On 16 Apr 2008 at 1:01, [email protected] wrote: > > I wonder if anyone can check whether this scenario is > correct for me > > please? I have: Mary COOPER baptised 1829 Riseley marrying Thomas > > SMITH on 29 July 1850 Riseley (IGI). Sept Q 1850 6/59 Father John > > Cooper. A witness at the wedding was Phoebe Cooper ( Mary's sister) > > I think: Mary SMITH died Sept Q 1850. (Free BMD) Probably buried > > Riseley. I think Thomas SMITH might then have married Phoebe COOPER > > (Mary's sister) June Q 1851.Bedford 6/85 (Free BMD) I think: Phoebe > > SMITH also died June Q 1856 3b/197.Bedford > > Legally, Thomas who married Mary could not have > married her sister then. True, this sometimes happened, > but mostly the couple would have to go well away from > where they were known. > Thomas Smith is such a common name that this is (unfinished at the time) quite probably a marriage of an entirely different man, not even necessarily related. I think someone found you the likely death of Mary in late 1850, so a remarriage in the same place in the next year looks more like your ancestral man. Of course, the actual marriage entry would settle the question - the father of Thomas Smith in each case will be shown > > > > The problem with this scenario is that a Thomas SMITH married Agnes > > Peasnall at Riseley in June Q 1851