Second opinion please on first name

[ajjbc]

If it was my own research I would go for Joseph.

[horselydown86]

I would like to raise the possibility that the second letter is actually an n.

Therefore:  Jn^o = John

It may be that the apparent completion of a full circle is just the printed line.

[Mowsehowse]

I'm thinking there is little need to abbreviate JOHN, however, it might well be an abbreviation for JONATHAN??

[goldie61]

Thanks everybody for your replies.

The year is 1791  in Stanope, Durham, so little chance of finding them in the Census.

The bride and groom were John Bainbridge and Mary Robson, he signs, she marks.
The witnesses James Robson and the J? Bainbridge, so one for each I'd say. Both these are signatures.

It could be another John, I have seen John abbreviated before but slightly different to this. So I think I'll probably opt for Joseph. Now whether he's a father, brother, or cousin is pretty difficult,as Bainbridge was a very common name around those parts. 

Thanks again everybody.

[Millmoor]

I take it this is from the actual parish record. The Stanhope Bts.can be viewed on Familysearch- it is image 57. On there the name looks like Jo which is also the transcription used on Freereg.

William

[Gadget]

Enlarged it looks like Jo <squiggle>. It could be Joseph or Job.

Gadget