Marriage of John Hopkins & Margaret Davis - 31st Aug 1871, Great Comberton Worcs

[david1701]

Hello,

I wonder if someone with access to The Hive would be able to check this marriage for me please, the next time they visit. I'm particularly interested in what Margaret gives as her father's name and profession.

I know the marriage was registered in September 1871 at Pershore, Vol 6c Page 511 - but it doesn't look as though a pdf is available from the GRO and I'd rather not pay full price for a certificate unless absolutely necessary as Margaret herself is only of peripheral interest. I can give further details of this aspect of my research if necessary.

Thanks in anticipation.
David

[rosie99]

Marriages are not available for any year as a PDF.

The newspaper announcement only names Johns father and then only as H Hopkins.  The couple were both of Comberton


ADDED Date of marriage 31 Aug 1871 at Great Comberton
(I see that is mentioned in your heading but not in the query  . )

[david1701]

Many thanks rosie99

On this occasion I didn't think to look for a newspaper announcement. Thanks for prompting me 

I've now located it on FindMyPast - and whilst the absence of a mention of a father for Margaret isn't conclusive, it tends to confirm my thoughts.

Thanks again,

David

[CaroleW]

John is on the 1861 census with parents Henry & Sarah

1881 shows Margaret as a “former school mistress” b 1845 Pershore

1871 she is with Davis grandparents aged 17 shown as a “national school mistress”

1851 & 1861 also with Davis grandparents plus a Herbert Davis - same age

GRO online shows 2 illegitimate  Davis births - both in 1843 Pershore.  Margaret September qtr & Herbert Dec qtr

The grandparents have 3 daughters - all old enough to be their mothers!!

For £3 each it may be worthwhile downloading both 1843 birth certs - ?? possible twins registered separately

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2NWL-WFF

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2NWT-SPT

[david1701]

Hi CaroleW,

Many thanks for your interest - it's much appreciated. I agree with what you say, and in a sense I'm already a step ahead of you - working in the opposite direction as it were  .

I have already purchased the 2 birth certificates from the GRO. They show - not twins - but that sisters Mary and Ann both gave birth to illegitimate children within a few weeks of one another!

Margaret was born to Mary Davis on the 16th August 1843, with her sister Ann giving birth to Herbert on the 28th September 1843.

This is all part of a rather convoluted investigation I'm carrying out. This Davis family has proved to be difficult to trace through the various censuses, as family members change their ages willy-nilly, and professions also change. I've wondered many times whether I've got 2 or more separate families that I'm confusing - but always come back to the conclusion that no matter how strange it all sounds, my findings are actually correct.

Without going into too much detail here, I'm actually hoping to establish that the James Davis who is my 2x Gt Grandfather (and who married Sarah Ann Andrews at Claines, Worcs on 29th March 1840), was a brother to the aforementioned Mary and Ann - and also to further siblings Eliza (bap 7 Jan 1813), Samuel (bap 28 Jan 1821) and Elizabeth (bap 21 Feb 1830 - but born 1 May 1823). These children all have parents William & Sarah - with William being mostly a Bricklayer (with one baptism entry - Mary - putting him as a Mason).

James states on the Marriage Register that his father was William Davis - a Bricklayer. That's why I think he was part of this family - although I can't find his baptism. His death certificate says he was 65 yrs old when he died at Evesham on 4th March 1882 - so born around 1817. I'm working on the assumption that this family were a bit lax with their baptisms - note Elizabeth above - baptised when she was 6 or 7 years old - and Ann and Elizabeth were both baptised on 7th Jan 1813 - although I think they were also different ages.

Although I clearly can't be certain, what I've unearthed so far makes me think it is a strong possibility that James was born into this family around 1817 - but for whatever reason, was never baptised.

I originally thought that the James Davis baptised at Ombersley on 2nd Dec 1819 to William & Sarah was the person I wanted - but that William was a Labourer - and this couple had many more children at Ombersley.

Finding various grandchildren and children living with other members of this wider family over the various censuses have made me think I'm correct about James.

My next task is to try to establish the parents of the Sarah Ann Andrews who married James Davis in 1840. Helpfully, on the Marriage Register, she simply said her father was "Dead"    .

I'm hoping that the fact that other family members can be traced living with Andrews families on various censuses will assist in this task.

Many thanks for those who have so far commented on this post - and I'm always open to further thoughts and suggestions.

David

PS - just to say this is an investigation I began way back, but never resolved at the time. After a long lay-off I'm having another go at it. A previous thread was posted here https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=851715.0