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I am trying to work out the surnames on this Scottish marriage certificate from 1874. The parents of the groom (John Walking) look like John Walking, labourer, and Mary Walking, maiden surname Mannerill.

I cannot find John Walking (father or son) on earlier records, nor can I find a Mary Mannerill, or anything similar, on any records.

There are various challenges: first, the bride and groom are illiterate so have signed their names with a cross; this means they must have told the registrar their names verbally rather than writing them down. Hence these could be phonetic spellings.

Second, I know that John Walking, the groom, was black and was almost certainly foreign. He was born about 1851 and is not in the 1871 census. In the 1881 census his name was recorded as John Walker, born in 'West India' and in 1891 as 'Spain, Naturalised'.  [His wife Sarah Owens was born in Leith, Edinburgh, and I have her family background]

I've tried all sorts of searches on ancestry and findmypast without success.  There is also a parish marriage record in the Catholic church, but it has the same spellings, albeit in Latin.

I would welcome any suggestions! For example, if he was of Spanish/West Indies origin, what surname might result in the phonetic spelling 'Walking'? Something like Joaquin?

And as for his mother, the surname Mannerill is virtually unknown, so what else could it be?

I would appreciate very much if someone has access to monumental inscriptions in Rhyl, as I am looking for information on William Scott Somers who died there in 1891 age 35.

I've established he was buried in Rhyl on 11 July 1891 so presumably died a few days earlier, and I guess the burial was in the Holy Trinity Church Cemetery in Dyserth Road. Hopefully the grave will have his precise date of death, and even his date of birth!

Thanks
Andy

I'm trying to find out about John Cockerell, born Jan-Mar 1846 in Camberwell, London.

He was closely related to, and seems to have worked for, George J Cockerell & Co, one of the biggest coal merchants of the Victorian era - coal merchants to the royal family, no less.  I think George Joseph Cockerell (1811-1887) was his uncle, and his father was John Brand Cockerell (1814-1880).

An exact date of birth would be great, as would contact from any other Cockerell descendants/researchers!

Trying to find a date of birth for Alfred Joseph Baker, who was born around 1846 to Henry Baker and Margaret Puddicombe.

According to the 1881 census he was born in Willesden, but I know the family lived in Kilburn.

Any help appreciated.