Marriage confusion

[julie54]

I have traced my 3x grt grandfather thru the census. George Collins in 1841 was living in Alvechurch with his wife Ann. On the 1851 census George is found  still in Alvechurch his birth place being Blockley in worcestershire. I have found his birth as sept 1820, father William Collins. I began lookinfg for a marriage for George, I found a marriage to an Ann Gibbs for June 1841. sighting george farther as a William Collins. This all fits but for the location St Georges Birmingham Warwickshire. To further add to the confusion George was married twice. His second wife he married when he was 65 and living in Tanworth in Arden Warwickshire, she was a Mary Jane Fisher (nee Massey) also of Tanworth In Arden , however there marriage in 1887 is also registered at St Georges Birmingham. Any idea why they would not be registered at there local parish? Dates etc all marry up, fathers names and occupations. Address also given as 116 Barr st on both registrations. Are these all just coincidences and I have 2 wrong marriages for the same person. HELP. Thanks.

[alpinecottage]

Do you have the two marriage certificates, to be sure you have the correct George Collins?

It is about 10 miles from Alvechurch to Edgbaston (St Georges) and usually a couple married in the bride's parish.  Do you know anything about where Ann was from?

When George remarried in 1887, he may have chosen the same church as his first marriage for sentimental reasons, or maybe his second wife was a friend or relation of his first wife and also came from there.  Again Tamworth in Arden to Edgbaston is about 10 miles, so not too far to travel if you had a particular reason to do so.

[avm228]

Welcome to Rootschat

Does the 116 Barr St address on the marriage certificates tally with the residence as found in the censuses?

Edit: presumably not, as the address is in Hockley in the (then) parish of St George's in the Fields.  The church was demolished in 1960.

[BumbleB]

116 Barr Street is the address given on 1887 marriage entry.  1841 entry looks like Bun Street.  Signatures are very similar on both entries.  Address in 1851 = Coopers Hill, Alvechurch, 1861 = Nr Tanworth, 1871 = Tanworth, 1881 Vicarage Hill, Tanworth.  1891 = Gilbert's Green, Tanworth.  Occupation ranges from Ag Lab in 1841, via Fair Bailiff, to Farmer in 1891.

Personally, I don't see any problem with the marriage being at St George's, rather than the local church.  Perhaps they didn't like the vicar, or didn't really want everyone knowing their business, who knows.  10 miles wasn't too far to travel especially if you consider that people often walked 5 miles to work every day.  I've got ancestors who were born and bred in Tadcaster, but for some reason they got married in Leeds, although all their children were baptised in Tadcaster.

[LizzieL]

The birth certificate of one of George and Ann's children should give the mother's maiden name, so confirm whether it was Gibbs or not.
When in June 1841 did they marry? Census night was 6th June, so if marriage was later, she wouldn't be Ann Collins on the census.

[BumbleB]

He might have been on his honeymoon    They married on 5 June 

[BumbleB]

No, he wasn't    They are both in Alvechurch, at Cooper's Hill.

[julie54]

Thank you for all your thoughts. I will now ask for the marriage cert. Let u know what happens when it comes. 

[BumbleB]

Yes, please do.  It's always nice to get a result, good or (hopefully not) bad!