Help with Latin? word from 1711 marriage allegation COMPLETED, WITH THANKS

[oldtimer]

Hi friends,

This is an excerpt from the 1711 marriage allegation of Francis Power of Atherstone and Sarah Whateley of Stockingford.  They were later married in Lichfield Cathedral.

Can you help me with the first word on the last row please?  I am presuming it is a Latinized Christian name, but I could be wrong. 

I read it as  - ? Power White Smith.

Thanks for looking,

Judy 

[horselydown86]

Does Ob deus mean something?  The first word will be contracted.

[oldtimer]

Oh, I can see that! I think Deus means God.  No idea what it means though!  Thanks for your suggestion.

[horselydown86]

I think Deus means God.

Yes, probably in the nominative case (alternatively, it could be the vocative case).  We need to know more about the first word.

[oldtimer]

A quick look on Google says that "ob" can mean "before", so I'm thinking it means "before God" .

That would sort of make sense.  Thank you for putting me on the right track.

[MollyC]

You just beat me to it...
"Ob" can be a preposition: in front of, on account of, for the sake of...

Added: not "before" in the sense of time, that would be "ante"

(A whitesmith is a tinsmith)

[oldtimer]

Thank you too, MollyC! Mystery solved! 

[horselydown86]

Mystery solved! 

Not so fast.

It's possible but grammatically it should be:  Ob deum

Furthermore, there's a clear indication of contraction in the horizontal line above the end of Ob.

[oldtimer]

Oh, okay!  I'm open to any other suggestions, thanks!