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i'm looking for my Great-great grandad's marriage certificate.
His name is William Henry Morris and In the 1901 census he is married to Charlotte, he is aged 48 and she 47 at this time.
I started looking through marriage records and have

1) An entrance for WIlliam H Morris marriage to Charlotte Mellor, in Chorlton -on-Medlock registry office in 1880 , Ref: CHO RM/54/131

and a second:

2) Entrance for William H Morris marriage to Charlotte Bowcock, in Jun 1874, at Manchester Cathedral ( formerly Manchester Collegiate Church).
Ref: CATH/199/ 166

I know his family were very poor and around 1881 were living in the Hulme area, is it possible that poor people could have been married in Manchester Cathedral, or should I discount this entry?


Thank you.

The best way to be sure is to get a birth cert for one of their children as this will give you mothers maiden name
for ref. is this the right family in 1901?
Name: William Hy Morris
Age: 48
Estimated birth year: abt 1853
Relation: Head
Spouse's name: Charlotte Morris
Gender: Male
Where born: Salford, Lancashire, England
Civil Parish: North Manchester
Ecclesiastical parish: Beswick and Bradford Christchurch
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England
Household Members:
Name Age
William Hy Morris 48
Charlotte Morris 47
James Morris 16
Hannah Morris 12
John Morris 6

I might be wrong but I think anyone could marry in a Cathedral back then

If someone could do a 1911 census lookup for you it should show how long they have been married...well thats if they are still alive!

But as Jan says a certificate really is the only way for certain ;)

not having any luck finding the above family in 1911 yet.

Manchester Cathedral was, and still is so far as I know, also the Parish Church for the area, and anyone could get married there, even very poor people

This is the entry for the 1874 marriage, from the new familysearch site


I was hoping it might show the fathers' names, but no such luck!


record title: England Marriages, 1538–1973

groom's name: William Henry Morris
bride's name: Charlotte Bowcock
marriage date: 03 Apr 1874
marriage place: Cathedral,Manchester,Lancashire,England
indexing project (batch) number: M09789-7
system origin: England-ODM
source film number: 438237





sylvia

This is from a tree on Ancestry which may give you a clue but it's not conclusive!


William Henry Morris Birth Mar 1854 in Salford,Manchester,England Death Dec 1910 in Manchester,Lancashire,England


Parents Samuel Morris 1823 – 1889
Ellen Brooks 1831 – 1872

Charlotte Bowcock 1855 – Marriage 1874
Ellen Morris 1877 – Lavinia Morris 1879 – Mary Alice Morris 1881 – 1881 James Morris 1885 – Hannah Morris 1890 – John Morris 1895 –

1881 England Census
about William H. Morris
Name: William H. Morris
Age: 27
Estimated birth year: abt 1854
Relation: Head
Spouse's name: Charlotte Morris
Gender: Male
Where born: Salford, Lancashire, England

Civil Parish: Hulme
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England

Street address: 2 Brindle St
Condition as to marriage: Married

Occupation: Laborer

Registration district: Chorlton
Sub-registration district: Hulme
ED, institution, or vessel: 1
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
William H. Morris 27
Charlotte Morris 24
Ellen Morris 4
Levena Morris 1
Mary A. Morris
Samuel Morris 13 BROTHER

Thanks so much for this! it looks very promising, I have back- to - back lessons today ( I'm a teacher) and will get back here as soon as possible.
The census 1881 post by Ginny looks promising but there seems to be a three year age gap here between Henry and Charlotte but in the 1901 census he is 48 and she is 47. Maybe this doesn't mean much.
In the 1991 census Lavinia (daughter) is now 12 ( which fits her agewise)
but there is no wife Charlotte and no daughter Ellen!

Is it possible a mother could have been in hospital having a baby at this time, or somewhere else?

Hmmmm...yes, birth cert for one of William H's children, the only way to get Charlotte's maiden name for sure.....

I wouldnt worry too much about ages varying on the censuses!


I cant find Ellen with mother Charlotte on the 1891 census but they could be visiting someone?

Thank you, so is it the case that the censors only recorded the names of those actually in the house at the time and didn't ask who is usually resident at that address?

ps- also thanks for looking!

That's right they should only record who was sleeping/ocuppying the house on the day of the census

which sibling in the family are you related to?
still having trouble finding them in 1911

just wondering if she could be a widow by 1911 census (or have both of them died by then??)
??possible death of William
Name: William H Morris
Estimated birth year: abt 1854
Year of Registration: 1910
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
Age at Death: 56
District: Manchester (1837-1924)
County: Lancashire
Volume: 8d
Page: 125

1911 in case anyone else see this i have looked at the image and it has been crossed out but does say married 7 yrs 2 children both have died

MORRIS, Charlotte Servant Widow F 51 1860 Charwoman Lancs Manchester England

Thank you very much, I have just also found that death entry for William Henry in 1910.
I'm related to William Henry, he is my Great great grandad.

His son James ( 1891 census, aged 6) will appear in the 1901 census at 16 Malpas Street, aged 16 and two years later in 1903 will Marry Ethel Carter.
James Morris and Ethel will have my Grandad William in 1904, he died in 1957. My Mum Veronica will be born in 1940, one of 15 chidlren he will have "sired' with two women, the first of who Amelia will be dead aged 30 from consumption after having seven of his children.

I also can't find William Henry Morrises' wife Charlotte in the 1911 census, or more strangely any death entry after 1901.

Most strange. I think she was buried in a pauper's grave, many of them were, but there should still be entries for them? I'm guessing she was too old to re-marry and die under a different surname....

Jansmith....thanks so much....I don't understand what image you mean?
It says married 7 years and two children? Is that for Charlotte?

Joe sorry had to go out, image was the 1911 census details ,was just letting people know that i had looked at the details and not just the transcript. 1911 is the first time the householder filled in the forms and put yrs married and how many children they had. Was just confirming that the transcript wasn't your Charlotte
I am not on my own laptop tonight, so will have to try looking for Charlotte's death when i get home unless anyone else has any luck,but i do think a birth cert is the next step so that you have the right marriage

Thanks Jan you're right and we will try to get that birth cert asap to make sure of the maiden name first.

I keep coming across Prestwich for late 19th century entries, is this area inside Manchester and do you know which parts of the city it covered?

do you mean as a registration district if so
take a look at this link

http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/genuki/reg/districts/prestwich.html