Ellen Roath- born 5 years before she claimed?

[littleem1906]

My great great grandmother Ellen Roath is a complete mystery to our family. We know that she died in 1945 and from her marriage record to John Harbidge in 1897 we know she was born around 1875. On her marriage certificate her father is named Charles Roath.

I searched for her birth record and there is no Ellen Roath born in Birmingham in 1875. There are however two Ellen Roath birth records for Birmingham. The first is Ellen Maria Roath born in 1874, however she also died the same year as I found her death record. The second Ellen Roath was born in 1870, 5 years before my great great grandmother.

I looked for the Ellen Roath born in 1870 in the 1871 census. She appeared to have a father called Charles Edward Roath, which matches the father's name on my grandmothers marriage certificate. However in 1881, the father is dead.

Do I have the correct family for my Ellen Roath? If so could Ellen Roath have lied on her marriage certificate to make her appear 5 years younger? And why would her father not be listed as deceased on her marriage certificate?   

[patrish]

You could put down whatever you wanted on a marriage certificate, who was going to check 

Its not uncommon to find fathers not listed a deceased when they were and vice versa.

Certificates are just like the census's, nothing can be taken for granted until proven

[KGarrad]

How old was her husband?

Women are vain creatures! Always telling little porkies about age!! 

<I'll run for cover now!>

[littleem1906]

Does this mean my suspicions are correct and she lied about her age? I am guessing she did this as her husband was 23 at the time of the marriage. Had she given her real age she would have been 27. Her death record states that in 1945 she was 70 years old so it looks like she continued the lie all her life.

[KGarrad]

That sounds about right to me.

It was (and still is?) considered "usual" for the bride to be younger than the groom.
Some people get a bit paranoid over this!!

[trish1120]

1881 Census it appears to that Charles is just away from home as Elizabeth is described as married.

BUT;
There is a Charles Roath born c 1846 Holywell, Wales with a much younger Wife living in Kings Norton, Worcs in 1881. He is a Metal Polisher.
RG11/2948/48/16
1871 Census where he is Married to Elizabeth (nee Onions) he is a German Metal Polisher
May explain why he is down as deceased on Ellens M/C?

[littleem1906]

This is definately my Charles Roath, as his profession on Ellen's marriage certificate is metal polisher. Wow, I had no idea he had married again. I wonder who she was? I thought that divorce was very uncommon in the 1800s?

[trish1120]

It was and not likely unless you were aristocracy.
Have you found Elizabeth the Mother post 1881?
After 7yrs of desertion she could remarry.
Ellen and her Sister Elizabeths Marriages are on Familysearch Pilot;
Elizabeth married William EDWARDS 1889.
It may be worth following Ellens Siblings to see if any other clues turn up.

[littleem1906]

Thanks for the help Trish. It seems sad that he would desert his first wife like that. I haven't been able to find her in later census records yet. I don't know when she married Charles Roath either. I was told her maiden name could be Onions. Who was his second wife?