COLEEN COLEMAN wrote: > 1853 Marriage solemnized by ____________________________in the District > of Stepney in the County of Middlesex > 8th May 1853 John Hyland and Mary Dwyer Father's name and surname Thomas > Hyland, laborer, John Dwyer, coke dealer. > Married in the __________________________________according to the Rites > and Ceremonies of the Catholic Church. by > me________________________________________ > in the presence of JOhn Dwyer and Catherine Hyland. This marriage was > solemnized between us, The ward of X John Hyland and the ward of X Mary > Dwyer There's nothing there to say Catherine HYLAND was John's mother. It doesn't give any relationship at all which is normal. You will need John's birth certificate to find out his mother's name. It's not "the ward of" but "the mark of" meaning that neither could apparently not sign their name. What you haven't given is the ages of the bride and groom. What did it say there? -- Charani (UK) OPC for Walton, Ashcott, Shapwick, Greinton and Clutton, SOM http://wsom-opc.org.uk