Genealogy Chat

This sounds really useful, but........ Is there any similar method for finding people before 1841, i.e. in BMD for instance? I'm particularly thinking of someone whose first name, year of birth (within a year or two) and village I'm sure of but no idea who her parents were. Jo

Well I havent made a mistake with BMD index yet, if I do and find a way, Ill let you know! Seriously though, put the details on of what you DO know and see if anyone can help. Of course if you looked in the actual parish register for the period then you may find her?

Thanks Heather I've checked Parish Records but my gt.gt.grandmother Ann Wright, born abt 1803, was a widow when she married gt.gt.grandfather Lang Dawson and I don't know if Wright is her single or first married name. Her marriage to Lang was in 1836 but she died in 1838. Neither the marriage cert nor her death cert give a clue to a previous name. I think my only chance is now to check all marriages in or around Barney in Norfolk. Jo.

The info should be on her daughter's birth cert either or Elizabeth Dawson 1838 Jan-Feb-Mar Walsingham Norfolk Elizabeth Dawson 1838 Apr-May-Jun Walsingham Norfolk

I had a quick look at the norfolk transcription site, although it is incomplete there are over 800 entries under the surname Dawson. Interestingly there seem to be several entries with what appears to be the middle name of Ling and surname Dawson. eg Elizabeth Ling Dawson, Robert Ling Dawson etc. They are in a different parish (in the Tunstead and Happing district) but i wonder if they are connected. If you haven't come across the site before google 'norfolk transcriptions', the site is part of the genealogy.doun website.

Jim I have Elizabeth Dawson's birth certificate and mother is Ann Dawson formerly Wright, no other name, but the marriage record says Ann was a widow at her marriage to Lang. Is Wright more likely to be the name of her first husband? Glen I'll take a look at Norfolk Transcriptions. Thanks for the suggestion. Jo

nudge for later xxxx i need all the help i can get

Nudge

nudge

Confusing isnt it. In theory when she married as a widow she should have used her married name. You say she used Wright? that should be the married name HOWEVER people do make mistakes and I have for instance a marriage where the bride gives her previous married name and then dozily gives her status as single. I guess in a her mind, she was single, free of any incumberance. Luckily her fathers name showed clearly she was the one I was looking for. On the kids' birth certs she gives her 'formerly' name as her maiden one. This marriage - you found it on parish records?? Who were the witnesses?