Mary Ann Thomas - 'wrong' father on marriage cert?

[suey]

Could he have been known as John? I have a James John in my husbands family, baptised James John but confusingly known as either John or Jack by the family.

[jimnix]

I experienced a very similar thing in my own research but it was the father of the groom not the bride in my case.

I had the groom’s father as being named John but he appeared on the marriage certificate as Thomas. Only when I found his burial record was his full name revealed to be “John Thomas William (surname)”. That was the only time these extra names had appeared in a written document.

I also recommend a DNA test. It’s helped me go a generation further when the paper trail had run dry.

[antonymark]

Thanks Suey and Jimnix,

I think the 'also known as John' theory is certainly possible. With James having a father John and sons John and James John the name is in the family. This was one of the reasons I bought youngest son Charles' marriage. He gives James as father. I think a punt on one of the other siblings' marriage might be worth a shot.

I've not been able to identify the death of James. He is 52 and at home at East Street, Epsom in 1871 but by 1881 Caroline is a widow at East Street with only Charles still at home. There doesn't seem to be a James Thomas (or a John) of the right age dying in the Epsom district within that time frame.

Thanks all, Tony.

[Girl Guide]

There is this death

Deaths Dec 1873   
THOMAS    John    52    Epsom    2a   3

Gives a birth year of 1821

I can't find a burial record to see if that tells us anything more.

[iluleah]

My great grandfather married twice and states a different fathers name on each marriage one turned out to be his maternal grandfather who brought him up the other his uncle ( his mums brother) who he worked for... as 'fathers name' is secondary information on a marriage cert I looked to his birth certificate and baptism record to find 'primary' information and his 'real' fathers name ..... but you never know if the records are true especially a century or more later where laws were not as strict as they are now about names given, you can only do your best research and find each and every real record and cross reference.

[Lily M]

Edward’s 1875 marriage to Mary Ann Moss is online.  He names father as James.  William Henry and Susan Thomas are witnesses.

I still think you’ve probably got the correct Mary Ann though.

[antonymark]

There is this death

Deaths Dec 1873   
THOMAS    John    52    Epsom    2a   3

Gives a birth year of 1821

I can't find a burial record to see if that tells us anything more.

Thanks GirlGuide.

I'd missed that one. Will have a look.

[Ladyhawk]

Edward’s 1875 marriage to Mary Ann Moss is online.  He names father as James. 
William Henry and Susan Thomas are witnesses.

I still think you’ve probably got the correct Mary Ann though.

Edward Thomas
Baptism 25 Sep 1853 Ewell, St Mary, Surrey
Father:   James Thomas, labourer Mother:   Caroline

William Henry Thomas married Susan Thomas
11 Oct 1873 All Saints with St Margaret, Surrey
His father named James, labourer
Her father named John, labourer

William Henry Thomas
Baptism 24 Jun 1849   Ewell, St Mary
Father:   James Thomas, labourer Mother: Caroline

Mary Ann Thomas
Baptism    30 Sep 1855 Ewell, St Mary
Father:   James Thomas, labourer  Mother: Caroline

[antonymark]

Edward’s 1875 marriage to Mary Ann Moss is online.  He names father as James.  William Henry and Susan Thomas are witnesses.

I still think you’ve probably got the correct Mary Ann though.

Thanks LilyM,

Good info.

William Henry and Susan are Edward's brother and sister in law.

Mary Ann Moss remarries after Edward's death to Ernest Tingley.