Hi Tracey,
I am not sure how familiar you are with the NSW BDM marriage records 1856-1895, but basically Civil registration commenced in NSW in 1856, but the Churches and the Registrar General’s Office did not co-operate with each other until 1895, so NSW marriages prior to 1895 often have blanks in various columns. When all the columns have the full information, then the document includes notations showing how NSW BDM obtained that information.
From an online submitted tree, I see a certificate issued by NSW BDM back in July 1993. The current format used is different again from that record, but the same information should be available.
Anyway, looking at that image I notice that it has been altered by others, without the NSW BDM officers validating the changes.
Some of the alterations are printed, perhaps to ‘enhance’ the longhand writing of the Reverend in whose hand it was recorded and sent to NSW BDM.
This is my transcription of the document as it currently reads
24
30 November 1892
Coonamble
Patrick Joseph HOWARD, Bachelor, born Campbelltown, Labourer, 31, usual residence Coonamble, with parents as John Thomas HOWARD, a miner and Anne Howard KEANE,
And
Blanch EVANS, Spinster, born The Merri Merri nr (near) Coonamble, Dressmaker, 21, usual residence, Coonamble, with parents as William EVANS, labourer and Sophia Evans COE,
Witnesses Michael GRAYNDLES and Mary EVANS.
Married in the house of Mr JUDD, according to the rites of the Church of England, by John A COOPER, Officiating Minister
May I please mention that I find it very unusual for the ages of the bride and groom, and their parents names to be noted on a rural NSW marriage in 1892, particularly as it is a C of E marriage.
May I suggest that the mc was obtained in 8 July 1993, and since that time various people have considered and researched and ADDED information to it. For example, likely they have added the names of the parents of both the bride and the groom. I expect they obtained that information from the Church register. There is NOTHING on the document to show that NSW BDM had reconciled this mc to the Church registers.
May I mention that the Rev Cooper’s handwriting ought to be the ONLY handwriting on the record, and that from his signature you can see that he does NOT form the ‘r’ to end a word in the same way as the person who printed Labourer or Dressmaker. May I also mention that it is unusual for both the married surname and the maiden surname to be noted under the heading mother’s name and maiden surname. I would expect it to show only the maiden surname and any other former surnames, but NOT the then current surname for their mothers. (All the details in that column are not in the Reverend’s hand, and I would NOT actually anticipate to find any info under that heading UNLESS the NSW BDM document noted which register provided that information, and when it had been reconciled.
In the ‘white space’ at the bottom of the document, in someone else’s longhand, I read
Blanche Anne Evans
born 20/5/1872 Baptised 22/4/1873 by Rev Henry Dicker, Parish of Coonamble, County of Leichhardt.
Daughter of John and Sophia Evans, - Farmer
Yarra Yarra Quambone.
I ASSURE YOU that that is definitely NOT information provided by NSW BDM based on the registration of the marriage.
It may well be accurate information, but, just like the information regarding Blanch's and Patrick's ages, places of birth, occupations details of his parents, it is not information that was supplied to the NSW BDM when registering the marriage.
May I suggest you consider obtaining an official transcription of the 1892 marriage. If those elusive blanks are on that transcription, then my advice would be to consider the following thread which I prepared some years ago now. The Official transcribers transcribe the NSW BDM register, and if the 1892 marriage has been reconciled by NSW BDM, they will note the NSW BDM references for those additions to the mc.
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,546609.0.htmlCheers, JM
