A confusing marriage (or two!)

Birth, Marriage, Death

Moderator: Global Moderators

Rockford
Posts: 266
Joined: Tue Jan 09, 2007 11:11 pm
Location: North Lanarkshire

A confusing marriage (or two!)

Post by Rockford » Tue Oct 09, 2007 9:38 pm

Hi everyone,

I wonder if anyone can offer any suggestions on this one. It relates to my wife's family and, as I'm not sure who may be connected to the couple(s) concerned, I've changed the names to protect the innocent! I hope it makes sense.

On his 1917 death certificate, Jim Smith is listed as having been married twice, firstly to Jeanie Jones and secondly to Maggie McDonald or Douglas.

I have found a marriage in 1901 for Jim Smith and Maggie McDonald or Douglas, when both are aged 53 and living at the same address in Glasgow. This is definitely the right couple, as the location and information on Jim and his parents are spot on.

However, in 1871 I have found a birth for a son born to Jim Smith and Maggie Smith m.s. McDonald. This is definitely my couple, as the information on them matches the 1917 death record and the later information I have for the child born in 1871.

The problem arises in that on the 1871 birth certificate, the date of Jim and Maggie's marriage is given as April 1860 in Ayrshire. However, on the relevant date in 1860, there is no record of Jim Smith marrying Maggie McDonald or Douglas. There is however a record of Jim Smith marrying Jeanie Jones, the first wife that is given on his 1917 death certificate!!!!!! :shock:

As my old Science teacher used to say - cwinkydinky!!! [=coincidence :wink: ]

Both marriages were according to the forms of the Catholic Church.

In your collective opinions, is the following likely, or could there be a simpler explanation?

1. Jim and Jeanie parted company between 1860 and 1871, but didn't divorce and Jeanie remained alive
2. Jim and Maggie get together but aren't married and tell the registrar a fib in 1871.
3. By 1901, news reaches Jim that Jeanie has died and he marries Maggie, formalising their partnership.

I haven't been able to find a death for Jeanie Jones, as her real name is liable to mis-spelling. Also, I haven't found a marriage for Maggie McDonald to a Mr Douglas between 1855 and 1871.

Remember the names have been changed - I don't want to be the reason for any wasted SP credits!

All thoughts welcome!

Best wishes

Brian
SMITH - Luss/Lanarkshire
BURNSIDE - Londonderry/Lothian
SWEENEY - Donegal/Monklands
GILCHRIST - Lanark/Lothians/Peebles
HUNTER/GWYNNE - Monklands/Fife/Stirling
LOGIE/DUNLOP/YOUNG/THOMSON - Lothian
Top
AnneM
Global Moderator
Posts: 1587
Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2004 6:51 pm
Location: Aberdeenshire

Post by AnneM » Tue Oct 09, 2007 10:14 pm

Hi

Without the real names impossible to check but your explanation sounds all too horribly likely provided you're sure that the child born in 1871 is actually the child of that couple. The other possibility is that Jeanie Jones died and the second marriage was originally irregular but perfectly legal.

If the dad registered the birth he did not tell fibs after all. The registrar asked him when and where he was married and he told the truth, just failed to mention that that marriage was not to the child's mother.

Anne
Anne
Researching M(a)cKenzie, McCammond, McLachlan, Kerr, Assur, Renton, Redpath, Ferguson, Shedden, Also Oswald, Le/assels/Lascelles, Bonning just for starters
Top
trish1
Posts: 1320
Joined: Mon Dec 26, 2005 3:38 am
Location: australia

Post by trish1 » Wed Oct 10, 2007 1:20 am

I did like Anne's last paragraph - I have seen an English certificate where the father-in-laws given name is listed as father of the child. I am sure the registrar asked the mother "Father's name?" and she gave her own father's name. :roll:

Another option - Perhaps Jeanie Jones did die before 1871, but Maggie McDonald having previously been married was not free to marry Jim Smith. A death record for Maggie Smith/McDonald/Douglas may assist in checking this possibility

Trish
Top

Return to “Statutory Records”