To sum up- the story so far:
William CORDNER born Ireland c1841 (connection with Antrim)
married Elizabeth born England or Ireland c1843 (maiden name probably SANDYS, father Bazee/Basil)
children (according to 1880 USA census) were:
Edwin born c1861 England (not found on FreeBMD)
Auckland b c1863 Ireland (a naughty boy! Married Berenice, children Paula B and Sandys)
Alice Vernon S born c1865 Canada (married W H Trewartha James)
Mary (Marie Massereene Cordner, born c1867 Louisiana USA (Marie Massereene Cordner)
Kathleen born c1869 Michigan or Missouri
Ethel born c1878 Massachussetts
1891 England census has:
Elizabeth Cordner widow born Ireland - Longford
Alice born c1865 Montreal, Canada
Kathleen born c1869 St Louis, USA
Pauline born c1876 Boston USA
1901 England census - Elizabeth CORDNER not found
A birth certificate for Elizabeth SANDYS born 1843 Westminster is the wrong Elizabeth, no others found on FreeBMD
A death certificate for Elizabeth CORDNER 1896 Hampstead - (brother Thomas Cordner as informant - same surname suggests she was spinster) is the wrong Elizabeth
Marriage certificate for John Henry JAMES and Marie Massereene CORDNER 1889 Kensington has Elizabeth Sandys Cordner as witness. Father William Thompson Cordner is deceased.
Auckland CORDNER's marriage and descendants are traceable.
FreeBMD has a death for Elizabeth CORDNER, Richmond Surrey 1909 aged 65 - certificate just ordered.
FreeBMD does not show a CORDNER/SANDYS marriage in Great Britain.
My descent is through Mary/Marie CORDNER. I need to track down birth certificates for any of her children to confirm her maiden name. Can anyone can point me in the right direction to identify a USA certificate and where to buy it?
I need to find a marriage for William CORDNER and Elizabeth to be absolutely certain her name was SANDYS and to find her father's name.
This is a challenge - many thanks to all the Rootschatters who have helped so far. The search goes on!
Philip