Genealogy Chat

Phoned GRO Southport for a Marriage Certificate, for what I was hoping was my ggrans second marriage. I gave them Vol Number, Page Number, stated that she would be widowed or divorced and what her maiden name was. They wrote to tell me it wasn't my ancestor, as her Fathers name on cert was not the name I said. The thing is that her Father would have been deceased for about sixteen years at the time of this marriage. If her Mother was also deceased, which I would think she would be, whos name would go in the Father bit on certificate. (my ggran would have been 43) Sorry this is so long. Hope its not to much of a muddle. Ann. With a bad head.

Well, it should still be her father!! Did she ever have a step-father?? ....... Did you just specify the surname for the father (ie her maiden surname) or did you ask for a match on his name in full?? Maybe she got his first name wrong?? Merry

Do you want to give the details so others can look for any other potential certs?? Merry

Hi Merry, I gave them her Fathers full name, taken off her marriage certificate to my ggrandad. I doubt if anybody else would have anything for her, but these are the details. Susannah Fitzsimon nee Bryan. year of birth 1869. The one I found on 1837 married a Donnelly 1912 in Prescot, Liverpool. Hope someone can help. Ann

Could it be that it has the wrong father's name on it, though? We have one marriage certificate for one of my partner's ancestors where we are convinced her father's name is wrong. So if all the other details fit, and you can't find anybody with the same name and with the father's name on the cert, you might be justified in thinking the same. But of course you would have to know what it says on the cert to check! Kate.

Oh, just read your message properly. The thing that really needs checking is whether it says she was previously a Bryan, isn't it? If it doesn't say that, then it won't be her. If her father's name is given as 'some wrong first name' Bryan, I would say it's her, but if some other surname altogether, not her. Kate.

I don't really like this ''Checking Points'' system....all well and good if it proves you on the right track, but does leave you wondering if they say, ''sorry the info you gave doesn't match''.....a lot depends on the person who happens to do the look up for you. I take it you knew for definite that she married for a second time? The only think making me think this marriage is NOT yours is that in 1913 there was a birth registered for a baby surname Donnelly with mother's maiden name Fitzsimon (which would fit if the marriage cert you asked about was for a spinster). There are no other marriages for a Susanna(h) Fitzsimon up to 1920. Trouble is, her name might be easily mis-spelled :O(( Merry

Toall you kind helpers. I am in more of a muddle now. I did tell them it would say either Divorced or Widow. She was definately down as Fitzsimon. They just said the Fathers name was not James Bryan. MERRY, Thanks for looking for me, it does sound as though its not mine. No i dont know if she did remarry just grasping straws. It is only because of it being the same name. Ann

Well, in that case I expect this is the bride from the marriage cert you asked about. 1901 census Susan Fitzsimon (single) abt 1876 Widnes, Lancashire, England Daughter Ditton Lancashire In 1912 she was nearly on the shelf, being about 37 years of age (poor old thing, LOL!!), which would explain why there was only one child born after her marriage to Mr Donnelly. Maybe you just saved your self a few pounds! Merry

Merry, Its back to the drawing board then. No she is definately not mine. In 1901 she was still married to my ggrandad. Ann

Just had an e-mail from Brenda. She has very kindly looked on Ancestry for me. She found the marriage to my ggrandad, but there isnt any other information about her after that. Ann

if she has been found , where did she, in 1901, say she was born Your two threads on two boards are overlapping now