elizabeth Harmer and  Julia Louie Harmer.

Neale's theory is good. But it is also possible that Mary Elizabeth Harmer hoped to assert a position as the deceased widow, perhaps for financial reasons, but was confronted by the actual widow Martha Hall  and "persuaded" to be truthful.

Sue