Genealogy Chat

Hello, for the second time a marriage cert. application has come back with 'wrong bridegroom' - or words to that effect - on the email. On birth certificates and other papers from various sources, my G-G-Grandfather James William Leary's wife was Hannah Leary, formerly Moore. I'm not sure that they were even married, now. Thing is, is there anywhere else online that I can check? On census', I haven't found any clear entries on the family and wonder where on earth they were, though I thought they were based in and around Mile End Old Town/Stepney area. Also, on James' death cert., the informant was 'E Moore' (no relationship mentioned), and he/she was from a different address. Any help will be gratefully received! Here endeth the short tale of this current brick wall! x

What dates ect do you have? Suzanne

Hi Suzanne, my Great-Grandfather, James Cornelius Leary, was born 4/8/1857 in Limehouse, and according to IGI records on LDS (which I haven't yet verified, but fit in with what I have), he had 2 sisters, born 1/10/1859 and 20/5/1866. I think he also had an older brother, William, but I'm not sure. On 1861 there's a family similar to what I know, only the head of house has been mistranscribed as Jane A Leary and his wife Hannah. James William died 19/3/1869, aged 40, and it seems that 1861 is the only census he appears on - even that's mistranscribed. It's recorded that James William was born c.1828 in Shoreditch, and Hannah c.1829 in Limehouse. x

Is this GGgranddad? 1851 James Leary abt 1827 Poplar, Middlesex, England Lodger Limehouse Middlesex Unmarried, labourer

Hi Lunar, I did find that entry, but wasn't sure if Poplar was near Shoreditch (my awful geography again!). I'll bear that in mind now though, in case it is him; I believe he was a labourer, sometimes out of work. Thank you for finding that - much appreciated. x

Poplar and Shoreditch are both now in London. They are about 3 miles apart with Stepney in between them. So well with in walking distance.

Thank you for that, Lunar. I'm now hopeful that this brick wall may crumble! x

Now that you can look at the actual index pages on Ancestry, it might be worth having a second look at the marriage certificates you ordered. If you insisted that you only wanted a certificate for James William Leary, they'd say it was the wrong groom if his name was James Leary. Names can be horrendously mangled, so have another look, and also check freebmd, in case both spouses have now been transcribed. Good luck!

Phoenix, would they really do that? It doesn't matter if his middle name isn't on the index/cert. Yes, thank you I'll take your advice. I didn't think of that. Doh .... :-)

Glenys, It's always worthwhile looking for a previous marriage (especially for the male if he was quite a bit older than the bride/wife). My g grandparents had their first child in 1901, the last in 1925. On all the birth certificates, g grandma was Mrs P. In reality, she didn't become Mrs P until a year before the last (10th) child was born - they didn't marry until g grandpa's first wife died - The same year their eldest daughter (third child) married!! maggie,

Crumbs, I'm realising just how much I DIDN'T think about possibilities! Thank you Maggie, didn't think of that either. (Glenys slinks off, realising she now appears to be a right pleb). Once again, thank you all for your help; it's much appreciated. x