Marriage - Probably Warwickshire!

[TracyL]

Can't find any trace of a marriage between Mercy Marks and Arthur Day Lawrence.  Have checked FreeBMD, Ancestry, IGI and London records office.  Doesn't help that I don't have a date, but they were married by 1905.

Is there any other source that can be checked?  Would a local records office have any information that doesn't appear elsewhere?  Does anyone have any idea where I can look now?

This brick wall will not crack
Regards
Tracy

[charlotteuk]

Hi Tracy
 Do you have any idea of what area they may have married in? If you know the location you could try Warwick Records Office http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/general/rcindex.htm.  If they married in church it will be in parish records somewhere but you would have to know where to look.

They do have limited records online but, sorry, I can't find your names there.

If you have found both on the 1901 census would this give you a clue as to where to search? Marriages are quite often in the bride's home parish.

Charlotte

[TracyL]

Hi Charlotte

Thanks for responding.  I am really basing my guesses on the birth cert. info. of my grandfather.  As he was born in Erdington, and the mother was living in Leamington when she registered him, I have had to work on the basis that she and Arthur came from the general area.  My best guesses were a Mercy Marks working as a barmaid at the Coventry Cross Hotel, Kenilworth in 1901 and an Arthur Lawrence living not far away in 1901.  However, his middle name and occupation didn't seem to match.  His mother's maiden name was Lee, co-incidently the same name as the proprietor of the Coventry Cross!  I have tried to follow these trails but to no avail.  These really are just guesses/assumptions though.

My best hope, therefore, was to try to uncover marriage details - also not working so far!!

I am not sure, even if I go to Birmingham, what other records may exist that may shed any light on this.  Surely, all the parish marriage records would end up at the Records Office?  What else could I look for even if I assume that this is the right area?

Major brick wall
Tracy

[charlotteuk]

Hi Tracy

Do you have an actual address in Leamington on the birth certificate? Would it be her parents' home? If so, you would need to check parish records for the churches in that area. Also, for St Nicholas  Kenilworth as that was the area the Coventry Cross  was in.  These records will be in Warwick but I believe you may have to look in birmingham for Erdington records.

What was Arthur's occupation in 1901?

Charlotte

[TracyL]

Hi Charlotte
The birth address was given as Laburnum Cottage, Marsh St, Erdington and the mother's address at the time of registration was 1 Aylesford St, Leamington.  The Arthur Day Lawrence named as father was down as 'Accountant', but the Arthur living nearby was actually a groom in 1901 working for a retired solicitor - bit of a gap in occupation there!!

If it was the Mercy from the Coventry Cross, her parents were still in Walsall (at least until 1901) and had been for many years.

I have followed loads of trails based on census info. (including the fact that there was an Edith L Marks staying as niece at the Coventry X, but that does see to be a co-incidence as her family were a wealthy London banking family that Joseph Lee, proprietor married into - I tracked them in every direction with no link obvious) but all seem to be red herrings, which is why I am desperately trying to pin down a marriage.

I have had a look-up done by the library in Leamington who tell me that the name of the occupant listed on the Electoral Roll in 1905 is a William Thomas Summerton.  Of course, this could be the owner of the property rather than the occupant, but no link that I can find.

I am trying to go to Birmingham next week, but not really sure what I should be looking for - I am relatively new to this - or even there are records there which may help.

Any guidance would be very gratefully received 
Regards
Tracy

[TracyL]

OOPs!  That should be Marsh Lane not Marsh Street.  Sorry

[jim1]

Hello Tracy
Still no luck with Mercy I see.
There is a resident Genealogist at the library who will offer any help you need(it's on the 6th.floor by the way).All the parish records and censii are there plus lots of reference stuff such as trade directories.On the 7th. floor is the archive collection with all the originals,there are also people there to offer advice.My advice is to write down in order of importance exactly what info. you need plus qualifying info.If you get stuck go back and ask for help,that's what they are there for.
Regards Jim

[TracyL]

Hello again Jim

Nice to hear from you!  Mercy is driving me mad!!  I keep trying to go away and do other family branches (easy peasy by comparison) and this keeps dragging me back!  I am actually going to Birmingham on Thurs/Fri next week with my husband (he works in Solihull sometimes) and hope to be able to achieve something.  Not really sure what I am looking for though   I have had some contact with Doreen the resident genealogist - do I need to book her if I need help or is she just generally available?

If I made a list, number one would be to find a marriage - but there doesn't seem to be one!  Second, I suppose, would be a baptism?  Beyond that I'm afraid I don't know what I should be looking for.  Addresses maybe??

Help
Tracy

[jim1]

The professional genealogist has to be booked in advance and there is a fee for her services.There is a help desk with usually 2 people who can offer advice but won't undertake any research for you.If you are really serious about this use the professional genealogist as then you will cover the most ground in the time you have available.If you can't find anything at the library she will advise you where to go next.
Good luck.
Regards Jim