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Question: Detective work - were they really married!?
I wonder if anyone can help me out on this:
I have received a birth certificate of Elizabeth Ann SALTER, born 28!.09!.1863 in Greenwich!. Her parents were John SALTER and Henrietta Bathia SALTER, formerly STOREY!.
I've found Henrietta Bethia STOREY, born Jun qtr 1843 on FreeBMD, but I can't find her marriage to John SALTER anywhere!.
Strangely, I've found a marriage record for a Henrietta Bathia STOREY, marrying either William HARDING or William JAMES in Mar qtr 1863, around 6-9 months before the birth of Elizabeth!.
But on the birth certificate, Henrietta has declared herself as Henrietta SALTER, implying that she and John are married!.
So what's going on!? were they really married!? And is it safe to assume that Elizabeth was John's daughter, or perhaps she was a result of her mother's marriage to William!?
What are your thoughts!?Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Henrietta Storey and John Salter were married at Chelsea, march Quarter 1863, Volume 1A, Page 295!.
Here is the family on the 1881 census -
John SALTER Head M Male 37 Chislehurst, Kent, England General Fitter
Henrietta SALTER Wife M Female 37 Woolwich, Kent, England
Elizabeth SALTER Daur Female 17 Woolwich, Kent, England
Lydia SALTER Daur Female 16 Plumstead, Kent, England Scholar
Augustus SALTER Son Male 7 Plumstead, Kent, England Scholar
Maud SALTER Daur Female 5 Plumstead, Kent, England Scholar
Rose SALTER Daur Female 8 m Plumstead, Kent, England
Dwelling 7 Armstrong St
Census Place Plumstead, Kent, England
Family History Library Film 1341176
Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 0749 / 77
Page Number 40
Hope this helps!.
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10 pts for Covlass!.
This is a good reminder, especially when dealing with the time period, to verify civil records against church records when possible!. If the child was born in a hospital, and the husband was away at war or could not attend (they didn't have phones), a new mother would be exhausted, fighting infection, and could easily give confused information to those attending her!.
At Baptism, which usually happened quickly, those attending would be a pastor, preacher or priest and church members who personally knew the family, and would correct any such mistakes!. This hint is probably better for the US, since civil and church records by necessity evolved independently very quickly, but multiple-sourcing is always a good idea!.
Happy hunting!.
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I have run across this problem alot in family history research!. Not with just my family but with others as well!.
Unlike today where records are pretty accurate with electronic data storage and record production!. Back as early as 50 years ago!. People could find a way to produce marriage and birth certificates that actually contained false information but were considered legitimate legal documents!.
Take the most accurate of the information you have that most closely fits your family ancestry!. Make notes as to the other sources as well!. Then proceed with your research!. You may eventually find the accurate information as you proceed forward!.
I spent 4 hours a day for 5 years trying to find my father's and Mother's marriage place!. They were deceased when i began my search and had been divorced for many years!. Relatives would not tell me anything about it!.
I finally found out the truth!. My mother was never married to my father!. The birth certificate on file for me in a particular state (ohio) matches my father's to a tee except for dates and parents info!. All the flaw's little black specs in the paper and microfilm show that this certificate was falsified as early as 1954!.
I finally tracked down a lady who worked in the department of records where my alleged father was born and she was his aunt!. She told me that he'd asked her many years ago in the 50's to produce a birth certificate with my name on it!. She admitted to me in 2006 that she had actually did this!.
So any records that are over 40 years old are suspect in my opinion!.
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