Genealogy Chat

I know the date and place of my ancestor's marriage - but she is n't showing up anywhere. her name was Ruth Keighley and she married a William Whitham on Octber 26 1879 in Shipley, Yorkshire. Neither of them show up on the 1881 Census (well, I can't find them!) nor can i locate their marriage in 1837 online, or freebmd or anywhere else. Does anyone have any suggestions as to why this should be and where else i can look please? Thanks. Shelagh

What is the source for the marriage date? Merry

My uncle found the entry in the Marriage Book at Bradford Archives, so i suppose it is pretty accurate. Even if he made a mistake in copying, it doesn't explain why there is no record of either of them in following censuses (well, that I have been able to find). Shelagh

First thing to try would be Bradford Registrars. Just occasionally an entry doesn't make it to the GRO index. As you know the exact date and presumably the church as well, (and if you explain where you got the data and that it isn't in the GRO index) then should be able to look at their own records for that particular church. If that doesn't work, I think you should re-check the info your uncle got (or maybe do that first??). Merry

Hi Do you know their ages (approximate even) as they would be in 1881? Anne

Is this her baptism, from the IGI? Ruth Keighley Female Christening: 14 FEB 1847 Calverley, Yorkshire, England Parents: Father: Joseph Keighley Mother: Sophia

hello , Shelagh , Have found (eventually ) Ruth Keighley , marriage , Sept quarter 1874 Bradford vol 9b page 70... Joyce

Hello , Shelagh , Cannot find William to cross-ref with Ruth ...plent of Whitham entries for Yorks...but none correspond with the Ruth entry... You have a mystery here !!!! Joyce

Joyce There's already 4 names on that page, so that particular Ruth married either Joseph Ledger or Joseph Rycroft: Marriages Sep 1874 Harrison Ada Bradford 9b 70 Keighley Ruth Bradford Y 9b 70 Ledger Joseph Bradford Y 9b 70 Rycroft Joseph Bradford Y. 9b 70

You could try looking for Ruth with just her age and birthplace on 1881 to see what you can find. If you are sure William was her husband, you could try looking for him with alternative spellings - Wittam/Witham etc. nell

Can you confirm Ruth's date and place of birth? Did she had William have any children you know of? Do you have an idea what William did for a living? nell

I checked the Joseph Rycrofts on 1881, one was married to Ada, none to a Ruth. No Ruth & Joseph Ledger in Yorkshire in 1881. nell

Shipley comes under Bradford registration district. I can only find marriage for William in 1878, and it's not to Ruth. nell

thank you all so much for your replies. i am still searching for her; i even resorted to a search using just her christian name and date and place of birth - long-winded and unsuccessful. seems she just disappeared. no death recorded either - so she must be out there somewhere!! thanks again. shelagh