Bakes giving me headaches!!!!

[adicol]

Hello all,

I have just found some very puzzling information and would like some ideas on what could be going on please.

John Bakes married Sarah Wilson 31st Aug 1817 at Bradford Cathedral. Both single, witnesses were John Barker and Jonas Tasker.

They appear in later census, with their children and everything appears as it should be.

Now the headache. Whilst searching for the wedding of John and Sarah I also found the wedding of William Bakes to a Sarah Wilson on 4th September 1820. Both single, witness....yes, you guessed it, John Barker and Jonas Tasker.

According to the records I have found John had a brother William, who married a Hannah Lee in 1820.

Whilst it is possible a William Bakes married a Sarah Wilson in the same church as John married and it is all just coincidence....but the witnesses being the same is just too much of a coincidence.

Can anyone possibly shed some light on this please because my brain is a little frazzled!!

Thanks

Colleen

[Calverley Lad]

Same name witnesses usually are what I call witnesses on demand.
People who are prepared to act as a witness as required.
 Brian

[nanny jan]

Hi,

The witnesses could be church officials (Parish Clerk perhaps);  often happened in the early days of recording the names of the witnesses.


Nanny Jan

[adicol]

Thanks so much for the replies.

Same name witnesses does explain it!

Far less interesting though