Death date for Mary Ann(e)Macdonald please?

[jim1]

That census we can't mention says she's 39 & born Rotherhithe Surrey
RG14; Piece: 1873

[jim1]

10 Mermaid Court, Borough High st with John in 1926

Could this be her son John ? Ch. James Victor but service doc. has him as John James Victor married 1915 father deceased.

[Jill Eaton]

There are 2  Mary Ann Lane's born in 1871 in Southwark:
One in March registration Lambeth
One in St Olave in December.

I sent off St Olave one some time ago but have never been sure that I've got the correct certificate hence I was hoping that a death certificate would at least give me a clue from her death age whether she was born at the beginning or end of the year.

On the various census' I can find her on, her D/O/B is usually given as 1872, Rotherhithe.
I can't find a D/O/B in the Rotherhithe/Southwark area for 1872

On the certificate I do have (St Olave) the baby was born at the Union Workhouse, St John, Horsleydown, Southwark to a Hannah Lane. No father recorded.

I've not been able to find any records for this date/birth in the workhouse records so I suspect that this Mary Ann was illegitimate and that the relevant documentation for this year is missing.

I've never been able to find an Edward Lane, Lighterman, on any census returns (In London anyway)

My Mary Ann states on both marriage certificates that her father was Edward Lane, Lighterman.
It's obviously very possible that she lied. It's also possible that she was told throughout her life that this man was her father. With her first marriage certificate I assumed it was just easier to make up a father who didn't actually exist. Having obtained her second marriage with the same details I am wondering whether I've got the birth certificate for the wrong woman and my Mary Ann was absolutely correct in her facts. Perhaps Edward Lane, Lighterman did exist but not in Southwark

Perhaps I'm barking up the wrong tree but the death certificate might allow me to confirm or discard the information I already have.

I've never found a convincing candidate for Hannah Lane either but then I have very little to go on.

[Jill Eaton]

10 Mermaid Court, Borough High st with John in 1926

Could this be her son John ? Ch. James Victor but service doc. has him as John James Victor married 1915 father deceased.

I have a baptism record for this male:
John James Victor Sutcliffe baptised June 1897 at St John, Walworth, Surrey to John Sutcliffe and Mary Ann.

He certainly seems to be Mary Ann's son

[rosie99]

As you have a birth certificate have you tried searching 1939 register with the date of birth you have

[jim1]

I think the St. Olave birth is the correct one as this District covered Rotherhithe.

[Jill Eaton]

As you have a birth certificate have you tried searching 1939 register with the date of birth you have

I've just had another search on a certain free Births/marriages and deaths website. Not sure if I'm allowed to name it?

Anyway. I think there are two possibilities

September 1944.    Mary A MACdonald (with the "A" at the beginning of Mac)       aged 72      Greenwich

and

March 1942.      Mary A McDonald (without the first "A")     aged 70      Southwark

It looks as if Mary A was a widow again by this time so she could of course be living anywhere in England but I'll start with these first. If she moved from her family I don't think it would have been very far.

When ordering certificates in the past I've always been reasonably certain I'm ordering the correct one (at least at the time of ordering ). This time I will mention that she should be the widow (or at least the wife) of John Macdonald

[rosie99]

Have you now established that she was still alive when the 1939 register was taken. 

[Jill Eaton]

Have you now established that she was still alive when the 1939 register was taken. 

Rosie. yes I have checked. Had to buy some credits to check thoroughly  but yes, not only is she alive in 1939 but it confirms she is a widow, was indeed born on 4th October 1871 (so I have the correct birth certificate), her surname is now spelt McDonald not Macdonald and she is living at 14 Prioress Street, Southwark.

I can now purchase the correct death certificate too.

Thanks for the tip. it's a fascinating source. I'll eventually bite the bullet and invest in a year's subscription. I already have a subscription with the other company for my DNA matches. Running two lots might just strike himself as rather extravagant