Ellen Dunn - marriage mystery
Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 7:32 pm
I've recently been doing some research on the family of Foley Dunn and Hannah nee Collins. Their eldest daughter, Ellen, appears to have married twice. Not that unusual you may think but in both cases she has married as Ellen Dunn, a spinster. https://bcconnections.tribalpages.com/t ... ver=406570
Her first marriage was in 1863 to George Morgan at St. Edmund's Church, Dudley; her younger brother Silas married at the same church 2 years earlier. Details are as follows:
17-08-1863
George Morgan, of full age, bachelor, Labourer of Dudley, father deceased, m. Helen Dunn, of full age, spinster of Dudley, daughter of Foley Dunn, Horsenailmaker. By Banns. He signed name, she made mark. Wits: William Hazlewood & Clara Dunn. (Clara was her younger sister).
Her second marriage was less than 2 years afterwards at St. Thomas's Church, Dudley where she appears to have had a double wedding with her sister Clara.
26-03-1865
Joseph Stonely, 21, bachelor, Puddler of Dudley, son of William Stonely, Baker, m. Clara Dunn, 20, spinster of Dudley, daughter of Foley Dunn, Horse nail maker. By Banns. Both made mark. Wits: Joseph Pearson & Mary Ann Pearson.
26-03-1865
Phillip Chance, 26, bachelor, Nailer of Dudley, son of Thomas Chance, Nailer, m. Ellen Dunn, 25, spinster of Dudley, daughter of Foley Dunn, Horse nail maker. By Banns. Both made mark. Wits: Joseph Pearson & Mary Ann Pearson.
I am satisfied that both of Ellen's marriages relate to the same person - Foley is not a common Christian name within the Dunn family and there is only one living in the area at the time. I've come across marriages where a man has given his marital status as bachelor even though he's a widower but not where a woman has given her maiden surname in a second marriage. I just wondered whether anyone had come across this before?
Her first marriage was in 1863 to George Morgan at St. Edmund's Church, Dudley; her younger brother Silas married at the same church 2 years earlier. Details are as follows:
17-08-1863
George Morgan, of full age, bachelor, Labourer of Dudley, father deceased, m. Helen Dunn, of full age, spinster of Dudley, daughter of Foley Dunn, Horsenailmaker. By Banns. He signed name, she made mark. Wits: William Hazlewood & Clara Dunn. (Clara was her younger sister).
Her second marriage was less than 2 years afterwards at St. Thomas's Church, Dudley where she appears to have had a double wedding with her sister Clara.
26-03-1865
Joseph Stonely, 21, bachelor, Puddler of Dudley, son of William Stonely, Baker, m. Clara Dunn, 20, spinster of Dudley, daughter of Foley Dunn, Horse nail maker. By Banns. Both made mark. Wits: Joseph Pearson & Mary Ann Pearson.
26-03-1865
Phillip Chance, 26, bachelor, Nailer of Dudley, son of Thomas Chance, Nailer, m. Ellen Dunn, 25, spinster of Dudley, daughter of Foley Dunn, Horse nail maker. By Banns. Both made mark. Wits: Joseph Pearson & Mary Ann Pearson.
I am satisfied that both of Ellen's marriages relate to the same person - Foley is not a common Christian name within the Dunn family and there is only one living in the area at the time. I've come across marriages where a man has given his marital status as bachelor even though he's a widower but not where a woman has given her maiden surname in a second marriage. I just wondered whether anyone had come across this before?