Adoption Records

[Glenys]

The use of stepfather's name on a marriage certificate should really have only been entered in the last few years. This is usually when the natural father has never been known and the bride or groom has been brought up by the stepfather and was actually married to the mother.

Usually the natural father's name is always included but should have the word 'deceased' in brackets if he has died.

The father does not have to be present at the marriage for his name to be included in the 'father's column'.

The only people who are definately at the marriage are the bride, groom, at least two witnesses and the person conducting the ceremony and registering the ceremony. Sometimes the person conducting the ceremony may also be registering the marriage (ie priest, minister or vicar).

Things are sometimes a little different when a priest, minister or vicar registers the marriage as they are not always as clear and accurate about the registration laws. They also tend to insert details that they think are right because they know the couple and presume they know the names of the people concerned.

[Blue70]

Hi Glenys

It's quite a complicated family so they probably thought that with a father figure in attendance they would put him down. It's surprising that they chose him as the different surname to the groom raises questions and there's no indication that he is the step-father.

Blue

[MaryA]

the different surname to the groom raises questions

Don't forget that at that time they probably wouldn't be thinking about anybody coming along later to examine the certificate. Put like that it seems a strange thing, this hobby of ours, yet we think it's normal.