a strange case of a girl too young to be married

[diavalos]

Hi
I am having difficulty proving that a certain person is who she is supposed to be, It is difficult to explain. but here goes. I am researching. Harts in  Ashton in Makerfield.
John Hart b. 1856 Ashton. 1901 and 1911 census married to Mary Ann,  a year or two younger  than John. and married 35 years, she  is born  in Poulton-Le- Fylde.

1891 the couple have the right children and living  in Ashton.

 1881. John and Mary Ann are in Ashton but on the census  living as John and Mary Ann Holding.along with 2 children.  The eldest born in Burnley. Holden (not Holding) was Johns Stepfathers name.
The only Mary Ann that i can find born Poulton-Le-Fylde is a Mary Ann Casey, B. 1870- but living in Burnley according to the 1871 census this  Mary ann Casey has the right parents James and Catherine Casey, but is born Preston although her brother is born Blackpool (same area  as Poulton-Le-Fylde)
1881 there is a Mary Ann Casey living in Burnley still with the right family,but aged 9 years.(fits with the 1871 birth.
This person is  too young to be married to John Hart, but everything else points to her being the right person

  John and Mary Anns first child was born in Burnley in 1878.

I have tried to find a marriage for these two but cannot find one. All i have found is a marriage between John Hart and Mary Ann Atherton the date is 1876. that fits with the 35 years married, but i cannot find any trace of a Mary Ann Atherton born Blackpool or Poulton. Nor can i find a marriage between Mary Ann Casey and John Hart.
This is all very confusing, Is there anyone who can save my sanity with a solution please..
Regards Joyce

[emmsthheight]

Hi Joyce

That's a tale and a half!

I wonder if there's a second marriage somewhere?

Best wishes

Emms

[diavalos]

I thought of that. Maybe he married 2 Mary Anns, but 1911 says the have both been married 35years. I also wondered if there had been two he didnt actually marry the second one.
Joyce

[emmsthheight]

Hi

Yes, I saw that.  I was thinking of a marriage before the this one but it would have to have been a very short one.  Stranger things have happened!?!

Looks like one to think on!  There must be some explanation!

I'll have another think!

Best wishes

Emms

[regross]

Hello,

There a several Mary Ann Athertons born in Lancashire around 1856-1860 on Free BMD. INcluding one in Bolton.

http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/cgi/search.pl

Another thought is that Mary Ann had had an earlier short lived marriage.

regards

Robyn in Australia

[emmsthheight]

Hi Joyce and Regross

Regross you look as id you're thinking along the same lines as me.

I looked on 1861 and there are a few Mary Ann's born around the right time in or near Poulton, including Mary Ann Cartmel.

I think it's a better end of the day for this in Australia, Robyn.

I'll see where you've got to with it by our morning!

Best wishes both.

Emms

[andrewalston]

Just because you think they were too young doesn't mean that they didn't marry - although the apparent change of surname hints at abnormal events.

My own gg grandmother Nancy Knowles married in 1861, aged 14. The marriage entry claims that both parties were of full age. Her age at the subsequent censuses matches perfectly with her baptism in 1847, and other relatives in the household in 1871 confirm that this is the right person.

There was a gap of over 3 years before their first child was born, possibly to keep the neighbours from talking!

[diavalos]

Today i received a birth certificate for one of Mary Anne' children it confirms that her mother's maiden name was Casey. So yes i have got the right person. It is just the date of Mary Anne's birth that is a mystery. One of my theories is that she was  born before or maybe just after her parent's were married 1865.. Maybe the bir th wasn't registered until after another child was born. 1870ish. Another theory of mine is that rather than being the daughter of James Casey she may have been his sister and then James went on to have a child named Mary Ann. That doesnt really explain the Poulton-le-fylde birth place though. Ah well i shall battle on.
Joyce

[emmsthheight]

Hi

Just a thought:

There's a James Casey married "Cathrine Keough" in the Fylde

Oct - Dec 1865 Index 8e 866 (Free bmd)

I was looking for a Mary Ann Keough but  only a few in Manchester and other places, so you'd have to go with your Mary Ann born Preston.

I'll have another look.

Best wishes

Emms