Hello Allan Mistakes were often made. I have a birth certificate of a child born to my gg grandmother in 1841 where the surnames of the parents are reversed - father is shown as David BEECH; mother is described as Ann BEECH formerly HOPKINS, whereas the father's name was David HOPKINS and the mother Ann HOPKINS formerly BEECH. The Baptism record in the Parish Register confirms this. Regards Brian Brian Beeche Comley - Porthcawl, Glamorgan (South Wales - UK) FHS Member: Glam; Gwent; Wilts All emails (in & out) scanned by Norton Anti Virus 2005 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Allan Smith" <asmith_driver@hotmail.com> To: <BEDFORD-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2006 8:37 AM Subject: [BDF] Thomas Smith, born Stagsden abt 1845 > I've got a bit of a problem. > > My previous research led me to believe that my great grandfather (as above) > was the son of James Smith and Mary Seamark. > > Now, however, having obtained his marriage certificate, I see that his > father is named as Thomas also. > > Is there a possibility that the Vicar, when he noted the marriage in his > records, got it wrong and noted my great grandfather's own name down as > 'Father' rather than his actual father's name (who, incidentally, if it was > James, was dead by that time). > > snipped