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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: ValJJJ on Wednesday 27 March 24 22:38 GMT (UK)

Title: Names of witnesses?
Post by: ValJJJ on Wednesday 27 March 24 22:38 GMT (UK)

I can read most of this but the witnesses are difficult. I think they are James A or O Heltham and J Hooper someone. Can anyone decipher this scratchy writing please?

The H looks like the H in St George Hanover Square. The O of Register Office looks a little like the middle initial for the first witness.

The groom is William Robinson Wayland (father Abraham, Baptist minister) and bride Ada Matilda Woods (father Edward Woods attorney).

Title: Re: Names of witnesses?
Post by: sparrett on Wednesday 27 March 24 22:49 GMT (UK)

J Hooper Mercer ?
Sue

Title: Re: Names of witnesses?
Post by: Neale1961 on Wednesday 27 March 24 23:42 GMT (UK)

James A Weltham?

Quote from: sparrett on Wednesday 27 March 24 22:49 GMT (UK)

J Hooper Mercer ?

Agree with Hooper Mercer

Title: Re: Names of witnesses?
Post by: crisane on Thursday 28 March 24 00:26 GMT (UK)

Agree with Hooper Mercer but I think the other is James A Holtham.

FreeBMD has a James Augustus Holtham but no Heltham of any first name.

James Augustus Holtham was born 1853 and married 1878 both in Cheltenham. He died in 1908, also Cheltenham

Title: Re: Names of witnesses?
Post by: ValJJJ on Thursday 28 March 24 09:01 GMT (UK)

Thanks to all of you. Brilliant!

Title: Re: Names of witnesses?
Post by: ALAMO2008 on Thursday 28 March 24 10:44 GMT (UK)

Great Research in this Case.

But be aware of GRO Copy of the Original Marriage Certificate can show incorrect details especially Witnesses if the Names illegible on the Original Certificate that the Registrar was copying from.

Obviously not applicable in this case. On this Copy Certificate

Title: Re: Names of witnesses?
Post by: ValJJJ on Thursday 28 March 24 12:54 GMT (UK)

Noted!

Also is there anything on a marriage cert that can be certain, other than the place and the officiating person? People invent names, ages, occupations, fathers’ names….