Peter Hughes

[Annholliday]

Peter Hughes married Catherine Colley in 1859. He signed his name Peter John Hughes. His father was John Hughes, a coppersmith. Peter married Ann Gatenby in 1867. He signed his name Peter Hughes. His father was Peter Hughes, a joiner. They lived around Oldham Rd Ancoats / Newton, Manchester.

peter's probate 20/10/1885.
Can't find any records of him before marriage cert to Catherine and can find no burial record.
Annie Hughes died 02/07/1888.Probate 13/09/1888.

if any one can offer any other details I would be really grateful. Have tried Ancestry and think 1841 census pages have been spoiled.

[garstonite]

Hi Ann and a warm welcome to Rootschat .
can I ask if you have both Marriage Certificates ?
1st marriage in 1859 was at All Saints church , Newton Heath ,Manchester
..........................................................................
2nd marriage was at Manchester Cathedral and he married Annie Gatenby - not down as Ann
both records can be found on
http://www.lancashirebmd.org.uk/cgi/marrind.cgi

ADDED - do you know Peters occupation at the marriages ??

[Annholliday]

Thanks. yes I have both certs

[garstonite]

So - I am a little puzzled
1859 father is John Hughes - a Coppersmith
1867 his father is Peter Hughes - a Joiner .............I would have to say it looks like 2 different Peter Hughes to me .....the fathers names and occupations don't match ??

is this what you are asking / trying to prove or solve ??

[Annholliday]

that's what I thought, but peter's signatures seem to match on each cert and there is a common witness in John Longley. for both marriages.In 1861 census, son of catherine and peter, is Robert aged 1yr. 1871 census, bob is 11yrs with Annie and Peter.

[AntonyMMM]

Normally I would also have said it sounds like different men, but looking at the original register entries (available on Ancestry) I would agree the signatures look very similar and the inclusion of a common witness is compelling evidence to suggest he is marrying twice.

The key thing is that on the 2nd marriage he claims to be a bachelor, which cannot be true,  he has to be either a widower or divorced (unlikely but possible).

I would be looking for what happened to his first wife Catherine - did she die (probably not, or he would have been shown as a widower), did she marry again and can she be found in later census records. Were there children of the first marriage - what happened to them ?

It appears to be a potentially bigamous marriage , which isn't that uncommon.

[Annholliday]

thanks.
I spotted the bachelor thing. Have tried to trace Catherine, her father Owen...no luck. her child Robert is 1yr old in 1861 census and is shown as Bob, 11yrs old in 1871 census. no luck tracing him either Why would the child not be with his mother if she was alive? surely the  John Longley witness would not be witness to bigamous marriage.

[avm228]

One possibility is that Catherine was still alive but in some sort of institution (even something like postnatal depression could cause a woman to be placed in an asylum) so could not care for Robert.  In such circumstances a friend might have been prepared to be complicit in a bigamous arrangement and act as witness again.

[avm228]

Catherine (10) is with her family in Newton, Manchester in 1851, all as "Colly".

HO107/2231/305/29.