Lynn Reesor <lmreesor@hotmail.com> wrote: > I have recently come across what I believe is a connection between my > Elizabeth MATTEN (nee DALE), born 1821 in Yoxford, Suffolk, and John STOCK > (bir 1836 in Halesworth) in Halesworth, Suffolk. I have obtained their > marriage certificate from 1856; however, it does not indicate Elizabeth's > maiden name (and under father all it says is deceased). I believe > Elizabeth and John had 3 children, John (born 1857), Elizabeth Ann (born > 1860), and William (born 1863) all born in Halesworth. I have found this > family in numerous census returns, but have not yet proven that Elizabeth > MATTEN was indeed Elizabeth DALE. If any of these names sounds familiar, > I would love to hear from you. Lynn I have no interest in the family but may be able to help! If you look at FreeBMD and search for a marriage of Elizabeth DALE you will find that there was a marriage in the quarter ended December 1846 and of the four possible candidates as the husband there is a Charles MATTEN. A further search of the deaths in FreeBMD shows the death of a Charles MATTEN in the quarter ending September 1852 in the same Registration District of Blything. I therefore suggest that when Elizabeth MATTEN married John Stock she was a widow and that she was originally Elizabeth Dale. The marriage certificate of 1846 would no doubt prove this. Hope that this helps Brian