Q I’ve found two marriage records for Thomas James Baker and Susan/ Susannah Netley – one dated 1 January 1837 (banns only) and the other 2 September 1844, both at St Anne’s, Soho. The only name difference is that the bride is Susan in 1844 and Susannah in 1837. They are living as man and wife in the 1841 census. Why is this?
A Thomas and Susannah’s marriage is a puzzle. Their banns were called three times, as required by law, and there is no note indicating that anybody objected.
On the same page, four couples have an “m” next to their names, and subsequent marriages in St Anne’s, Soho, are recorded. Another couple, along with Thomas and Susannah, have no “m”, and no marriage can be traced for either during the period the banns were valid. It seems clear, then, that they did not go through with the wedding.
The 1841 census does not record marital status, but Susan is using Thomas’ surname and it is reasonable to assume that they were passing themselves off as married.
The most likely explanation is that one or other was already married. The only close match for Susannah is a Susannah Notley, who married in Lambeth in 1833, but she could sign her name, unlike your Susannah. However, there are several Thomas Baker marriages in and around London in the years before 1837, which would be worth checking.
If Thomas was already married, perhaps he had news of his first wife after the banns had been called. In this case, he might have waited until she had died to remarry – or until seven years had passed since he had heard of her, which was a defence to a bigamy charge.
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If your ancestor could sign their name, then checking a signature match on different records can be a useful way of confirming you have the right person. However, certificates ordered via the GRO will not show the original signature.