Genealogy Chat

I have an image of a marriage register entry for my gg-grandparents, where there's a witness 'Emma WOOD'. The groom's surname is LANCASTER, and the bride's BATES. However... The groom's elder sister, Emily, had married Richard WOOD. I am inclined to believe that 'Emma' was used as a diminutive version for Emily, not just as a separate name. Christine

Helen, Just keep looking and refuse to be beaten!!! Gillian

Wow! Maybe I should try calling my gt grandmother Emma an Emily too! Except I still can't find anyone marrying a John Garvie at the right time in the right place. nell

Hello All, Guess what!!!! Mary Whetton find it for me in 1858!!!! She's such a Star! Emma Hart was registered as Emily Amelia Hart!!! Just shows you need to look outside the box!! Thanks all for your help, Gillian

Helen, You just have to keep hoping!! Gillian

Gillian You have my sympathies. I have a great-grandmother who was widowed on her 14th wedding anniversary, 1st May 1879 in Islington. She turns up on 1881 census taken on 3 April, with 2nd husband in Greenwich. No sign of a marriage in the GRO indexes, not even beyond those years. No marriage in the Islington or Greenwich churches. So unless they married elsewhere in London (WHERE FOR GOODNESS' SAKE??!!) I don't know. I began to think that perhaps 2nd husband was already married, but can't find a marriage for him anywhere - luckily he has an uncommon name. nell

Hello All, Have not found their marriage on 1837online for 1856 & 1857 or first quarter 1861!!! I'm beginning to wonder if they married at all!! Gillian

Thanks Christine! I always forget the bmd sites! Gillian

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

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

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

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

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

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 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'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!

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

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, 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

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