Thread: Puzzle - changing names

LizP · 28-08-2008, 08:41 AM

On my great grandma's birth cert, her mother's maiden name was Rees. I struggled to find the marriage of a Sarah Rees to George Day - but did find one of Sarah Gittins. Then I found a birth of a Sarah Gittins Rees - so guessed this could be the one.

I got the birth and marriage certs for Sarah - on her birth one, her mother is also Sarah Rees, no father. On the marriage one her father is now John Gittins, confectioner.

I am sure that this is all the same Sarah - and have followed her through all the censuses, sometimes as Rees, sometimes Gittins, living with her mother Sarah (also a confectioner who is always recorded as unmarried) in Llanidloes. She seems to have at least 2 sisters - at various times there are grandchildren of Sarah senior living there also - surname Pugh.

Have now received the marriage cert of who I think is Sarah's sister Eliza to Herbert Pugh - but Eliza's maiden name has now become Woodburn and her father is John Woodburn (confectioner). A witness to the marriage is Mary Ann Woodburn - who I think must be the other sister - a Mary Ann Woodburn married John Owen in 1860, and they live with Sarah senior in 1861.

Has anyone actually followed this? Any ideas about what actually happened gratefully received!

Liz

welshlady · 28-08-2008, 09:59 AM

without looking too closely. i would suggest that sarah is born to sarah rees illigitametlybut father is known to be john gittins, but they never marry and sarah uses both names throughout her life as she feels fit. often happens. with regards to sarah sisters it would seem they are to a different father (again not married to sarahs mother) and again use their fathers name when they see fit, usually on marriage certificates so there isnt any stigma.

LizP · 28-08-2008, 10:06 AM

That's more or less the conclusion I had come to but it's good to hear it from someone else!

There seem to be an awful lot of "confectioners" in the Llanidloes area at that time!

28-08-2008, 08:41 AM	#1 (permalink)
LizP New Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Nuneaton Posts: 11	Puzzle - changing names On my great grandma's birth cert, her mother's maiden name was Rees. I struggled to find the marriage of a Sarah Rees to George Day - but did find one of Sarah Gittins. Then I found a birth of a Sarah Gittins Rees - so guessed this could be the one. I got the birth and marriage certs for Sarah - on her birth one, her mother is also Sarah Rees, no father. On the marriage one her father is now John Gittins, confectioner. I am sure that this is all the same Sarah - and have followed her through all the censuses, sometimes as Rees, sometimes Gittins, living with her mother Sarah (also a confectioner who is always recorded as unmarried) in Llanidloes. She seems to have at least 2 sisters - at various times there are grandchildren of Sarah senior living there also - surname Pugh. Have now received the marriage cert of who I think is Sarah's sister Eliza to Herbert Pugh - but Eliza's maiden name has now become Woodburn and her father is John Woodburn (confectioner). A witness to the marriage is Mary Ann Woodburn - who I think must be the other sister - a Mary Ann Woodburn married John Owen in 1860, and they live with Sarah senior in 1861. Has anyone actually followed this? Any ideas about what actually happened gratefully received! Liz

28-08-2008, 09:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
welshlady Advanced Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Wrexham Posts: 465 Total Awards: 3	Re: Puzzle - changing names without looking too closely. i would suggest that sarah is born to sarah rees illigitametlybut father is known to be john gittins, but they never marry and sarah uses both names throughout her life as she feels fit. often happens. with regards to sarah sisters it would seem they are to a different father (again not married to sarahs mother) and again use their fathers name when they see fit, usually on marriage certificates so there isnt any stigma.
	Names I am researching Walker (liverpool) davidson, mccullough,mcdowell grills, wilson and thornton (ireland) wookey (somerset) houstoun (worcester and scotland), jeffcoate and iliffe (midlands) byron, bailey and edwards (cheshire and staffs)

28-08-2008, 10:06 AM	#3 (permalink)
LizP New Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Nuneaton Posts: 11	Re: Puzzle - changing names That's more or less the conclusion I had come to but it's good to hear it from someone else! There seem to be an awful lot of "confectioners" in the Llanidloes area at that time!