Genealogy Chat

Hello All, Does anyone have any ideas where to search for my elusive marriage? The details are: Emma Hart married Francis George Slynn. They were both born Birmingham, Emma 1839 & Francis 1837. According to the 1861 census they were living in Birmingham, both married living with their 7 month old daugther Emma. I have found nothing on 1837online (searched 1858, 1859, 1860 & also 1863/4 before I knew of daughter Emma's existense!). On freebmd there is a Emma Hart marriage to William Santry in 1859 and also a Francis George Slynn marriage in 1898, his second marriage. I've found nothing on familysearch.org. Where do I look next??? Any ideas please, Gillian

Hi Gillian - I have also moved heaven and earth to try and find a marriage from 1860. I am beginning to wonder if for some reason some of the records went astray?

Angela, From Birmingham as well??!! G

Hi Gillian Ive had the same problem looking for births 1850 -60 (Manchester), some of the pages are so hard to read that maybe they are missed when being transcribed as there not readable. Its so frustrating. Julie

Julie, The freebmd coverage for marriages c1860 is pretty poor, maybe that's why! G

No - mine was from West Yorkshire. As you say, maybe some of the records were not transcribed. I have looked in the records at the FRC in London and couldn't find it. I suppose it is possible that errors were made when the big books there were compiled and some were missed?

Hi Gillian Have you had a look on IGI website, you might get lucky and find the marriage your after. I searched the bmd records at my local library and most of the pages were un readable for the surname i was after. Goodluck with your search. Julie

Hi Julie, There is nothing on the IGI!! Most frustrating!! G

Gillian The only other thing i can suggest, is to look at the bishops transcripts for marriages during that period. These will be held a t birmingham records office, if you dont live near birmingham post a new thread on the records board someone who lives in that area might be willing to do this for you. Julie

Julie, Yes I agree & I would have gone to the Birmingham library before now if I could. I live in Paris & only come to the UK about three times a year to visit family!!! G

Hi Gillian Sorry me again! I just being looking on IGI and found 2 marriages for Slynn / slinn these took place GEORGE ROBERT SLINN - International Genealogical Index Gender: Male Marriage: 11 DEC 1848 Saint Peter Dale End, Birmingham, Warwick, England 2. ALFRED SLYNN - International Genealogical Index Gender: Male Marriage: 18 NOV 1855 Saint Peter Dale End, Birmingham, Warwick, England Maybe they are related, and this was the family church, could be a starting place as to were to look. Theres are also lots marriages with the surname Hart - St Philips, Birmingham. Julie

Julie, Not sure about those two Sly(i)nns. Francis had a brother Thomas b1839 Birmingham but have never been able to find out anything much about him either!! Both Francis & Thomas were baptised at St Martin's Birmingham as was possibly Emma Hart. G

I'd be inclined to widen your search on 1837. Try 1854 onwards and also the first quarter of 1861. Although they only have one child (presumed to be the first conceived from their union) which would indicate a marriage between a year before the birth and upto 5 months after the conception, she may not have been the first child. The Mother may have miscarried previously. Although rare, girls could marry from the age of 12 and boys 14 with parental consent. Having said that the youngest couple I've found in my tree are about 17. Then again, if their like my lot and living in a populous area, maybe they didn't marry at all!

Hi Janet, Yes I may need to widen my search on 1837online. I assumed that by early 1861 they would be married as stated in the 1861 census. It is quite likely that they could have married in 1856/7 when Emma would have been 17/18. Their first child was born 1860 but their second was born 1865 which seems quite a large gap in those days! G

I have a few of these, including one who it look like had only one of their 11 children registered! Looks like I'll have to get that cert to find out the maiden name! It is a pain though, as finding the Bride's fathers name would be so useful!

Hi Gillian, I,ve been looking in the 1851 census for Birmingham and can't find Francis or Thomas. And the only Gearge who might be their father is married to an Elizabeth, not Sarah.... Found two Emma Harts....what was her father's name? Joan

Hi Joan, Sorry, have just seen your reply! I believe that Emma's father was George but have no proof. That's why I am desperatly seeking her marraige! I have eliminated the other Emma Hart whoses father is Edwin as I found this family in 1861 where Emma is married to William Santry & still living with her parents! The George Slynn & wife Elizabeth is Francis George's grandfather. I cannot find Francis George or his parents George & Sarah on 1851!!!! There have been a lot of mistranscriptions: Slinn, Slim, Slym, Slyn, Shun..........!! My Slynn branch is my most challenging!! Thanks, Gillian

It would be worth keeping an eye on http://www.bmsgh.org now that they seem to be adding records again. If you put in SLYNN and use soundex you get ... West Midlands Marriage indexes for the years: 1884 Surname Forename(s) Surname Forename(s) Church / Register Office Registers At Reference SLYNN Ann M GUSOILL Frederick Wednesbury, St Bartholomew Sandwell 32/6/358 but other than that you get lots of SLIM(M)s and a few other variations. Might be something there (eventually). Surname Forename(s) Sub-District Registers At Reference West Midlands Birth indexes for the years: 1868 SLYNN Mary A F Rowley Regis Sandwell RR/47/22 West Midlands Birth indexes for the years: 1869 SLYNN Margery F Rowley Regis Sandwell RR/49/56 West Midlands Birth indexes for the years: 1870 SLYNN William F Rowley Regis Sandwell RR/51/437 (didn't brave the soundex for tha births listing). Christine

There are lots of SLYNN marriages on http://www.staffordshirebmd.org.uk/ - altho' I can't see the one you're after. And a couple of births and one death, too. Christine

There's one SLYNN marriage on the Warwickshire site: http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/Web/corporate/pages.nsf/ Links/472FA73688E0473780256EC8002D177E (take out the Return). Christine