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It is and never has been a requirement of law to give your fathers name and details when getting married. Most people do so voluntarily and of course some gave/give false details to avoid the stigma of illegitimacy. Perhaps Margaret had her reasons for not doing so.

It is looking increasingly unlikely that you are going to be able to positively identify her father.

With regard to A J Sullivan. Unless Margaret, specifically named him to your father (Which seems unlikely) she may have "Invented" her fathers death during WW1 to cover perhaps an unhappy part of her childhood/youth.

Have you looked into the background of the person named as her mother on the birth certificate that you now have? I took a quick look at the 1891 census and could not see an Eliza Boylett or Sullivan born in Strand, London c1874. Because the surnames both have Irish connoctations and the fact that Margaret spent time in a Catholic convent/school I wonder whether there is an Irish connection.

Yes, there is so much unknown or can't be ratified about Margaret's childhood and who her parents were. I'm sure I'll be able to find one link at sometime which will help confirm her past. I suppose one thing that has come about from visiting genes reunited is that no-one has said they believe A. J. Sulivan to be one of their family members, so perhaps I should continue to research him a bit further from his army record.....unless anyone out there knows that he never had a daughter called Margaret.

Steve

Who were the witnesses to the marriage? Any clues there?

Rose