I think you have it.... I did consider whether that squiggle was "unmarried" but couldn't see why it made any sense, so left it out. However, I think your "perhaps" is exactly the right explanation - if mother had remarried, then Mary's step-father would surely be the legal guardian not her real mother. I don't *know* that's what the law was but it fits with the doctrine of man and wife being one, where that means it's the man in charge. I'd be happy, if it was me, to record the word as "married" saying that the *probable* explanation is what you suggest. Adrian On 22/09/2014 23:46, Christine Benson wrote: > Many thanks Adrian, I have had another reply off list with a very > similar interpretation to yours which is encouraging, but it doesn't > go as far as yours. Now, having more of the context, I think the word > 7th from the end could be "unmarried" (with an imaginary comma after > it). Ellen was a widow at this time, she married again later. Perhaps > the implication is that if she had married again then Mary's > stepfather would be her legal guardian, a concept that is alien to me > but might have pertained at the time. > > Thanks again > > Christine ....

Thanks Adrian, I read that word as unmarried right from the start but it was only after you had interpreted some more of the words that I could make it make any sense. I must say the statement is very convoluted and rambling. Christine -----Original Message----- From: Adrian Bruce Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2014 12:16 PM To: Christine Benson Cc: CHESHIRE Mailing List Subject: Re: [CHS] Mary WHITTAKER to Joseph BLACKSHAW marriage licence 1873 I think you have it.... I did consider whether that squiggle was "unmarried" but couldn't see why it made any sense, so left it out. However, I think your "perhaps" is exactly the right explanation - if mother had remarried, then Mary's step-father would surely be the legal guardian not her real mother. I don't *know* that's what the law was but it fits with the doctrine of man and wife being one, where that means it's the man in charge. I'd be happy, if it was me, to record the word as "married" saying that the *probable* explanation is what you suggest. Adrian On 22/09/2014 23:46, Christine Benson wrote: > Many thanks Adrian, I have had another reply off list with a very similar > interpretation to yours which is encouraging, but it doesn't go as far as > yours. Now, having more of the context, I think the word 7th from the end > could be "unmarried" (with an imaginary comma after it). Ellen was a widow > at this time, she married again later. Perhaps the implication is that if > she had married again then Mary's stepfather would be her legal guardian, > a concept that is alien to me but might have pertained at the time. > > Thanks again > > Christine ....