Deciphering Help Please

[Laura-Jen]

Hi all,

It's been a while since I last posted, still digging away at my family tree. Can anyone assist with deciphering the name of the bottom witness on my great grandparents marriage certificate?

Thanks in advance
Laura-Jen

 

[Eric Gibson]

A difficult one but it might be someone with a very poor hand writing H Shaw

 

[Astoness]

think its H something...looks to me like the last letter of the surname could be Y...not an easy one

lyn

 

[farmerdave]

Not easy. Perhaps H Meary or H Miary. Dave.

 

[pjmburns]

Could be Neary - an Irish surname. Perhaps try to cross reference on the closest census.

 

[Eric Gibson]

I found that in these cases it's often brothers/sisters of the bride and groom who witness so checking them out can find the right name.

 

[pjmburns]

Emily obviously led a tragic life as she was born Emily Collyer, married John Brannon in 1873, George Jeynes in 1882 and then Samuel Lewis in 1890!

 

[Laura-Jen]

She did indeed pjmburns she is my great great grand mother, I have a theory that Samuel Lewis' mother who married as spinster under surname long was actually born McEvoy and the witness may be one of her kin

 

[MWS]

Spinster is probably just one of those mistakes that occur just to confuse us researchers.

She married a William Long in 1846, so guessing it should be widow.

Her marriage - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NJDX-WKF

Appears she only had sisters and none beginning with H or M, so if it is a relative must be more distant.