GRO UK Says "Foreign Office of Country concerned?"

[Sue Lancashire]

  Sorry... I am possibly having a senior moment. Trying to find a marriage for late 1860's for Elizabeth Woodhouse of Norfolk to John Patrick Doran of Ireland. By 1870 they are living in Allegheny,  Pennsylvania with one child. In 1872 back in the UK. No marriage record found in the UK, I tried to order a certificate through the "GRO's Overseas Marriage records."

I was advised to "contact the Foreign Embassy of the country concerned" as no trace of an entry has been found.

Does this mean the British Embassy in the USA or the USA embassy in Britain?  I can't work this one out? Your advice/ answer  appreciated.

[KGarrad]

It would appear that they traveled back to the UK after 1872 (Daughter Mary Ann was born 1872, Pittsburg), but before 1874 (Daughter Elizabeth was born 1874, Salford)?

Perhaps they didn't actually get married?

But, if they did, any marriage certificate would be in USA.


I'm not sure why you have posted this query in a New Zealand board?
I will ask a Mod to move it to USA.

[avm228]

Hi there

It's not a response I have heard before, but the important information is that they do not appear to have had a British consular marriage anywhere in the world.  Had you found a possible register entry or simply submitted a speculative application?

Perhaps they mean simply that if you believe they married overseas you need to search in the records of the relevant foreign country (in the case of the USA, the relevant state).  I very much doubt that any country's embassy would be much interested, though.

Have you found emigration/immigration records to trace their arrival in the US?

[Sue Lancashire]

 :)Thank you for your replies and suggestions.
 
 I am in New Zealand and thought others researching from NZ may have had this kind of reply. It was a speculative request made to the GRO. 

I had hoped that the birth of a child circa 1869 and their presence on a census for Scott Township Allegheny would pin down an educated guess for time and place.  John Patrick was a Policeman in the following years and his appointment record states 'married' and of Catholic faith.

I don't believe that they  didn't marry. I have never come across any couple in 11 Family trees who have stated 'married' but actually didn't. It just wasn't done? I have tried marriages on ship voyages, also.  I have not found either of this couple on migration records, either.

I have tried every possibility of spelling for both names and it just hasn't turned up on any of the sites I have used.  Have other researchers come up against this kind of wall?

[KGarrad]

Just to help others looking, here is the 1881 census:
Class: RG11; Piece: 4020; Folio: 55; Page: 3
66 Mary Street, Cheetham, Manchester

Doran, John  Head  M  35  Police Officer  b Wexford, Ireland
Doran, Elizabeth  Wife  F  34  b Norfolk
Doran, Mary Ann  Daughter  F  9  Scholar  b Pittsburgh, USA
Doran, Elizabeth  Daughter  F  7  Scholar  b Salford
Doran, John Henry  Son  M  5  Scholar  b Manchester
Doran, James  Son  M  3  b Manchester