Thomas RHODES - Shipley marriage

[tulstig]

Have checked IGI/freebmd etc for marriage of Thomas Rhodes (who I am sure married Ann in Shipley), father of  Winifred Sarah, Fanny Francis, Alfred Francis, Ellen Maria.
Have found two marriages of Thomas Rhodes in Shipley, Sx:
17.05.1825 to Ann Johnson.
29.05.1823 to Ann Longley.
So my question is how do I find out which is the right one?
Any help much appreciated,
Mark

[Jane Masri]

Mark, I think your answer might be here.  It looks to me that the two marriages of Thomas in Shipley you found are the same Thomas Rhodes!  He married twice, both wives having the name Ann.  The clue is with the witness, Joseph Pierce.
To verify this you will need to find the burial of the first Ann and see if you can find a connection within the family with these witnesses.  I've had a quick look on the Sussex Marriage Index but nothing is glaringly obvious

 Shipley, West Sussex,  Date: 29 May 1823:
 Thomas RHODES
 Ann LONGLEY, botp (B)
 Witness wit. William BURSTOW, Joseph PEIRCE

 



Shipley, West Sussex,  Date: 17 Jul 1825:
 Thomas RHODES, widr
 Ann JOHNSON, sp botp (B)
 Witness wit. James & Mary BOTTEN, (Joseph PEIRCE, P. Clerk )

Jane

 

[Chris in 1066Land]

hi Mark

Jane is correct, the clue here is the witness - the parish clerk Joseph Pierce.

Many parish clerks signed page after page of marriage details all at he same time, and most were not present at the marriage ceremony either.

This would confirm they both took place at the same church, it is probably ods on that the first Anne died as a result of childbirth; and if the child survived, Thomas would need someone to look after that child whilst he continued to work - no state handouts at that time.

Would look in the burial register for information on that first Ann

Chris in 1066

[Jane Masri]

OK, Sherlock, how do you know Joseph Pierce was the parish clerk
Clever stuff!

Jane

[sillgen]

I assumed P Clerk meant parish clerk as I read the post through.   What are the chances of it being a third witness?
Andrea

[Jane Masri]

    oooops, didn't dawn on me, just thought it was another name or didn't take too much notice of what I was reading...that's my story & I'll stick to it

Jane

[Chris in 1066Land]

Jane

Keep taking the tablets

Chris

[Jane Masri]

I think I'll have to change the prescription

Jane

[tulstig]

Think I've sorted this one now.
Thomas's father was Thomas too.
Thomas junior married Ann Longley (who didn't die till 1864)
 However Thomas senior remarried (to Ann Johnson in 1825 - she being just a year older than her stepson!!).when his first wife (Sarah Bristow) died in 1823.

Thanks
Mark