Marriage Records

[Philldw]

I need on advise on establishing a marriage record. If you use a website such as FindMyPast it often states two names as a spouse. For example : Henry Williams  QTR 1 year 1908 Alverstoke married one of these Ellen Alice Swatton, Clara Emma Cole . One is the spouse the other a witness.
Which one is which? I have tried looking at the next census i.e 1911 with little or no success.
Is there a method other than applying for shed loads of certs? I would a appreciate advise on the methodology of solving the problem other contributers use. many thanks David

[Craclyn]

One technique, as you have already mentioned, is using the next census if the two women have different first names. Another technique is to look at known children and check the maiden name of their mother using the GRO index.

[avm228]

It isn’t the case that “one is a spouse, the other is a witness”.  These are both brides who married in that quarter with that reference.  You will see on FreeBMD that there are two grooms and two brides sharing a reference so you need to pair them up using later records (births of children, census, 1939, death).  If you can pair up one couple with confidence then the other couple, by process of elimination, must have married one another.

I have always found it rather unhelpful that FindMyPast tell you who the two possible brides are but not the other groom (or vice versa) and have told them as much, but to no avail!

[goldie61]

I need on advise on establishing a marriage record. If you use a website such as FindMyPast it often states two names as a spouse. For example : Henry Williams  QTR 1 year 1908 Alverstoke married one of these Ellen Alice Swatton, Clara Emma Cole . One is the spouse the other a witness.

I don't think it means one is a spouse, and the other the witness.
If you look at freebmd, there are 6 people's names on the same page as Henry Williams, including him
Strangely, 4 of them are males, and 2 females.
The 2 females would have been the spouses of 2 of the men on that page.
I think it is not unheard of for the names of the 2 people in a marriage to end up on different pages, so the partners of the other 2 men on this page may be on the page before and/or the page after.

From the listing on freebmd, it LOOKS as if Henry Williams married Ellen Alice Swatton, and Clara Emma Cole married James Murphy.

Added: Crossed with your post avm!

[avm228]

In this case the other bridegroom is Patrick James Murphy, and several Murphy/Swatton births follow in the local area, so I’d be looking for later evidence of Henry Williams with Clara née Cole.

[avm228]

From the listing on freebmd, it LOOKS as if Henry Williams married Ellen Alice Swatton, and Clara Emma Cole married James Murphy.

You can’t tell anything about who married whom from the order in which they are listed on FreeBMD.  The four relevant individuals, all married in Alverstoke district, are simply listed in alphabetical order of surname.

The irrelevant individuals (Borroughs and Stanley) are misindexed and should be disregarded.  Their district (Portsmouth) is in italics, indicating that there is a likely error as the reference details are inconsistent with the district.

[goldie61]

Henry Williams birth registered D quarter 1912 Alverstoke mother's maiden name Cole.
Also Wilfred Williams S quarter 1910 mmn Cole.
Vera Jane Williams S quarter 1908 mmn Cole
Possibly others - only looked up to 1914.

from www.gro.gov.uk

[avm228]

Henry Williams birth registered D quarter 1912 Alverstoke mother's maiden name Cole.
Also Wilfred Williams S quarter 1910 mmn Cole.
Vera Jane Williams S quarter 1908 mmn Cole
Possibly others - only looked up to 1914.

from www.gro.gov.uk

Yes - Vera and Wilfred should be easily traceable in 1911.

[Philldw]

The Henry Williams was born in 1890 son of Harriet & George Williams. He is shown on the 1891 census with his parents. Also, I believe on the 1901 (as Harry) census with George  & Maria Williams
Licensed Victualler. I found  quite a few marriages between 1908 and 1920 for the Portsea for Henry Williams all with 'multiple ' bride names. Gone pear shaped trying to establish one to follow up!
Thanks for all your help.