1871/George & Caroline (?) MATTHEWS/Exeter

[ryan]

I have George & Eliza's marriage certificate (m. 1888 in Exeter) which says George was a Widower and I have them in the 1881 census, thanks. Their 3 daughters were born illegitimately.

So yes Deb you could say that I've been looking for the first marriage. Sorry to confuse, you know how it is when there's so much info floating around in your mind!

Ryan.

[deb usa]

Hi Ryan

I am still looking for a possible first marriage for your George Matthews.

I am wondering if George and Eliza's children were illegitimate as I the kids in 1871 with their mother Eliza HART and their grandparents.

1871
St Mary Major, Exeter
John HART head mar 62 sawyer
Grace  Hart wife mar 67
ELIZA  HART   dau UNM 30 laundress
Rebecca A  Granddau  4   ( I think this is Annie in 1881)
GRace E granddau 1

It looks like George Matthews may have adopted them or he was widowed already in the 1860's and seeing Eliza Hart.

deb

[ryan]

Yes thanks, they are in fact illegitimate and I mentioned that previously because it was an important issue. George was the Father of the three girls because he appears on Rebecca Ann's birth certificate, as surprising as that was to discover. Furthermore, Grace and the third daughter Bessie often used the name Matthews as well as/instead of Hart. I learned all of this about 3 years ago now and the fact that George was a widower was completely new to me.

There is nothing more to learn from George and Eliza's past that I don't already know to be honest. It's just this matter of George's first marriage which has arisen that I cannot solve at this moment. I have checked marriage entries at FreeBMD etc, but there are too many George Matthews' around in that period.

Ta.