Thomas Henry Dranfield, Rebecca Rhodes and Ann Powell

[Bilham]

Hi Mabel
A brilliant deduction. I say the "PB" on the side but had no idea what it meant.
Bilham

[willsy]

Announcement in the newspaper for the marriage 1874

[Bilham]

Thanks Willsy
Added to my tree as further evidence.
Now if I could just track down the death of Rebecca Dransfield! It has to occur somewhere between about June 1869 and October 1874!

[Bilham]

Hi Mabel
I have just seen that the formal reporting of the death was undertaken by Joseph Dransfield (Thomas's brother and Emma/Mary Ann's uncle.
I now need to decide what name to use on my ancestry record. The baptised name or the legal/civil name?

[Neale1961]

The baptism was the day after the birth, and is marked as a private baptism, often carried out in a hurry at home when the child might not live. Given there's a baptism but not birth or death reg of Mary Ann, and a birth and death reg for Emma, but no baptism that I can see, I wonder if it's the same child who was baptised quickly with one name, but another name was used for the official docs later on

That was also my thinking and why I suggested it in reply #3. 

[Neale1961]

Now if I could just track down the death of Rebecca Dransfield! It has to occur somewhere between about June 1869 and October 1874!

Well she was alive in the 1871 census.
As I previously advised, don't assume she died before Thomas married in 1874.
It's possible the marriage to Rebecca was not consummated, and they both agreed to move on. Rebecca may have married again too.
Looking at the 1874 marriage certificate, does Thomas call himself a widower?

[willsy]

I've found Ann's burial, image is the cemetery record; wife of Thomas

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01u2x/

Cemetery records are listed here

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01u2y/

[Bilham]

Thanks Neale 1961. I'd known it and then forgotten the 1871 census.
I've just looked at the law as it was then (MAtrimonial Causes ACt 1857. Even if the marriage wasn't consumated they would have had to petition the court to grant a decree of nullity. I'm still stuck with the fear that Thomas could be a bygamist if I can't find a death (or anullment). I may have to do a cemetry registers search (somehow)!
Bilham

[willsy]

Have found the burial of Rebecca in 1878 Ashton-under-Lyne

Transcribed and looks like Dronsfield

The address is 22 Hill Street West

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01u2z/