Emma MERCER/DEBNAM/HAILEY Mystery

[lisasteve34]

I have the birth certificate of my great grandmother. Emma Hailey. her mother was Emma  Mercer married James Hailey. However it says she was Emma Hailey formely Debnam, formely Mercer. I can find Emma Mercer with her parents in 1851 (she was born 1847 Hitchin) George and Hannah. She dissapers in 1861 but in 1871 is the head of the house, unmarried caring for her brother hanry, sister Anna and son frederick. By 1873 she was married to James Hailey. So somewhere inbetween 1871 and 1873 she married a Mr Debnam? Any help solving this mystery?

[CaroleW]

Emma Debnam married James Hailey

Emma Debnam/James Hailey December qtr 1873 
Hitchin   Volume: 3a  Page: 426

I can't find a Debnam/Mercer marriage on freebmd

[Treelover]

Hi

1861  family listed as MERCY

Living St Andrews Street, Hitchin


Class: RG9; Piece: 818; Folio: 55; Page: 23

George   Head   Mar  37  Brick Lab   born Hitchin
Hannah   wife      32      Straw Plaiter  ditto
Emma  dau         15            ditto           ditto
Henry    son        13            ditto           ditto
Betsey     dau          10        ditto          ditto
Hannah  dau         8         scholar   ditto
Mary Ann   dau           5       scholar   ditto
George         son         3      scholar??   Ditto
Ellen             dau      5 mths                   ditto 

[lisasteve34]

Thanks that's great. Don't suppose you have found out how she went from mercer to Debnam which is the name she eventually married under?

[CaroleW]

I can't find a Debnam/Mercer marriage on freebmd

You will need to search the full GRO index  which is available at your nearest main library.  It can also be searched online if you have an Ancestry subscription or at www.findmypast.com which is a paysite

[lisasteve34]

Thats very helpful, but i have too small children and only get time to look on the internet in the evenings so i was hoping i was missing something that someone with a more trained eye may see.

[Treelover]

Hi

Emma DEBNAM married James HAILEY  1873 4th quarter  Registered at Hitchin.

Vol 3a Page 426 

Sorry (Ohh P**h you wanted the other marriage)   sorry I'll check
Joan

[CaroleW]

but i have too small children and only get time to look on the internet in the evenings so i was hoping i was missing something that someone with a more trained eye may see.

Searching the full GRO index involves downloading the images for each quarter within each year.  We don't know which Debnam she married so it means checking every Emma Mercer marriage in that area and then downloading debnam images for the same quarter to see if there is a match

She was born 1847 so could have married Debnam anytime between 1863-1871 a period of 9 years which involves downloading 36 images for Mercer alone plus however many more to cross check for a corresponding entry for a possible Debnam.  That takes up a lot of volunteers time

You could do a year or two each evening

[lisasteve34]

I wonder where the rest of the family in 1871 as Anna and George aren't the youngest children