Genealogy Chat

Can anyone think of a reason why I cannot find the marriage of mygggrandparents? It would have been about 1850-1854. It's not on BDM, Ancestry, Family Search or 1837com. Some records at the church where I think they would have married were destroyed by flood damage, but it would surely have had to be registered? Any thoughts? Anne

Give us some more details Anne so we can think about it. Kate.

Maybe the church records were destroyed before copies were sent to the GRO. Or maybe they never got married? I have a similar problem. My gt grandmother was widowed May 1879 and appears less than two years later on 1881 census with 2nd husband and has his baby later that year. No trace of a marriage under her married name, maiden name or 2nd husband's name in the GRO indexes for 1879-1900. So I checked parish registers for churches in Islington (where she was in 1879) and Greenwich (where they were 1881). Still nothing. so I am wondering if they married in another london parish - and how on earth would I find out which one??!!! - or I am wondering if he was already married and they just pretended as he couldn't remarry? Who knows! It's driving me bats! nell

FreeBMD's entries for marriage are pretty scanty for that period, Ancestry is a copy of FreeBMD. Did you checK all four years and a couple either side on 1837?

Can you find out if the parish register still exists? If not, there may be Bishop's transcripts. Janice

Info for marriages is scant on FreeBMD therefor same for Ancestry. Not appearing on Family Search, IGI is not a signal that they did not marry. If you give more detail then maybe we can help out.

I have the same problem. G Grandfather James Flew married g grandmother Annie Ellis in 1890 and his marriage certificate stated that he was a widower. I have him on the 1881 census with Catherine Flew and 2 sons. I have birth and death certificates for both the sons who both died soon after the 1881 census and both birth certificates name the mother as Catherine Flew, formerly Cross. I also have the birth certificate for a daughter Mabel and that states the same mother and maiden name. Mabel is with James and Annie on the 1891 census. I have the death certificate for Catherine who died in 1887 with James stated as the informant and husband of deseased. Problem is, I cannot find their marriage. James was born in 1856 and I have been through all the marriages from 1869 to 1890 where I find his second marriage. There are only 2 James Flews listed and neither of them is the right one. One is James Jennings Flew and the other James Oliver Flew. Is it possible that they never actually married and Catherine simply used his name?

Hi Anne, I suggest you contact the district register office and ask if they have a record of their marriage, at that church, held locally. Many district offices can only search for a marriage if you know the church, or at least some possibles, but some now have a central index of marriages, as they do for births and deaths, so they may be able to help even if you aren't sure of the venue. It's worth asking because it's been estimated that many thousands of marriages which were recorded locally went astray and never made it to the GRO indexes, epecially in the early years. Carole

As Carole says check with district registrar. For church weddings there are TWO original registers one with church(usually sent to CRO after time) and the District Registrar. The GRO only recieve Copies/Trancriptions and many never got there (estimated 50,000) Some offices don't need church and if it's covered by a local BMD it 's easy. Bob

Hi Anne, what an interesting. I have a same problem, too. My ggg grandparents, Ambrogio de Grussa and his wife, Catherine Hopkins should be 'married' before 1854. Their first child was born in 1854 at Newington, London. Catherine was born also at Newington around 1830. I am unable to find their registration, too. de Grussa is not common surname. Some people were helping me to find them and there was nothing. Regards, Steven from Melbourne, Australia.

Recently, I bought 'Your Family History' magazine Issue 24. I find it interested in page 84 'Q&A' about 'Missing marriage certificate'. A person is looking for the marriage certificate around 1856. One of answers was professional researchers believe that about five per cent of marriages never made it to the General Registration indexes. Regards, Steven from Melbourne, Australia.

My great grandmother is shown as a widow in 1881 and by 1891 has another husband and 3 more daughters. All the family have the father's surname so it was a surprise to find their marriage ... in 1892. G grandmother's husband died in 1876 and her 2nd husband was widowed in 1882 so why did they wait so long to marry one another and why then? Maybe you should extend your search years too.