Genealogy Chat

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Fact: My great Grandfather, John William Greenley, married twice. Fact: His first wife was called Clara Foster and one of the witnesses at the wedding was Annie Ethel Youhill. The wedding took place in Howden, East Yorkshire and John and Clara lived in Hull after they were married. Fact: Clara had an Aunt called Sarah Ann Foster. On the 1881 census there is a Sarah Ann Youhill listed as the daughter of Charles Foster (correct family), so it appears that Sarah Ann married a Youhill, although her husband isn’t with her. But on the 1891 census Sarah Ann Youhill is living with her husband Samuel Youhill in Headingley cum Burley, West Yorkshire and they have a daughter, Annie E Youhill. Fact: I have found a marriage on YorkshireBMD for a John W Greenley to an Annie E Youhill in 1918 at the Methodist church, Burley, Leeds. It is around about the time I expect him to get remarried. Fact: John and his second wife had two homes - one in Hull and one at Sandholme which is not far from Howden. Problem: My Grandma wrote a book about her life, and in the book she refers to John’s second wife as Cis. I was always under the impression that Cis was short for Frances. Question: Do you think I should go ahead and order this marriage cert? There do seem to be quite a few coincidences here. Don’t you just love it when a trip to the records office leaves you with more questions than you started with! lol Jeanette x

I would order the cert,it seems too coincidental not to follow up. Cis may not be short for any name. My hubby's nan was always known as Cis or Cissie.or Sis or Sissie,whichever way you want to spell it,simply because her younger bro always referred to her as his big Sis & the name stuck, so she was known in the family as Cis. Her name was Harriet Shirley

Jeanette I had an aunt Sarah who was known as Cis Sylvia

My great aunt was actually Sarah but I only knew that when I started doing my tree. She was always known as Cis.

Thanks for your replies ladies. I particularly liked the suggestion that it could be short for sister. I'd never thought of that. Annie did have an older sister and a younger brother so it is a possibility. Thanks Jeanette x

Is this any use? CONNOR, Dominic 1876 December Marriages Howden East Riding of Yorkshire FOSTER, Sarah Ann 1876 December Marriages Howden East Riding of Yorkshire McHugh, Mary 1876 December Marriages Howden East Riding of Yorkshire YOUHILL, Samuel 1876 December Marriages Howden East Riding of Yorkshire Samuel is,i think, in 1861/71/81/91/1901 but in 71 as Yowhill.

Hi personally i dont think its a coincidence, as most of it ties in with what you have, your about 98% certain and that's close enough for me. If it was me, i would order the cert, when im ordering certs im normally only about 90% close, as luck would have it so far i have never got the wrong cert, i will know I've said it though, LOL. good luck :-)

Definately follow it up, as to how your family knew or knows a particular person is not always their real name. For example I was searching high and low for a Jack Ste....., my Great Uncle - I eventually found him as John Robert Dai..... (which was his mother's maiden name) and he was born before my Great Grandparents married. So I have found now always go on your hunches and to date I have been lucky and havent been wrong. p.s. dotted lines on surname to protect full name as I havent told my family this little snippet of information as yet!

Nichola You're right. It does all seem to tie in. I just wanted to run it past someone for their opinions, but there's no point in talking about it to anyone in this house. They're just not interested! lol. That's why I thought I'd ask some people who would be interested! Susan - lol Jim - thanks for that