Genealogy Chat

marriage 1828 , SMITH GEO , METSON SOPHIA, BELCHAMP OTTON, ESSEX

I asked for an 1841 census look up and someone not only kindly did it, but found an entry on Boyd's marriage index for me as well. What a bonus! The entry was as shown above. Now I have received what I was hoping to be a birth certificate of one of their children. The place is correct, the child's name is correct, the father's name and occupation are correct (although I admit 'labourer' isn't very distinctive!) and the mother's Christian name are correct. BUT her maiden name definitely isn't Metson. In fact I can't read it what it does say, but I'm pretty sure it's not Metson. It starts with an 'M' but has a letter that loops below the line; maybe a 'P'? So my question is, do you think I have found the correct certificate? Since Boyd's marriage index is a secondary source, and then I presume it has been transcribed again for a CD-ROM or something, could I be right in just thinking it could have an error in it? Thanks, Sharon

Any transcription could have errors in it.

Would imagine as the other info matches that it is just the hand writing, some of the writing was illegible for one reason or another, and if they could not read, the registrar wrote how it sounded and the people could not check it was spelt right.

If you got the cert from the GRO, you could try phoning the local reg office, explain you cannot read the name on the GRO copy and could they look at the original entry in their register? (Pretty please??!!) You will need to give them the date of registration and the sub-district, as well as the other details from the cert. MMM

You could check the parish register to make sure the Boyd entry is correctly transcribed. But what if she was Mrs Metson, a widow when she married? Her maiden name wouldn't have been Metson

Thank you all! MMM..I like your idea. I may well try that. David...parish registers are a last resort for me because it's difficult to get to them, but yes, if all else fails! Thanks again, Sharon