Part 959sm - The Mystery of Great-Grandaunt Mary Ann (née Irwin) formerly Partlett, Merrifield

Good Day,

Here’s a puzzle.

When did Great-Grandaunt Mary Ann (née Irwin) formerly Partlett, Merrifield marry her 1st husband Partlett, surname?

Here are the facts:

1. According to the 1881 and 1891 UK Census Great-Grandaunt Mary Ann was born about 1843.

2. She married Great-Granduncle George Baily Merrifield, the son of GG-Grandparents John and Esther (née Bailey Merrifield, 5 August 1889 at All Saints’ Church, Newington, Surrey, England.

3. The 1889 Marriage Registration includes Mary Ann Partlett’s father’s name as “James Irwin”.

4. Great-Grandmother Elizabeth Charlotte (née Merrifield) Robertson was Great-Granduncle George Baily Merrifield’s youngest sibling.

5. The ages given in the 1889 Marriage Registration for Great-Granduncle George Baily Merrifield and Great-Grandaunt Mary Ann (née Irwin) are 45 and 47, respectively.

6. Great-Granduncle George Baily and Great-Grandaunt Mary Ann’s 1st daughter Clara M. Merrifield, 1st cousin twice removed, was born about 1872 Gravesend, Kent, England.

7. Two more children were born in 1874 and 1877, Frances M. and Henry D., respectively.

8. There is a notation, in several family trees on Ancestry regarding an 1854 Marriage between one Mary Ann Irwin and George Partlett in Chalk, Kent, England. If this is Great-Grandaunt Mary Ann’s 1st marriage she would have been 11-years old.

9. I just located the 1854 Marriage Registration of Mary Ann Irwin and George Parttlett. Mary Ann Irwin is registered as “Spinster” which of course she would be considerably older that 11 years old, as above mentioned.

10. Her father listed in the 1854 Marriage Registration is entered as “John White”, not as James Irwin.

Here is a copy of 1889 Marriage Registration –

Transcription –

1889. Marriage solemnized at All Saints’ Church in the Parish of Newington in the County of Surrey.

No. – 258When Married – 4th August 1889Name and Surname – George Bailey Merrifield, Mary Ann PartlettAge – 45, 47Condition – Bachelor, WidowRank or Profession – Labourer, --Residence at the time of Marriage – 36 Czar Street, 36 Czar StreetFather’s Name and Surname – John Merrifield (deceased), James Irwin (deceased)Rank of Profession of Father – Carpenter, Seaman

Married in the Church of All Saints according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church, after Banns by me, O. Mitchell, Vicar.

This Marriage was solemnized between us, George Bailey Merrifield, Mary Ann Partlett in the presence of us, Richard Winter, Caroline Winter.

Here is a copy of the 1854 Marriage Registration in question –

Notice that the name of Mary Ann Irwin’s Father is John White, as opposed to Mary Ann Partlett’s father, James Irwin, in the 1889 Registration.

Several other facts are that that all in the 1881 UK Census there are 3 children registered to parents George B and Mary Ann Merrifield. The 3 are Clara M, Frances M, and Henry D. The 3 have approximate birth years of 1872, 1874. And 1877, respectively. All 3 are also dittoed as Merrifield. All-things-being-equal these three could be Great-Granduncle George Bailey’s and Great-Grandaunt Mary Ann’s children. The only thing is that Great-Granduncle George Bailey and Great-Grandaunt Mary Ann were married in 1889.

Are the 3 their children or are they Great-Grandaunt Mary Ann’s and her 1st husband’s children?

Any thoughts?

The search continues.  And I just keep on going.

Also, let me know if you would like an invitation to access to my Smith Robertson Family Tree on Ancestry. You can email me at jsmith58@gmail.com.

If you have any comment, question, thought, idea please feel free to contact me via email at A Genealogy Hunt or jsmith58@gmail.com.

Regards,

Jim