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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Oxfordshire => England => Oxfordshire Lookup Requests => Topic started by: silverpenny on Saturday 25 February 12 12:23 GMT (UK)

Title: Hopkins/Welch Marriage
Post by: silverpenny on Saturday 25 February 12 12:23 GMT (UK)
I am a Rootschat "virgin" so this is my first foray into look-up requests and I would appreciate any assistance.

I am trying to find a marriage between my gt. gt. grandfather William Hopkins b.1839, Chinnor, Oxfordshire to Betsey (?Elizabeth) Welch b. 1842, Chinnor, Oxfordshire.

I can find Betsey living with her family in Chinnor in the 1861 census and William and Betsey's first child Mary A Hopkins is born around 1863 so I must assume there was a marriage somewhere between these two dates but it eludes me.

I have access to Findmypast, Ancestry and Free BMD but my searches have proved fruitless.  I have wondered if there may have been a transcription error as there appears to be an Elizabeth Webb and an Elizabeth West listed as marrying a William Hopkins around the same time but viewing the original documents does not bear this out.

Any help would be much appreciated.
Title: Re: Hopkins/Welch Marriage
Post by: Iffley on Saturday 25 February 12 12:57 GMT (UK)
Silverpenny -

I am a Rootschat "virgin" so this is my first foray into look-up requests and I would appreciate any assistance.

I am trying to find a marriage between my gt. gt. grandfather William Hopkins b.1839, Chinnor, Oxfordshire to Betsey (?Elizabeth) Welch b. 1842, Chinnor, Oxfordshire.

I can find Betsey living with her family in Chinnor in the 1861 census and William and Betsey's first child Mary A Hopkins is born around 1863 so I must assume there was a marriage somewhere between these two dates but it eludes me.

I have access to Findmypast, Ancestry and Free BMD but my searches have proved fruitless.  I have wondered if there may have been a transcription error as there appears to be an Elizabeth Webb and an Elizabeth West listed as marrying a William Hopkins around the same time but viewing the original documents does not bear this out.


Oxfordshire Family History Society www.ofhs.org.uk has transcribed the Chinnor parish marriage register.  We have transcribed the marriage as:

29 March 1862
William HOPKINS (X), bach, lab, s John HOPKINS, lab
Elizabeth WELCH (X), minor, sp, d John WELCH, lab

Wit:
Thomas SEYMOUR (X), Louisa SEYMOUR

the Chinnor register (available on CD) gives several siblings for Elizabeth, and her parents' marriage.

Do put your surnames of interest on the Oxfordshire Surname Interest List www.oxsil.org.uk

Wendy
Chairman, Oxfordshire FHS

Title: Re: Hopkins/Welch Marriage
Post by: silverpenny on Saturday 25 February 12 14:21 GMT (UK)
Well, what can I say.  Thank you very much for your prompt and concise answer. I have spent several hours musing over this dilemma and you have answered it in seconds.

I am still left with a question if you don't mind?  Bearing in mind I still have no GRO reference for this marriage.  How do I now obtain a copy of the marriage certificate for my records?

Title: Re: Hopkins/Welch Marriage
Post by: KGarrad on Saturday 25 February 12 14:45 GMT (UK)
The Original GRO indexes have Elizabeth as Webb!

March qtr 1862
Wycombe district    vol 3a, page 419

Hopkins, William
+ and on the same page +
Webb, Elizabeth


This is the only William Hopkins in Wycombe district (Chinnor was a parish in that district) in 1862.
Title: Re: Hopkins/Welch Marriage
Post by: silverpenny on Saturday 25 February 12 15:23 GMT (UK)
Yes I have already found Elizabeth Webb and this is what threw me slightly.

So is it safe for me to assume that this is Elizabeth Welch and just an error in recording?  The original document clearly shows Elizabeth Webb recorded.
Title: Re: Hopkins/Welch Marriage
Post by: KGarrad on Saturday 25 February 12 16:08 GMT (UK)
If you order a marriage certificate from Wycombe, it should be a copy of the original registers.
(if you order from GRO, it will be a copy of a copy!?)

Maybe the handwriting on that is difficult to read?
Title: Re: Hopkins/Welch Marriage
Post by: silverpenny on Saturday 25 February 12 16:47 GMT (UK)
I am only used to ordering certificates from the GRO.  If I understand you correctly are you suggesting I order it from Wycombe records office?  If so how do I go about that?

Sorry to ask but I am still relatively new to this.
Title: Re: Hopkins/Welch Marriage
Post by: KGarrad on Saturday 25 February 12 16:53 GMT (UK)
You can do this online - see http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/bcc/Registrars/copy_certificates.page?

Or maybe from Oxfordshire? http://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/content/marriage-certificates
Title: Re: Hopkins/Welch Marriage
Post by: silverpenny on Saturday 25 February 12 18:09 GMT (UK)
Sorry but bearing in mind Elizabeth WELCH is not officially listed, should I be requesting the certificate in the name of Elizabeth WEBB?
Title: Re: Hopkins/Welch Marriage
Post by: KGarrad on Saturday 25 February 12 18:11 GMT (UK)
I would leave her surname blank!

If you apply by post, perhaps explain it's either Webb or Welch?

Better still - call them!
See what they suggest
Title: Re: Hopkins/Welch Marriage
Post by: silverpenny on Saturday 25 February 12 18:15 GMT (UK)
Thanks very much.  I really appreciate your help.