guidance please

[Barbara Dodds]

my mother-in-law had a visit the other day from someone who claims to have mil in her tree. I've been given an email address but wanted to check the info she'd left first.

As I've drawn a blank does anyone fancy having a quick look for me please?


Info left was:

William Morris married Mary Elizabeth Presley 1859 in Swansea. father Joseph Presley (butcher) born Sheffield.

[Merry Monty Montgomery]

No middle name for the bride here:

Marriages Mar 1859
Morris William Swansea 11a 614
Presley Mary Swansea 11a 614

[Merry Monty Montgomery]

Without further info it would be difficult to find the right pair after marriage.

If they stayed in Swansea then:

there's one couple with Mary b abt 1833 in Sheffield in 1861

or another couple, Mary same age b Swansea.

[Barbara Dodds]

thanks Merry.

That has to be the marriage referred to - in which case where did the middle name come from I wonder?


Mary born Sheffield would make more sense if there is a definite connect€ion to MIL. Her family all seem to be from within 30 miles of Sheffield.

[Merry Monty Montgomery]

No Joseph Presleys listed as a butcher in 1861 :(

[Merry Monty Montgomery]

No Joseph Presleys living in Wales in 1841 or 1851 (or anytime, unless mistranscribed!)

[Merry Monty Montgomery]

In 1851 there's a Mary Presley b Sheffield abt 1834 living in Cheltenham which is nearer wales than Yourkshire is! lol

[Little Nell]

It's possible Mary invented a middle name for her marriage. I've found quite a few brides like to embellish their names, ie

Rose becomes Rosella

Annie becomes Elizabeth Anne

On the other hand, husband's gt gt grandmother Emily Kezia Mullins married as Emily Mullins!

[Merry Monty Montgomery]

Hmmm....Mary Presley living Sheffield in 1841 aged 8. Father William a malster.

This may not be the same Mary of course.

No Mary Elizabeth Presley baps on the IGI with correct father.

No Mary Presley baps in Sheffield or in Wales with the right father.

[Merry Monty Montgomery]

Do you know what children this couple should have had?

We need to know which is the right couple after marriage on the census in order to go back with a bit more conviction!

[Barbara Dodds]

Thanks for that Nell

Merry - yes born Cheltenham would seem more likely than born Sheffield wouldn't it? I wonder if this lady has become confused somewherea long the line?




PS - there is a place called Wales IN Yorkshire

[Merry Monty Montgomery]

Doh, just noticed you said Born Sheffield!! I didn't read that before :(

[Merry Monty Montgomery]

Thanks for that Nell

Merry - yes born Cheltenham would seem more likely than born Sheffield wouldn't it? I wonder if this lady has become confused somewherea long the line?

The one in Cheltenham was born in Sheffield!

[Barbara Dodds]

I think thats the father born Sheffield.


At the moment I haven't got any other information, but I do know that the above information doesn't seem to fit with anyone I've already got in OH's tree. Of course I haven't tracked all the various branches down yet so its not impossible.

[Merry Monty Montgomery]

This is probably the couple in 1861:

In Swansea:

William Morris 39 Tailor b Holyhead Anglesea
Mary 28 bSheffield
Robert 1 b Swansea
Mary 1m b Swansea

RG9; Piece: 4102; Folio: 8; Page: 10

Did the contact give the exact marriage date?

[Barbara Dodds]

The one in Cheltenham was born in Sheffield!

that sounds hopeful at least!


well found - and no the contact didn't leave an exact marriage date unfortunately.

[Merry Monty Montgomery]

I'll post up the Cheltenham one.......She was a sister in law, so that might help (or not!)

[Merry Monty Montgomery]

Ann Rooton? (Roston?) head widow 70 b Yorkshire Bramley ?
Mary Presley 17 sis-in-law b Sheffield

The rest are lodgers. I guess she is possibly step-daughter?

Oh unless she is the sis-in-law of the blinkey lodger??

Can you access the page to save me typing, Barbara?

[Merry Monty Montgomery]

The head was Roston:

Deaths Dec 1869
Roston Ann 87 Gloucester 6a 205

Not sure that helps at all! pmsl

[Barbara Dodds]

yes Merry - I've got full access to Ancestry thanks.

Just not very good at finding anything!