« Reply #32 on: Monday 18 January 21 14:34 GMT (UK) »
Something to bear in mind is that a blank where the father's name should be was often filled with a little white lie. The name was sometimes inspired by the name of a grandfather or the man who was the father figure in the household. Another thing you may see is the actual first name of the father but with the same surname as the person marrying, again to cover up illegitimacy.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBFG-PLNThis 1871 census for William's mother, Hannah, and brother, Thomas, shows her as housekeeper to James Hough, a bricklayer. This is why I suggested that this James could be the inspiration for James the mason on William's marriage cert. Housekeeper is quite often the word used when a couple are living together but not married, possibly can't marry as one of them is already married to someone else.
What you find on certificates and census entries is only part of a picture and should not be assumed to be totally accurate. You need to look at everything you can find to build up the most likely background for a person. There may be differences in implied dates of birth from census entries, differences in places of birth, variants of surnames. it all adds to the fun!
Cornwall: Allen, Bevan, Bosisto, Carnpezzack, Donithorn, Huddy, James, Retallack, Russell, Vincent, Yeoman
Cards: Thomas (Llanbadarn Fawr)
Glam: Bowler, Cram, Galloway, James, Thomas, Watkins
Lincs: Coupland, Cram
Mon: Cram, Gwyn, John, Philpot, Smart, Watkins
Pembs: Edwards (St. Dogmael's)
Yorks: Airey, Bowler, Elliott, Hare, Hewitt, Kellett, Kemp, Stephenson, Tebb
