Finally got round to ordering 2 marriage certificates for Eliza Preece and Felix Golden.
For some reason the couple appeared to have been married twice.
1. 29/08/1868 at the parish Church of Holmer, Hereford. Felix Golden, (Bachelor of full age, Hairdresser residing Holmer, Father Thomas Golden, Publican.) married Eliza Preece, (age 19, spinster of Holmer, father John Preece a shoemaker). Witnesses Joseph Carter and Elizabeth Lawrance.
2. 05/12/1879 at the English Independent Chapel in Merthyr Tydfil. Felix Golden (38 year old widower, Hairdresser of Ship Street Brecon, Father Thomas Golden (deceased) Publican) married Elizabeth Preece (29 year old spinster of Cefn Coed Vaynor, father John Preece (deceased) Cordwainer). Witnesses Andrew Baxter and Mary Hamlyn.
Im struggling to understand the double marriage and the widower spinster status. However it does allow me to find Eliza's family in census records as her father is a shoemaker. Again there is something a little unusual. On the 1851 census John Preece and Elizabeth preece are recorded as having daughters Eliza 4 and Elizabeth 10 months.
Has Felix married his sister in law? Were the girls actually sisters or had the Parents taken an illegitimate grandchild as their own?
Any advice gratefully received.