Hi all Confirmation is badly needed for the father of JOHN BROOKS, b.at Woodton 1814-15. Parentage may be John (again) Brooks and Frances(?), but there are other possibilities. I was hoping that John's (b.1814-15) marriage to Mary Ann Potter (b.Norwich) also b.1814-15, would be post 1837. However, over the years I have searched in vain all likely sources, pre- and post 1837, with no result. It is of course possible that they were never officially married at all. However, there was apparently a family tradition that our grandmother, Matilda Norton nee Brooks (d.1935), was a non-practising Roman Catholic. Strangely, today I came across the burial at Woodton of an unmarried Mary Brooks (45) in 1834. "Roman Catholic" is clearly indicated by the C of E incumbent in the register. I am not sure of the date when RCs were once again allowed to worship publicly in England - I think this was early 19th century - but in any case can't think where to go next. If anyone on this knowledgeable list has any bright ideas, they would be most welcome! Thanks Jill

Hi Jill The NFHS Norfolk Marriage CD 1801-1837 is supposed to contain all surviving marriage records for Norfolk during those years. Not certain I am allowed to reference this source on the mailing list but I will go ahead and say there is no marriage of John Brooks (Brookes, Brooke, Brook) to Mary Ann/Mary Potter or Mary Ann Potter (Porter) to Brooks variants. Is there any possibility this was a second marriage for the bride? Bonnie On Sun, Jul 3, 2011 at 1:45 PM, Jill Bloom <jescot33@googlemail.com> wrote: > Hi all > > Confirmation is badly needed for the father of JOHN BROOKS, b.at Woodton > 1814-15. Parentage may be John (again) Brooks and Frances(?), but there are > other possibilities. I was hoping that John's (b.1814-15) marriage to Mary > Ann Potter (b.Norwich) also b.1814-15, would be post 1837. However, over > the years I have searched in vain all likely sources, pre- and post 1837, > with no result. > > It is of course possible that they were never officially married at all. > However, there was apparently a family tradition that our grandmother, > Matilda Norton nee Brooks (d.1935), was a non-practising Roman Catholic. > Strangely, today I came across the burial at Woodton of an unmarried Mary > Brooks (45) in 1834. "Roman Catholic" is clearly indicated by the C of E > incumbent in the register. > > I am not sure of the date when RCs were once again allowed to worship > publicly in England - I think this was early 19th century - but in any case > can't think where to go next. > > If anyone on this knowledgeable list has any bright ideas, they would be > most welcome! > > Thanks > Jill > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > NORFOLK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Jill, I have to say that I am no expert on catholic marriages but have you explored the possibility that they were married out of the county? Maybe they had to travel down to Suffolk where there might have been a priest available. The Suffolk border is quite close. (Closer until the NE part of Suffolk was transferred to Norfolk. - mid 19th Cent?) I don't know if Norfolk was very catholic-friendly in the early 19th Cent or whether Suffolk might have been more receptive? There is also the question of whether the catholic marriage would have been recognised the the (Anglican) church authorities and the state. There is an excellent publication by Michael Gandy showing were and when the catholic missions were established. I don't have a copy to hand but know where I can get the information so will see what I can find out. It might give you an idea where to find the records - if they survive. Gerry On 3 Jul 2011, at 18:45, Jill Bloom wrote: > Hi all > > Confirmation is badly needed for the father of JOHN BROOKS, b.at Woodton 1814-15. Parentage may be John (again) Brooks and Frances(?), but there are other possibilities. I was hoping that John's (b.1814-15) marriage to Mary Ann Potter (b.Norwich) also b.1814-15, would be post 1837. However, over the years I have searched in vain all likely sources, pre- and post 1837, with no result. > > It is of course possible that they were never officially married at all. However, there was apparently a family tradition that our grandmother, Matilda Norton nee Brooks (d.1935), was a non-practising Roman Catholic. Strangely, today I came across the burial at Woodton of an unmarried Mary Brooks (45) in 1834. "Roman Catholic" is clearly indicated by the C of E incumbent in the register. > > I am not sure of the date when RCs were once again allowed to worship publicly in England - I think this was early 19th century - but in any case can't think where to go next. > > If anyone on this knowledgeable list has any bright ideas, they would be most welcome! > > Thanks > Jill > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to NORFOLK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message