sudjhr

Hi everyone,

I am currently researching Esther Garratt baptized on 28/2/1834 in Newport Pagnell, Bucks.. Her parents as per IGI were Thomas Garratt and Martha. However the 1841c shows:

Thomas Garratt, b. 1800, Bucks.,Elizabeth, wife, b 1801 Bucks., Caroline, dau 15, Hester dau 8, Magret dau 7 months, Thomas son 4, William son 10, res. Great Linford, Newport Pagnell.

All the other childrens' births are on the IGI with name of mother Elizabeth. How can I check whether or not this is an error on the IGI? Would someone eventually be kind enough to help me with a parish register look-up please?

Thanks,
Sue

gillian

I'll have a go - but it might take me some time (see my thread Sog look-ups on Offer Help forum)
Gillian

sudjhr

Hi Gillian

Thanks. It doesn't matter if it takes a while. I have time. Very grateful for your help.

BR
Sudjhr

Victoria

Hi Sue,
I think your Thomas may have married twice. In 1851 17 year old Esther a lacemaker, is with her mother, Martha age 30?? (Bucks fhs cd mistranscript because that cannot be right unless she was a second wife as I suggest) a widow, with other children, Thomas 13 an aglab, Mary Ann 10, a lacemaker. Martha was running a lodging house at Marsh End in Newport Pagnall.
There is a death of a Thomas Hindes Garrett in Newport Pagnell Reg Dist in 1845 (FreeBMD) but no marriage (yet ) to a Martha.

Hope this helps and doesn't further confuse.
Regards
Victoria

sudjhr

Hi Victoria,

Thank you so much for taking the time to help me with my research. I am trying to make sense of all of this, and am now wondering whether this Elizabeth or Martha is one and the same person. What makes me think this is because I cannot find a birth entry on the IGI for an Elizabeth Petts born c1801, but there is one for a Martha Petts born 1801 in Newport Pagnell. Maybe Martha called herself Elizabeth sometimes? Do you think that could be possible? It really doesn't make sense that the first child was born to an Elizabeth, the second to a Martha, and the third and fourth to an Elizabeth.

Best regards,
Sue

Victoria

Hello Sue,
It is perfectly possible that Martha called herself Elizabeth at times. It definitely sounds as if she did. I have several cases where a Mary Ann called herself Ann for much of her older life. Similarly with Elizabeth Ann. How do you know her maiden name was Petts? Don't forget that the IGI is only a tiny fraction of the baptisms/marriages that actually took place, and be careful with submitted ones, as against parish collected. They are often wrong. Also, of course, some parish register years simply do not exist due to destruction over the centuries. What you really need is a lookup on the actual registers and that I am afraid I cannot help you with. I don't even know where the ones for Newport Pagnell are held. Sorry to be so negative. Perhaps someone else can help.
Regards
Victoria

sudjhr

Hi Victoria,

Thank you very much for all your help. You are right, I would be better off with a parish register look-up. On the IGI I found the marriage of a Thomas Garratt and Elizabeth Petts in 1820 which fits, but of course, there's no guarantee that it's correct.

Thanks,
Sue

gillian

Hi Sue - see reply on the SoG thread
Gillian