Was Thomas Allen Ruisay Made Up?

[JackB015725]

Hi,

Mary Blenkinsopp was baptised on the 7th November 1824, in Ebchester, Durham, England at Blackhall Mill (sometimes spelled Blacker.) She was the daughter of Thomas Blenkinsopp (1797-1840), papermaker, and Isabella Scott.

Her sister Jane was born on the 15th January 1830, in Gateshead, Durham, England, and baptised on the 5th February 1830 in Gateshead.

Jane married Bernard Logan (1831-1904) on the 16th November 1851, in St Michael Bishopwearmouth.

Around the same time (I do not have a date), her sister Mary, married Micah Rowlands (1825-1873--died at sea) in Sunderland.

In 1864, Jane Logan died, and on the 1871 census (Bernard listed as "widower") he is living with his sister in law, Mary Rowlands (formerly Blenkinsopp).

2 years later Micah died on the 8th July 1873 on the Rosemont Ship.

One year later, on the 20th December 1874, Bernard married his sister in law, Mary Rowlands, in Bishopwearmouth, Durham. But here is the weird thing; instead of listing Mary's father as "Thomas Blenkinsopp", he is instead listed as "Thomas Allen Ruisay."

Mary Rowland's father was most definitely Thomas Blenkinsopp, as we know from her previous marriage records and the 1871 census. So, why has Mary listed this Thomas Allen Ruisay fellow as her father? And who was he as well? Why would Mary put somebody else down as her father?

I appreciate all help given to me with this topic.

Thank you,

JackB

[ShaunJ]

My guess would be that "Allen Ruisay" is a badly transcribed Blenkinsopp.

Do you have an image of the marriage register page?

[JackB015725]

Hi,

I do not have an image of the original parish register, but an image of the Civil Marriage Register can be found here:- https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=BMD%2FM%2F1874%2F4%2FAZ%2F000202&parentid=BMD%2FM%2F1874%2F4%2FAZ%2F000202%2F356

The parish registers:--

--Family Search:- https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NXGY-3FJ?lang=en

Ancestry:- https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/9852/records/25845130

Thank you,

JackB

[ShaunJ]

Never trust a transcription.

[ShaunJ]

Another possibility is that Mary lied about her father's name; it being unlawful at that time for a man to marry his deceased wife's sister.

[JackB015725]

Hi Shaun,

I see. This is not the first time somebody has married their deceased wife's sister in my family tree either. I'll try and track down their marriage certificate and see what it says.

Thank you,

JackB