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Pinetree,

I had noticed the cluster of Richardsons in the Tamworth area, most seem to be market gardeners etc and until recently, I had assumed that my chap must be related in some way. 

I have still not got to the bottom of why my James Richardson was in Tamworth at that time.  I think he stayed in the area for at least five years as a young, unmarried man, but at first glance appears to have no connection with the place.  I've found no indication of his parents or siblings being in the area, so I can only guess he was there for work reasons.  However, James' father was also a stonemason and he seemed to be able to keep himself in work in Yorkshire at the same time as James was in Tamworth.  Yorkshire was positively buzzing with building work in the 1830s and 40s - why go all the way to Tamworth?

Of course, there could have been another reason............ He went to stay with relatives already living in Tamworth (possibly with the same surname?).  I've no way of knowing this, have not found him on the 1841 despite trying hard, but he is almost certainly living in/around Tamworth at that time.  If I can find that link, then maybe we do, after all, have a connection!

Best wishes,
Gary

Hello Pinetree, how very kind of you to take the trouble to help me, thankyou very much.

Since I posted in early June, I too have made the links you have discovered.  I have received Edward STARKEY's birth cert and it shows Catherine STARKEY, Tamworth, as mother but no father listed.  I have also received the Leeds marriage cert and it is definitely the couple I have been searching for.

It seems that Edward was born out of wedlock, his parents marrying ten years later.  It's no wonder I had such trouble finding them.  They had another child after Edward, and I have his birth cert too.  This one shows James RICHARDSON, stonemason as father and Catherine RICHARDSON formerly STARKEY as mother.  They lied! Their marriage was five years later!

I found them on the 1851 census, living in Bowling, Bradford.  I suppose they must have nipped over to Leeds for the day, away from the eyes of prying neighbours, to get married and no one was any the wiser.

I'm sorry I didn't update the thread with my findings but I honestly thought the thread had died gracefully because there were no postings after June 05th.  However, you have certainly helped because it has helped to cement the theory I had come to, so thanks once again.

I have, however, still not been able to find a marriage between Edward RICHARDSON and Maria ALDRED, as per my original posting and I have searched and searched and searched!  I feel they must have married because she is listed as his "wife" in the Army Service Corps (transport division) muster/payrolls when he was placed on marriage establishment from 04th April 1861. They were given married quarters, she remains listed as "wife" until he leaves the ASC on 21 March 1874 and all his children are listed on the military BMD indexes.  There is no indication at all that he ever served overseas.

Frustratingly, I can't find them on the 1861 census which was taken on 07th April 1861, just three days after their ASC marriage establishment listing.  I know that they were in Woolwich in April 1862 when their first child was born.
Gary

I wonder if someone could kindly help me with trying to locate a marriage, please? I’ve been looking for months with no joy. I've searched the UK BMD index many times on Ancestry and I've looked at the military/overseas index on microfiche at TNA. I managed to find the all the subsequent births on the military/overseas index (even though they are all UK births) but not the marriage.

When I checked the Military Chaplains returns on fiche, I noticed that they only contained marriages that were definitely overseas, I saw no UK entries at all, which leads me to think that the one I'm searching for must be on the UK BMD index.

Does anyone know what constitutes a military marriage?  Would it have been possible for a serviceman to marry in a civilian church and be listed on the UK BMDs in the normal way?

Any advice on where else to look, or another pair of eyes would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
Gary


Edward James Starkey Richardson born Tamworth, Staffs c.1842, he joined the army and I’ve found the following regarding him in muster lists and payrolls at TNA
Enlisted at Bristol into Army Service Corps, April 1858
Placed on marriage establishment in Army records, 4th April 1861
Discharged 1874, settled in Plymouth, Devon.

I know he married Maria Aldred born Dokenfield, Frensham, Surrey c.1840 and had the following children (all children have the same mother, Maria):
Charles b Woolwich 1862 (died young)
Edward b Woolwich 1862
Emily b Aldershot 1863
William b Aldershot 1865
Evangeline b Farnham 1867
James b Devonport 1871
Harry b Plymouth 1876

I’ve managed to track him successfully during his army career and afterwards, it’s the earlier years that are a problem! I think the marriage certificate is the key because I’ve not been able to find him on the 1851 census (there is a ‘possible’ living in Bowling, Yorkshire but I can’t be sure until I know his father’s name). I’ve not been able to find his birth registered but recognise that it is early and therefore might not have been done. I believe the 1861 census was taken on 7th April 1861 (3 days after his army marriage establishment) but I cant find them on the 1861 at all.

For info, there is a Maria Aldred listed in the marriage index, Lambeth March 1861, but I’ve managed to eliminate that one.