Genealogy Chat

Hi I have got the marriage certificate for my 3x Great Grandparents today and the wife's father's name does not add up. William Dixon married Sarah Ann Hathaway on 11th September 1869 in Guiting Power, Gloucestershire. They are both stated as being Single (Spinster and Bachelor) but her father's name is shown as Thomas Davis. According to the census results Sarah Ann was born around 1845 in Stow on the Wold, Glos. It appears that Sarah was a servant in the 1861 census. The two witnesses are William and Eliza Hathaway. I have looked at the idea of her being married before but I can’t find anything that adds up. There is a birth record in 1845 in Stow on the Wold for a Sarah Ann Hathaway which is likely hers. Has anyone else had this come up on a certificate, or does any one know why this might be? Could Thomas Davis have brought her up? William and Sarah Ann also had 3 children before they married as I have found on the IGI the record for the Christening for their first 3 children on the same date and place of their marriage. I ordered the certificate to make sure that I had the correct marriage and it is as William's information adds up 100%. Has any one else had children christened on the same day as their parents marriage? Any ideas on this would be very helpful Thanks a lot Karen

My first thought is that she was illegitimate and Davis is the name of her biological father. Yes, several of my rellies had children baptised on their wedding day - the Vicar would often insist on this before a marriage took place. Olde Crone

Yes Old Crone, I was about to say the same thing, they were actually being truthful on the marriage cert (makes a change!) Incidentally we spend our holidays in Guiting Power and it's beautiful. Angela

Yes I have a marriage cert where the father of Sarah Holt, declared single, is given as George Kirby. Sarah is a mystery woman, no appropiate bp for Sarah Holt or Sarah Kirby No prior marriage of Sarah Kirby to a Mr Holt I assume perhaps she is illegitimate - goodness only knows if George Kirby was her natural father, stepfather or whatever! At least you have some sighting of her prior to the marriage - Be thankful for that! Jay

I have a marriage where the bride is stated as single but has a different name from her father. Luckily in the census she had dragged two kids along with her so I knew she was previously married and found that marriage and first husbands death.

I can't help, but I have a gt gt gt grandfather, John Mealing, born Guiting Power in 1805. I'd never heard of it till I found him! nell

Entirely irrelevant, I know but... The first time I heard of Guiting Power was as a hymn tune! - It joins an illustrious set which includes Down Ampney. Christine

Have you tried looking for the witnesses on one of the census? As they have the same name they may be brother or sister and still living at home. EllenX

Karen, I think I would apply for Sarah's birth certificate. Thomas could be her real father or her step father. Do you know where they were living in 1851, some of the Gloucestershire census are free online through Genuki. Ros.

I have a couple of marriage certificates where the fathers name is total fiction. On one it was the groom, on the other it was the bride. They gave a name as father, when in fact they were born illegitimately and no father named.

Could this be the case? Thomas is the real first name of her father, but he used another name in life. One of my rellies married a Thomas, but he always referred to himself as Henry, which totally confused things. He did use his real first name in the Census collection, but I have visited the graveyard where he is buried and the gravestone reads 'Thomas (known as Henry') Joy

I should think this is Sarah's birth reg: Births Dec 1845 Hathaway Sarah Ann Stow on the Wold 11 355 Do you think this marriage, below, MIGHT be Sarah's mum and ''the'' Thomas Davis??? Making Thomas Davis Sarah's stepdad: Marriages Dec 1847 DAVIS Thomas Stow on Wold 11 617 Hathaway Hannah Stow on the Wold 11 617 Merry

1861 census Thomas was a labourer. Hannah Davis abt 1823 Guiting Powers, Gloucestershire, England Wife Great Witcombe Gloucestershire View Record Thomas Davis abt 1821 Wittintow, Gloucestershire, England Head Great Witcombe Gloucestershire 1871 Thomas agricultural labourer - Whittington not far from Guiting Power Hannah Davis abt 1821 Guiting, Gloucestershire, England Wife Whittington Gloucestershire View Record Thomas Davis abt 1818 Whittington, Gloucestershire, England Head Whittington Gloucestershire 1881 Thomas Davis is widowed, lodging in Prestbury, Glos. Angela

Hi Thanks for all the ideas. I have tried looking up the teo Hathaways who were witnesess to the marriage but have not come up with anything yet. I am going to look at the census results that have been mentioned, and go from there. Thanks a lot Karen