wrong fathers name at marriage

[Jebber]

Certificates can be a minefield of misinformation.

Not only parents and names can be wrong, ages and birth dates also,  birthdays were not celebrated as the are to day, not everyone knew how old they were.

Stated birth places could be the ealiest place they remembered living, that could be miles from where they actually born.

Their own or their father's occupation could be highly exagerated.

The census can lead us on a wild goose chase.

Just think how dull research would be if it was easy because  all the facts were completely true.

[coombs]

Yes, my 2xgreat gran was born in Sussex but her parents moved to London when she was a baby and she said that she was born in that London area in census records.

I have some who fabricated their fathers occupation when they were just labourers, not carpenters etc.

John Hurt on WDYTYA found out his supposed royal roots was all false, and it was a wild goose chase.

[aghadowey]

My grandfather's uncle married in the church of his wife, as is the custom. Although they lived a few miles apart they were of different religious denominations and it is possible the clergyman did not know the groom's family. His father's Christian name was Andrew but the clergyman put William as the groom's father. Since both families were well educated and able to read it would seem that they didn't notice the error at the time.

[Pinetree]

Which Marriage Certificate are you going from ?

The Original Church Marriage Certificate
Or the Marriage Certificate Copy sent to the GRO that you applied for.

I have come across GRO copies sent to the GRO have Incorrect Names Copied from the Church Original Certificate

Both from parish records.  It is odd because there are no Thomases in that branch of the family as far as I can tell.

Pinetree

[AntonyMMM]

The details of the father, his name and/or occupation ( and now including the mother) has never been part of the legally required information that has to be given when marrying and so has never been subject to any check or verification, even today.

As a registrar I was surprised how many people actively chose to leave their fathers details off the register - usually after a family break up of some sort - it happened quite a few times. Likewise even when giving the details it was very common for the parties not to know their father's full name and occupation and sometimes had to run off to ask another family member for help.

[Milliepede]

Some interesting observations here thanks.   It’s making me think of going back and double checking all the possibles I rejected because the father’s name was wrong.

Especially one chap I followed all the way through and it was only when I got the marriage and fathers name was wrong I rejected it.  Father was George same as his so certainly a plausible mistake.