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Hi there

I've just received the marriage certificate of my 3x great grandparents, Francis Colley and Emily Thornton.
I always wondered why i couldn't find a record of their marriage on ancestry/findmypast, and now i know why, they married in a registry office!
This was in 1876 in Driffield, Yorkshire. It's the first time i've seen this, has anyone else seen this with their ancestors? What building would they use? Maybe a town hall?

Kind regards, Tom

Hello there

I'm wondering if people will be able to help with Martha Gower, she's been a mystery for a while now.
She was born in 1844 in Starston, Norfolk. Her parents were Thomas Gower (1821-1895) and Anna Maria Blomfield (1821-1900), married in Starston in 1844.
Now I have lots of info about the parents but hardly any about Martha's life.
She's listed in the 1851 census living with her parents in Starston. Then in 1861 she is boarding with Amos and Louisa Alden in Rushall Road, Pulham St. Mary, Norfolk. I later found that her Grandmother was an Alden, so possible connection there.
She has an illegitimate child called James Gower in 1862 in Starston. Then gives birth to my 2x Great Grandfather William Gower in 1868 in Pulham Market Workhouse. I've been to Norfolk record office to confirm this.
After 1868 there is no trace of her. William is adopted by a couple in Beccles, Suffolk, he keeps the surname Gower after taking adoptive parents name when a child. James, I think, is taken in by his grandparents Thomas and Anna.
I haven't been able to find a marriage for her, and if she is down as Martha Gower i can't find her on the 1871 or 1881 census.
I believe that she probably emigrated but have not found proof.
If anyone could find anything on her then that would be brilliant! Hopefully I've given enough information, I probably forgot something haha.

Thanks in advance, Tom

Hi there, i'm hoping that someone might be able to help me with John and Rachel Patton.
John was born in Earsdon/ Hartley in 1798 and apparently married a Rachel Brack in Tynemouth in 1822.
Both John and Rachel are living in South Hetton, Durham in the 1841 census with their children. But by the 1851 census Rachel has been replaced by Ann. Can anyone find Rachel? I can't find a death for her so she just seemed to have vanished.

Cheers, Tom

Hi there I wasn't sure where to put this but I think this is the place. I'm trying to work out what William Colley's birthplace was. His wife was born in Harpham, East Yorks, I can see that on the 1871 census, but I can't decipher William's. I tried to attached the image on my post but I think it's too big. You can find the census image if you type in William Colley born 1804. It comes under Harpham, Driffield district, Yorkshire. Can anyone help?

Tom

Hi there 

I'm wondering if anyone has access to the Soham parish records?
I'm looking for a Robert Staples who was born circa 1804. He is shown in the 1841 census as living in Tuddenham St. Mary with his second wife Martha and his son and two daughters.
On the census it is shown that he wasn't born in Suffolk, therefore i assume he was born in Cambridgeshire and most probably Soham due to the high frequency of the surname there.
His first marriage was to Phoebe Smith in Freckenham in 1827.

Thanks in advance, Tom