Genealogy Chat

I'm hoping someone can help with this please See below in a mo

Ok, here’s the scenario. My Great Uncle came back from South Africa to fight in WW1 He is listed on his army papers in 1916 as a widower, presumably married and widowed in SA.He also left a will naming his sisters as beneficiaries and gave their address as his residence. His 1919 record still gives him as widower From Mar 1920 various army medical and repatriation papers give him at addresses in Rhyl, North Wales and Prestatyn, North Wales….and married! He returned to South Africa towards the end of 1920 and I have a marriage cert for him there dated 1924. He divorced this lady in 1951. So what has he been up to? Married 3 times? And how do I find a possible marriage for him in 1919-1920 North Wales? Any ideas please? Sylvia

Quickest way would be to do a search on Family Relatives. You have to pay to subscribe (min £6). Their fully transcribed records go up to the end of 1920. Only problem is that you can only search surname and first forename, so if he's John Smith, there would be a lot of marriages to think about!! Every 20 results costs 2 units (20p) to view, so if his name is not too common you might be lucky and find it for 20p!! I suppose I could look for you if you don't want to sunbcribe?? (Just this once lol) Merry

Thank you Merry Would you mind? His name isn't too common especially for Wales...Francis Townsend. He was born in Scotland 1890 if that helps. Sylvia

I went to do it, but Family Relatives has decided to close down for the moment!! (I did a search about 5 mins ago too Gggrrr.... Only problem would be if he didn't marry in Wales, but we can worry about that later!! Can you give me the exact time span? Do you just want 1919 and 1920 checked?? I may not reappear until this evening..... Merry

Thanks Merry, when you have time .. and Family relatives is back :-) I would think it was between the 1919-1920 period, although it is very odd that he remarried in 1924 in South Africa. She must have died, weren't married very long, were they!! He didn't seem to have much luck with his marriages did he? I'm in New Zealand and it's late evening here, so don't worry if I don't reply quickly Thanks again, Sylvia

It's back on! 1919 and 1920, no marriages for a Francis Townsend in any part of Wales. As that didn't cost me anything (lol) I searched for anywhere in Eng/Wales instead. Here are all the results. (Notice they all have middle names.....) No Surname Forename1 Forename2 Forename3 Spouse District Page No Event Quarter Year View Image 1 Townsend Francis H Marlow Andover.2c 742 Marriage 3 1920 2 Townsend Francis J Asher Aston.6d 1411 Marriage 3 1919 3 Townsend Francis L Robinson Aysgarth.9d 1699 Marriage 3 1919 4 Townsend Francis N Baggs Bath.5c 1421 Marriage 3 1920 5 Townsend Francis J Mundy Elham.2a 3450 Marriage 3 1919 6 Townsend Francis E King Kingston.2a 1208 Marriage 3 1920 7 Townsend Francis P Curtis Wantage.2c 921 Marriage 4 1919 I do wonder if there was just a mistake somewhere along the line?? Do you know if the lady he later married and divorced came from the UK ie, could they have been living together before they married (shock, horror!!), or perhaps he was living with someone else and they were acting as if married?? Merry

Thank you so much Merry I'm not sure about any of those. He was baptised just as Francis Townsend, but seemed to acquire Melville as a middle name while in SA before WW1. (I did wonder if that was his 1st wife's maiden name) I'll give them some t hought anyway and keep them on file, just in case I come up with any brainwaves. thanks again that was very kind, Sylvia