Untangling surname confusion - Hanney or Allen??

[~Rachel~]

Hello,

I am researching my GG Grandmoter, Fanny Radford however have got myself into a confusion with her parentage and am after some thoughts!

Fanny was born 5 March 1858 at Camden Place, Weston Super Mare. Her parents are listed on her birth certificate as Simon Radford (labourer b. 1817ish) and Eliza Radford formerly Hanney (b. 1817ish).

Simon and Eliza had nine children I am aware of:

Simon b. 1839
Elizabeth b. 1841
Caroline b. 1843
Robert b. 1847
Edward b. 1849
Hannah b. 1852
Matilda b. 1849
Fanny b. 1858
Lucy b. 1859

I have them through all census returns, baptism records etc.

However the confusion comes in following Simon Radford's death in 1864.

It looks to me as though Eliza remarries Levi Thomas 17 Dec 1870. One of the witnesses is Eliza's daughter Caroline who had married to become Caroline Elver. Connections also meet up on later census returns.

However, on the marriage certificate to Levi Thomas, Eliza's father is listed as John Allen and not John Hanney.

Any ideas for this discrepancy? I was sure I had everything right Hanney wise and now I can't see the woods for the trees.

Any ideas appreciated!

Thanks in advance

[Marmalady]

When did Simon & Eliza marry? If post 1837, who is named as her father on the marriage certificate?

Some possibilities:
Eliza had been married before she married Simon and Allen was her original maiden name and Hanney the name of her first husband.

Eliza's mother had been married twice and Eliza used both her birth father's name and her step-father's name at different times

Less likely is that the Vicar who married them misheard the name and so wrote it down wrong

[emeltom]

The Vicar can get it wrong. My gt gt grandmother was born Mary Ann Woolfall, father William, a Brewer. She married someone with the surname Evans who later died and she then married my gt gt grandfather as Mary Ann  Evans. On the marriage cert her father is down as William Evans, Brewer.

Emeltom

[avm228]

Have you traced the lodger William Hanney who is lodging with the family in 1851 (21 b Taunton) in case he is related?

[avm228]

Tracing the children, of whom I count 13 - mother’s maiden name varies:

Elizabeth Radford, mmn Hanning, Mar qtr 1838 Taunton (bapt as Elizabeth Hanney, d as Elizabeth Radford Hanney, Sep qtr 1838 Taunton)
Simon Radford, no mmn, Jun qtr 1839 Taunton
Susan Radford, mmn Henry, Jun qtr 1841 Taunton (possibly becomes known as Elizabeth?)
Robert Radford, mmn Hanning, Mar qtr 1843 Taunton (died aged 0, Mar qtr 1843 Taunton)
Caroline Radford, mmn Allen, Mar qtr 1844 Taunton
Louisa Radford, mmn Hannay, Jun qtr 1846 Taunton
Robert Radford, mmn Hannah, Jun qtr 1848 Taunton
Edward Radford, mmn Henney, Sep qtr 1850 Taunton
Emma Radford, mmn Hanney, Dec qtr 1852 Axbridge (possibly “Hannah” in 1861? Marries as Emma.)
Matilda Radford, mmn Anning, Dec qtr 1855 Taunton
Fanny Radford, mmn Henney, Mar qtr 1858 Axbridge
James Radford, mmn Henney, Mar qtr 1858 Axbridge
Lucy Radford, mmn Heenly, Dec qtr 1859 Axbridge

[avm228]

Perhaps you have seen that they married as Simon Radford and Eliza Hanney, Dec qtr 1839 Taunton? As has been said, the marriage registration should contain paternal information.

[osprey]

son Simon baptised 23 June 1839 at St Mary Magdalene, Taunton.

[guest189040]

Sometimes family give incorrect names for reasons that are now lost to family history.

Eg
My Uncle got married and used his Brothers name at the ceremony and hence it is on the Marriage Certificate, we have no idea why he did what he did

[avm228]

Simon Radford (snr) in the 1861 census is 45 born “Claydon”, Devon.

Possible baptism 1815 at Clayhidon, Devon - Simon, son of John Radford, husbandman, and Margaret.  The transcription gives a “birthdate” of 25 December 1815 but without seeing the original I can’t be sure whether that is really the birthdate or the baptism date.