Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

I’m tearing my hair out over William Crowe, and at my age I need what little is left. I’m hoping someone can come up with a possible explanation for the problem.
William Crowe was born about 1821 in Liverpool. I’ve not been able to find his baptism. On 20 October 1842 he married Mary Ann Johnson, daughter of William Johnson. She appears to be the Mary Ann Johnson baptised 6 September 1822 at St Clement Danes. The birth certificate for her first child shows the mother’s Christian names as Mary Ann Eleanor and that of the second child shows Marion Eleanor. I can live with those differences.
The problem arises with the marriage documents. William is shown as William Rigby Crowe. I have no other record of his ever using the name Rigby. Mary Ann is shown as Mary Ann Griffiths Johnson. This is the only record of her using the name Griffiths. They appear to have given themselves an extra name each just for their marriage. Has anybody come across this before?
Thanks

Please post all the details from the marriage certificate.

Also all the census you have them on. Is your William the tailor living in Wrexham?

William Rigby Crowe (full) bachelor married Mary Anne Griffith Johnson (minor) spinster at St Nicholas on 20 October 1842. The groom was resident in Birkenhead and was a book keeper. The bride lived in Gt George Street. Groom's father was James Crowe an officer in the customs. The bride's father was described as a gentleman. I think he is the William Johnson, haberdasher, shown in 1841 as being at Duke Street. His daughter, Mary, was a shop woman. On later census returns he is described as a wholesale haberdasher.
William Crowe became a timber merchant in Birkenhead, and rose through the social ranks. I believe there has been some confusion with the Wrexham Crowes, but I don't think they are related.
I have no census for them. Mary Anne died 22 June 1848 after haemorrhaging for 8 days. She had given birth on 14 June 1848.

Did they marry by licence? If yes I think you will find the licence on find my past. There is certainly one for a William Rigby Crowe but it says St Michael Liverpool in the free index. The licence may give information on their parentage.

They were married by licence. I have an extract which I got from Family Search, which includes the extra middle names. That's why I used plural when mentioning marriage documents. It doesn't mention parents, but I already know that William's father, James Crowe, was born in Liverpool in 1801. James's parents were William Crowe (plumber) and Margaret Davies, again from Liverpool

dan the old man wrote: This is the only record of her using the name Griffiths. They appear to have given themselves an extra name each just for their marriage. Has anybody come across this before?

It's possible that they used their mother's maiden name as a middle name.

There's an Licence/Allegation Bond for an intended marriage recorded for that couple...

Event Date:19 Oct 1842
Groom's Forename: William Rigby
Groom's Surname: Crowe
Groom's Age: 21
Groom's Status: Batchelor
Groom's Occupation: Book Keeper
Groom's Residence: Bidston, Chester
Bride's Forename: Mary Ann Griffith
Bride's Surname: Johnson
Bride's Age: 21
Bride's Status: Spinster
Bride's Residence: Liverpool, Lancaster, Chester
Parish: St Michael, Liverpool, Lancashire
From: Cheshire Marriage Licence Bonds and Allegations 1606-1905.

The Licence also states:
1) Mary Ann Griffith Johnson is under twenty-one years, and
2) William Rigby Crowe made a further oath to the effect that Mary's parents were not living nor did she have a Court-appointed guardian who had authority for consent. [presumably for the marriage]

If you haven't got the full licence I would suggest you get it from FMP

You beat me to it!

Wow that's blown a big hole in all my working theories. FMP here I come. Thank you all for your help
Dan

dan the old man wrote:Wow that's blown a big hole in all my working theories. FMP here I come. Thank you all for your help
Dan

Mind you, William and Mary might have fibbed about her parents not being alive to facilitate a marriage of a minor without consent. For instance, how soon after the marriage was their first child born?

Who were the witnesses at the marriage?

I’m now a paid up member of Find My Past.
I forgot to mention that William’s mother was Jane Connoly (various spellings used). Sorry about the omission. So William didn’t add his mother’s maiden name.
I’ve a feeling that there was something underhand with the wedding. But it doesn’t appear to be a pregnancy. The first child I’m aware of was born in February 1845. The wedding was 20 October 1842. The witnesses were Ruth Evans and Robert Shimen(?). Neither means a thing, but do not appear to be family.
I haven’t dismissed the idea of Mary Anne being a shop woman, but that would mean her father was still alive. Her address on the marriage certificate was Great George Street. On the 1841 census the haberdasher’s shop was in Duke Street.
Williams father and uncles all married at St Anne’s and most became freemen. The Crowe family as a whole was clearly upwardly mobile. So William appears to have been a good prospect. If, for some reason, they were avoiding one or both of the families, why marry in St Michael’s, Toxteth? (I’ve no idea why I originally mentioned St Nicks, other than my head hurt.) The church was near the shop and not a million miles from William’s parents, who lived in Greenland Street. As William lived in Birkenhead they had clearly decided to be married near family.
It seems I’m going to have to look for a Mary Anne Johnson, father William, without knowing for sure if that was her real name, and without knowing where she came from. Whilst the reasonable weather lasts I’ve got jobs to do on the smallholding. The Johnson research is top of the pile for the next wet day.
Thanks again
Dan

Hi Dan,

Info that may interest you,

1857 Post Office Directory, Cheshire.

W Crowe, 45 Canning Street, Birkenhead, (only one)

Timber Merchants,
Crowe & Williams,
98 Hamilton Street,
38 Grange Lane & Shore Street,
Birkenhead.

Hello Bert
Thanks for that. William did very well for himself. As well as his timber business he was involved in building property near Birkenhead Park. He was also an (unelected) alderman for Birkenhead, a member of the Mesey Docks & Harbour Board and a director of the Hoylake & West Kirby Gas & Water Company. Not bad for somebody whose father started work as a painter
Thanks for all your help
Dan