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Hello everyone, I do hope someone can advise me.

I received today a copy of a marriage certificate from the GRO in Southport, my problem is that I can't make out the groom's age. It's not a 'bad copy', merely me being unable to make out whether the registrar has written the groom's age as 40 or 48 (he does his 8's weird).

The marriage took place at the Registry Office in Derby in 1856. I've phoned the Records Office in Derby and they said they didn't have the records of registry office marriages there and to phone Derby Registry Office, fair enough...the lady there said she couldn't help me and I should phone the GRO and they would send me another copy, BUT, I said, the copy is fine, I just can't make out the groom's age! So here I am going round in circles. I have tried phoning the GRO but it is like getting through to speak to the Queen! OK, I exaggerated a bit.

Does anyone out there have any advice, I feel like tearing my hair out!

Sorry for the rant,

Jubal.

PS I have been chasing this family down for about a year, which is probably why I am a bit tetchy...grrr..

Have you found the groom using 1851 and 1861 (married) information to find his age ?

Gwyn

Hi Gwyn,

On the 1861 (which is the only census I can find him on), he gives his age as 40.

Jubal.

You could check his age against what he put in the census..or...send for his birth cert...

don't pull your hair out :-(

Georgie

Hi Potty,

No, it was at the Register Office.

Jubal.

Realised that, Jubal, that's why I have deleted my post! Really must start reading things properly!

Are you sure that on the 1861 the 40 couldn't be 46 mistranscribed. That would fit better with 40 in 1856.

No just realised you can't send for his birth cert...born before 1837... dah....

Hey Georgie,

His birth whether he was 40 or 48 would unfortunately have been before 1837 so no chance of a birth certifcate.

I know I've got the right marriage certificate because his job on it and his children's birth certificate's is 'labourer at colour works'.

Jubal.

Hi Potty,

No I reckon it's definitely 40. The reference is;-

1861 Census:-
William Colledge, RG9 2498 folio 103. 67 Nuns Street, All Saints.

If anyone wants to double check me that would be great.

Jubal.

When did he die?

I've possibly now found him (going by him being 48 and therefore born c1808) on the 1871 and 1881 censuses.

1871 Census:- RG10 3572 folio 17. 22 Markeaton Street?, St. Werburgh, Derby. Labourer at Colour Works. Age 64. Married but without his family?.

1881 Census:- RG11 3409 folio 92. Derby Union Workhouse. Labourer in Colour Works. Age 76.

But on both occasions there is no family with him, and I can't find them until 1891 when he is deceased.

J.

Hi Ericthered,

He died between 1887 (when he was on his daughter's marriage cerificate) and 1891, because his wife is down as widow on the 1891.

But another thing his wife and two children are (in 1891) in Yorkshire, and he on the '71 and '81 Derbyshire.

J.

Sorry, have got to go and get my daughter from school bus. Will be back after 4pm.

Thanks for all your help so far!

Jubal.

Did he sign as witness when his daughter married?

Remember that in the past a lot of people didn't know their ages, and so approximated, and sometimes people lied about their ages if there was a large between their partners. Sometimes, if men where younger than women they added a few years so that the groom appeared to be older - obviously everyone didn't, but this boiled down to individual choices, and probably the predjudices of the priest or vicar in question ... Hope this may help

also a lot of census info can be dodgy as people were very suspect why the goverment / ruling classes wanted this info often were were you born was answered with "here" and other such vague answers also ages went up and down over the years as lots were inumerate

Hi Ericthered,

A 'William Colledge' did sign the register, but his son Samuel William also went by the name 'William', the other witness to his daughter's marriage was a Clara Bridges who later became Samuel William's wife (but not until 12 years later!).

J.

Thanks Peter and Carole-Anne,

Yes I agree with both of you, I don't think I'm ever going to solve this one 100%, but I do appreciate your input.

Jubal.

Jubal

What was his father's name on the marriage cert?

There is this birth and baptism on the IGI:

WILLIAM COLLEGE Pedigree
Male


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Event(s):
Birth: 09 SEP 1804

Christening: 12 SEP 1804 Wirksworth, Derby, England

Death:
Burial:


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Parents:
Father: WILLIAM COLLEGE Family
Mother: RACHEL