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Kevin Garrad
20-07-2010, 7:46 AM
I hope someone can help me here.

I have found the marriage of William Vanston(e) in December quarter 1869, Swansea.
Page reference is 11a/807 but this page doesn't show a spouse for William.

I was expecting to find Isabella, and hoped to find her maiden name.

I can trace William and Isabella through census returns and births from 1864 until Isabella's death in the 1880's.

I think that this may simply be a transcription error, and I don't want to get the certificate just yet.
So, can anybody help me out?

Thanks,

Kevin

Peter Goodey
20-07-2010, 8:02 AM
Are you using FreeeBMD? It has various diagnostics available.

Search on Marriages Swansea Dec 1859 (not 1869!). Don't enter any other data. You then get a list of all Swansea marriages in that quarter. Look down the list for a possible ambiguity or bad transcription.

Elizabeth Williams on page ?07 rather stands out. Checking the image, I would say that the page number is 807.

So the missing bride is Elizabeth Williams.

Haven't you got birth certificates of the children? This is the usual way to get the mother's maiden name.

Pamelawagster
20-07-2010, 8:04 AM
the page reference you have given is for 1859!

Kevin Garrad
20-07-2010, 8:11 AM
Peter,
Let me start at the beginning.
William Vanstone (born 1834, Exeter) by 1871 census was married to Isabella (born 1838, Pontypool).
They have 3 children: John (1864) William (1866) and Grace (1871).

My original line of wuery was: what is Isabella's maiden name?

So, using BMD I think I have found William's marriage in Swansea, December quarter 1859.
So why can't I find a mention of Isabella?

I'm not convinced that the page/folio numbers have been transcribed correctly, so that may be the problem.

Kevin

Peter Goodey
20-07-2010, 8:25 AM
Kevin
Have a look at the method that I outlined and see if you agree or disagree with my conclusions. In that period there are no more than two marriages per page. Elizabeth Williams is shown as page _07. I think the actual image says 807 which would make her the missing bride.

You can't be absolutely sure at this stage that the couple you're interested in actually did marry. That's why the standard method of obtaining a maiden name is through one of the children's birth certificates.

Also don't forget that Isabel, Isabella etc are equivalent to Elizabeth. Perhaps she decided that she would prefer to be known as Isabella rather than Elizabeth.

Peter Goodey
20-07-2010, 8:36 AM
And in the 1861 census, William Vanston appears to be in Swansea with an Angelina!

RG 9/4100 f 23 p 9 (records at TNA)

Kevin Garrad
20-07-2010, 9:48 AM
Peter,

Thanks for putting the cat amongst the pigeons! ;-)
Now I have some more research to do!

1833/34 William was born in Exeter, Devon.
1841 census finds his family at Bickleigh, Devon.
He moved with his family to South Wales.
By 1861 he is in Swansea, together with wife Angelina lodging with James & Loveday Vanstone.
A son John is born in 1864; William is born in 1866; and Grace is born in 1871.
The 1871 census has him living with wife Isabella.
1881 he and Isabella are still together.
Isabella dies in 1886.

In 1891 (Census) William has a third wife, Ellen and step-children with surname Hawkins.

So, now I have more than 1 marriage to find, plus a death or 2.

I'll plow on!

Peter Goodey
20-07-2010, 11:13 AM
I recommend birth certificates