Genealogy Chat

Can anyone help me please. I have a William Harrop married to a Martha Harrop nee Bell on the 1891 census. But I cant find a marriage for them. We have found a marriage for a William and a Ellen bell and I think Martha's middle name was Ellen. Could she have used the name Ellen to get married? Would that be allowed? Thanks Rhonda

have you found her in earlier census? what name did she use then? how do you know her middle name was Ellen? have you traced her birth? Where and when do you think they were married? Where were they in 1891 - trying to pick them off the census and failing- too many choices! Jess

I don't know about 'allowed', but they certainly did it !! - Anything to make life difficult for us ! What other details do you have? Dea

I have been unable to find the first marriage of my g grandfather though I have him with a `wife` and children on the 1881 census. Some entries were missed when the register offices sent copies to the GRO. It is possible that she used the middle name when she married. I have one with Augustus Frederick Charles on birth certificate, Charles Frederick on marriage cert and Augustus Charles on death cert.

Hi Jess, On the !891 census, it says she was born in 1866. They live with her father Robert Bell.On the 1881 census she is just Martha.Cant find them on the 1871, I think they were in America. Someone yesterday found a Martha E Bell and asked if this could have been her. They came from Rochdale, Manchester. Thanks Rhonda

These might be yours! 1871 census Castleton, Rochdale @ Gas House Lane Head, Robert Bell, Married, 46, Manager Rochdale Gas Works, b Rochdale, Lancs Wife, Martha Bell, Married, 50, b Halifax, Yorks Daughter, Emma Bell, Unmarried, 23, b Rochdale, Lancs Son, John Turner Bell, Unmarried, 19, Draughtsman, b Rochdale Son, William Bell, Unmarried, 17, Learning cotton business, b Rochdale Son, Edward Bell, Unmarried, 16, Learning brass finishing, b Rochdale Son, Charles Bell, Unmarried, 13, Scholar, b Rochdale Daughter, Martha Ellen Bell, 10, Scholar, b Rochdale Daughter, Sarah Bell, 8, Scholar, b Rochdale Granddaughter, Martha Ellen Bell, 4, b Rochdale Looks like daughter Martha Ellen of Robert & Ann stayed here whilst her parents were in America! In 1881 the son of Robert & Ann is age 10 born America. Rachel

People often mattied by the name thay were called, not what was on the birth certificate. I have one like that b. William Harold m. Harold William d. Wiliam Harold It definatly happen - whether it was leagle or not.

If thats the only one you can find and seeing as it seems to tie in with the birth of their child, married Sep 1885 and first child (on census anyway) born c 1888, I'd order it and see what happens! If it turns out to be wrong then so be it. Maybe she preferred being called Ellen to Martha? Rachel

Rhonda I know to my personal cost that many Registrations which took place in the Manchester area never got as far as the GRO - I have two certificates to prove it! (And think there might be more). It may be worth asking the local Register Office to do a search - I have always found them very helpful. I have, incidentally, Bells (including a Martha) living in Barnes Green (just up the road from Rochdale) in 1871 - they were Publicans. Marjorie

In the days before credit cards and passports, people didn't have much in the way of personal identification and certainly didn't need to prove who they were. I have a great-great-aunt called Annie who decided on her wedding day to become Elizabeth Anne! Don't know why. Husband also had a great-grandmother Rose who became Rosella when she married. nell