Genealogy Chat

I have been unable to find the marriage record for my great uncle James Craig b.1873 d.1940 in Sunderland. His wife's name was Annie but I don't know her maiden name. She died around 1967 in her eighties. James was a Chief Engineer in the Merchant Navy and according to family chat "he married late in life". There were no children. His father was John James Craig and his mother Margaret Faulkner White. I visited the NDFHS and have looked at the marriage records on several Genealogy sites without success. Anyone have any ideas? Bev.:-)

Welcome to the boards, Beverley.

Did Annie also die in Sunderland, and have you looked for deaths for her?

Thank-you

Added:
This one looks to be the wrong age:
Annie C Craig
Birth Date: abt 1891
Date of Registration: Sep 1966
Age at Death: 75
Registration district: Sunderland
Inferred County: Northumberland
Volume: 1a
Page: 869

James is in a few trees on here - have you contacted the tree holders?

Well here are the parents for a start:

Name: Margaret Falkner White
Event Type: Marriage
Registration Quarter: Oct-Nov-Dec
Registration Year: 1872
Registration District: Sunderland
County: Durham
Event Place: Sunderland, Durham, England
Volume: 10A
Page: 881
Line Number: 172
Margaret Falkner White probably married one of the following people
Name: John James Craig
Name: Ann Cameron Gray
Name: John Sawyers

???? but not Annie

Name: Isabella Hewitt Sanderson
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1898
Registration district: Sunderland
Inferred County: Durham
Volume Number: 10a
Page Number: 1010
Records on Page:
Name
James Best
James Craig <<<<<
Elizabeth Gertrude Laverick
Isabella Hewitt Sanderson <<<<<



EDIT Probably not, there is another James Craig around Sunderland at the same time, this one born in Scotland.

Who registered the man's death?

What was his last address?

Have you checked ER's for 1937/8 for that address?

As he was a merchant seaman, he could have married anywhere in the world

I think Bev may already have this (if not, I can send the image by pm as it has his photo):

Merchant Seamen Transcription

First Name JAMES
Last Name Craig
Year Of Birth 1873
Birth Month April
Birth Day 17
Birth Place Sunderland
Birth County Durham

Age -
Place SUNDERLAND
Date Range 1918-1921
Discharge Number -
Identity Certificate Number 114687

Piece Number -
Card Type CR10
Series BT350
Category Education & work
Record collection Merchant navy & maritime
Collections from Great Britain

Rating = Chief Engineer

Thanks everyone. I have lots of information about great uncle Jim including family photos and the official registration photo from the Merchant Navy Museum. He died in Sunderland in a sanitarium of TB in 1940 and his widow Annie is mentioned on the death certificate. He left his property to his younger brother, George, my grandfather, entailed to my father but with the proviso that Annie should live in the house until her death and have the income from investments. I remember that my father had to go to Sunderland to sort everything out after Annie's death around 1967 when she was in her 80's. There seems to be no mention of her surname in any of the family papers. If anyone is interested I have all the Craig history back to Roxburgh and the Faulkner info as well. I think Annie died at Gateshead.

What is the exact wording concerning Annie on the death cert?

And isn't there an address?

Maybe they never actually married but she took his name? It seems strange that he would leave his property to a brother if he had a wife

I notice she is not mentioned on the probate

Hi Reggie! On the death certificate it says 'Wife Annie present'. He died in the Sunderland Hospital for Infectious Diseases. Their home address was 73 Cleveland St, Sunderland. Bev.

Hi Jax! I think the concern was that since they had no children he wanted to ensure the property ended up going to his family after her death not to her family.

Very true

But it still doesn't mean they ever married just because she said she was his wife

Try the ER for that address in the years immediately before the War.

The records will be in the main public library in Sunderland

Hi Jax! How true! The great god respectability hid so much - I was amused by the number of illegitimate births and bigamous marriages that emerged during my research!

Hi Reggie! Thanks for the suggestion. Is that info online? I actually live in Australia and am currently in China until mid July so any onsite research will have to wait until I next make it to the UK.

You could contact the library and explain the 'distance' problem

They may be willing to do a search on your behalf

City Library and Arts Centre
Fawcett Street, Sunderland, SR1 1RE
Telephone: 0191 561 1235
Email: [email protected]