RUTHERFORD/DOCHERTY marriage - Dunedin 1861

[Warmy]

Hi All,

I'm hoping somebody might be able to help me with some information concerning my G-G-Grandparents:

Richard Hopwood RUTHERFORD apparently married Mary DOCHERTY (poss. variant spellings) in Dunedin in 1861.
He was born in Herefordshire, England and was in his early 30's, a Law Clerk by profession. She was born in Paisley, Scotland, and was only about 18 at the time.

They moved to the Australian goldfields a year or two later.

Is anybody able to help me with a confirmation of the date, or any other information that may be of interest? I have only just begun my research of these two people and know very little about them as yet.

Any assistance will be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Warmy

[spades]

Hi Warmy,

I have searched from 1850 to 1880 looking for the marriage of these two, but I can't find any record, even with spelling varients.

Are you quite sure they married in NZ?

Sorry, riley

[Warmy]

Thanks for your reply Riley,

I have the birth registration entries for three of Richard and Mary's children (including my Great-Grandfather) who were born in the Victorian goldfields 1864 onwards.

On each of these the place of marriage is listed as Dunedin, New Zealand, and the year of marriage is shown as 1861.

I have confirmed Mary's baptism date as 20/11/1843, so she would obviously have been no older than 18 at the time of the marriage. Richard would have been about 33 or 34.

Since you have been unable to find a reference to their marriage, I am beginning to wonder if they were married at all - it would not be outrageous to assume that they 'eloped' to Australia and continued to live as man and wife.

Richard may well have been a bit of a sly old dog, as was (or so it seems) my Great-Grandfather. I'm pleased to say it's not a family trait I have inherited (happily married, children born on  the right side of the blanket).

Thanks for your help, I'll keep searching

Regards,

Warmy

[DotBrennan]

In the interests of good housekeeping, I’ve moved this post to completed.

Assistance has been provided …….