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Ayrshire / Puzzling wedding certificate
« on: Thursday 26 August 21 17:26 BST (UK) »
Thank you for reading this. I am most confused about a marriage certificate for my grandfather's sister, and wonder if anyone can help me.
She was Mary Anne Hervey, born 1869 Kirkmichael, although the family lived in Crosshill. Her father was Frederick Hervey and mother Mary Jane Caldwell. The family can easily be found on census returns for 1870 and 1880, and in 1891 Mary is in Ayr as a domestic servant. She marries in 1894, again in Ayr. Here is my puzzle.
She weds a John Duan, pit sinker, his parents given as James Duan and Ellen Mcglinn. This is undoubtedly the correct Mary Hervey's marriage, as both her sister and future brother in law are correctly named as witnesses, and her parents are correctly documented, including her father's job and mother's maiden name.
However, she is named as Mary Duan - if I correctly read the writing which is a little unclear - spinster. Surely she would have been Mary Anne Hervey if she was a spinster? Could it be a mistake and her new married name was put on the certificate instead of her maiden name?
I cannot see where Mary Anne and John Duan lived thereafter. His brother James was also a pit sinker and married in 1896 giving Benquatt, Dalmellington as his home, but I find no sign of his brother or their parents anywhere.
Ancestry further muddy the waters by suggesting that Mary Anne married a John Dalton in 1899 in Liverpool, her place of birth given as Crosshill in 1870, but even if she had been widowed shortly after her marriage to John Duan she would not have been recorded as Mary Anne Hervey, which was her maiden name. I think this must be another Mary Anne, but can easily stand corrected!
I would love to know what happened to Mary Anne Hervey and the rest of her story, but am struggling through a lack of information about her next years, or even anything about John Duan himself( in case another family member should know more about where they lived.) My grandfather died before I was born or he could have been a great help here!
Thank you for reading this. Any help would be much appreciated. Islay.
She was Mary Anne Hervey, born 1869 Kirkmichael, although the family lived in Crosshill. Her father was Frederick Hervey and mother Mary Jane Caldwell. The family can easily be found on census returns for 1870 and 1880, and in 1891 Mary is in Ayr as a domestic servant. She marries in 1894, again in Ayr. Here is my puzzle.
She weds a John Duan, pit sinker, his parents given as James Duan and Ellen Mcglinn. This is undoubtedly the correct Mary Hervey's marriage, as both her sister and future brother in law are correctly named as witnesses, and her parents are correctly documented, including her father's job and mother's maiden name.
However, she is named as Mary Duan - if I correctly read the writing which is a little unclear - spinster. Surely she would have been Mary Anne Hervey if she was a spinster? Could it be a mistake and her new married name was put on the certificate instead of her maiden name?
I cannot see where Mary Anne and John Duan lived thereafter. His brother James was also a pit sinker and married in 1896 giving Benquatt, Dalmellington as his home, but I find no sign of his brother or their parents anywhere.
Ancestry further muddy the waters by suggesting that Mary Anne married a John Dalton in 1899 in Liverpool, her place of birth given as Crosshill in 1870, but even if she had been widowed shortly after her marriage to John Duan she would not have been recorded as Mary Anne Hervey, which was her maiden name. I think this must be another Mary Anne, but can easily stand corrected!
I would love to know what happened to Mary Anne Hervey and the rest of her story, but am struggling through a lack of information about her next years, or even anything about John Duan himself( in case another family member should know more about where they lived.) My grandfather died before I was born or he could have been a great help here!
Thank you for reading this. Any help would be much appreciated. Islay.