Good Evening,
A small mystery and was wondering how to solve this.
I have an ancestor born 1876 (suspected in Wales). From all the records i have been able to find he was married and the baptism of his children he was known as David Edward Patterson. I have employed researchers to find his death certificate (no trace) he died around 1930 as per his wives death certificate.
The family story goes that he "ran away" from home - at the time his surnames was Merrells (this has only been confirmed via verbal stories handed down). He was married in 1897 as Patterson.
From baptism records I have seen a few people also present at some of the baptisms that have a Merrells link:
+/- 1901 - Petrus Johannes and Helen Maria Marais - Helen Maria Merrells (as per the records I have found was also Merrells before she got married).
+/- 1897 - Nicholas and Meta Josephine Heydenrych - Meta Josephine Heydenrych - At the time of her husbands death was known to have the Maiden surname of Merrells and on her death certificate some 20 years later her maiden surname was listed as Patterson.
I have asked the remain relatives we do have and no one knows anything except that there was a name change.
Looking into the MyHerirage website (I dont have full access)', I have seen:
Three daughters:
Helen Maria (Merrells) Marais
Martha Gertruda (Merrells) Beets
Maria Johanna (Merrells) Rorke
If I remember correctly the father listed here was a William. However on the death certificate the father of Martha was listed as David Edward Merrells.
So, i am wondering if anybody van help me solve this riddle?
