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« on: Tuesday 15 September 15 22:43 BST (UK) »
Does anyone have a viewpoint on whether there could still be some Catholic records that are out there but not recorded on the GRO?
I am searching for a marriage that was not before 1838, as an illegitimate girl was born and baptised in that year ( C of E ) to my 2x GT grandmother who was then stated as single. Shortly after the birth the child was registered with the name of my 2x GT grandfather as the father, and the mother's surname has changed to his!. (baby dies 5 months later with the same parents recorded)
The following year, Sept 1839, they have their first son followed by 4 more. I still have not found the marriage. However, I did find that sons 3 & 4 were baptised as Catholics. I have been unable to find the other boys baptisms. I was surprised to discover the Catholic connection and believe this could only have come from the mother's side.
On discovering a Catholic connection I went to St Chad's Birmingham to look at marriage records but discovered no more. As they were not married in early 1838, when the little girl was born, the marriage had to be after this. Interesting that the babtism was C of E. Would she have been refused a Catholic babtism?
MY QUERY:- Does anyone believe, or have evidence, that there are some Catholic records out there that never made it onto the GRO around 1838? Or to the records of the diocese?
Is the only option for me to knock on the doors of these local churches and ask the question?
I know that many priests did not want to hand over their documents as they themselves required evidence of babtism before they would marry and I did read that only a small percentage eventually agreed to passing on their records, many choosing to ignore the Civil Registration Act of 1837. The more I read the more I feel this marriage could still be waiting to be discovered.
If anyone has any clues, or experiences of Catholic searches, I would welcome your opinions on this.