Genealogy Chat

My mother was Florence Nightingale born in 1910. She married Harold Woan at Christ Church Church in Preston on the 18th April, 1935. Her address given on the certificate was 18 Hartington Road, Preston but I know she only used that for a convenience as she lived out of the parish. Does anyone know how I can find out who lived at the address at the time. It must have been a relative but I don’t know who.
Many thanks.
Connie

Have you tried the 1939 register for the address

According to zoopla it’s a 4 bed 2 reception terrace house

Nos 18;doesn’t come up on the 1939 register
There’s no 16 then nos 20

I’ve heard of the 1939 register but don’t know how to use it. I’ve looked at the marriage certificate again and it’s definitely no. 18. The occupants could be Anyon or Nightingale.
I will try to go to the local reference library and see if I can find anything from there.
Thank you for replying.

Ahh looking at the actual pages it is there wrongly transcribed as nos 16


18 Hartington road Preston
Last name(s) DOB Sex Occupation Marital status Schedule Schedule Sub Number
Robert J Rigby 21 Mar 1882 Male Grocer & Prov Dealer (Retired) Married 133 1
Mary R Rigby 08 Apr 1888 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties - 133 2
Harold Rigby 31 Mar 1910 Male School Master Geography & Specialist Book Keepeing Special Single 133 3
Ref: RG101/4577E/012/33 Letter Code: NMOA
© Findmypast Ltd

You need the electoral rolls for 1935 which should be at the local main library for the area

Thank you for that. I’ll now see if I can tie the Rigbys in with any relatives as the surname doesn’t bring anything to mind at the moment.
Connie

Harold and Florence on the 1939 register

Woan's life in 1939
178 Roebuck Street, Preston C.B., Lancashire, England


Woan household
(3 people)
First name(s) Last name(s) DOB Sex Occupation Marital status Schedule Schedule Sub Number
Harold Woan 24 May 1910 Male Motor Driver Labourer Hw Married 423 1
Florence Woan 13 Apr 1910 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married 423 2


The closed record will be

Births Sep 1939
Woan Patricia Nightingale Amounderness 8e 788

Looks like the marriage of the Rigby couple

Marriages Dec 1907 (>99%)

MAYOR Mary Ellen Preston 8e 1037
RIGBY Robert James Preston 8e 1037

I know Harold and Florence lived in Roebuck Street. Florence did actually live there when she got married. Her mother and father moved out after the marriage so that She could stay there which makes a change from the daughter moving to somewhere else.
The Rigbys must have been just friends of the family but an odd coincidence was that Florence’s niece Susan married their grandson but not sure if Florence and her sister was aware of the connection at the time. Unfortunately Florence and her sister are not with us anymore and contact has been lost with Susan.
Many thanks to all for your help.

Who witnessed Florence's marriage? I only ask because I used my matron of honour's address when I married (so that I could marry in the church of my choice!!). Florence may have done the same. At least you could search using the witnesses names.

Kath. x

The witnesses were the best man who was her cousin and for some reason Harold’s mother who would be her mother in law. I find that strange as it’s usually the chief bridesmaid. They had no connection with the Rigbys.

It is not necessarily the chief bridesmaid.

Do you know who her bridesmaids were??

Did she perhaps have a young person?

My chief bridesmaid was my future sister-in-law, but she was under 21 at the time and the Vicar requested that my other bridesmaid signed the Register!

You said the occupants ‘must have been a relative ‘. Why?

Witnesses to a marriage can be literally anyone who is able to understand what they are being asked to do

It wasn't unusual in past times for one or both witnesses to be either of the couple's parents.

The address she gave however could have been a relative or just a friend with very little connection to the family.

Your best bet, if it is possible, is to visit the nearest reference library to the address and look at the electoral register for the year of the marriage and then try to find a connection - but there may not be one if it is just a friend's house.

Kath. x

Just as a thought I wonder if there is any connection between the Mary E Mayor who married Rigby, and these Mayor/Nightingale marriages?

Marriages Dec 1925 (>99%)
MAYOR Thomas Nightingale Preston 8e 1069
Nightingale Elizabeth Mayor Preston 8e 1069

Marriages Dec 1931 (>99%)
Mayor Mary Nightingale Preston 8e 1061
Nightingale William Mayor Preston 8e 1061

I have a Thomas and William Mayor in my tree and they are brothers. Thomas born 1894 and William 1900. I also have a Mary Nightingale born 1904 so she could have married William. I would have to get a marriage certificate for proof.

I have several Elizabeth Nightingales as well but none seem to be a similar age to
Thomas as they are quite a bit older. I did think that brothers might have married sisters but not 100% sure.
Many thanks for the information though. It’s something I will look in to.

There is a Mary Ellen Mayor born 1888 - mother's maiden name Martin, and Thomas Mayor born 1894 mother's maiden name Martin, also William Mayor born 1900 mother's maiden name Martin - all born Preston, so looks like they are brothers and sister.

Kath. x

This is the family Kath mentions:

Marriages Dec 1887 (>99%)
MARTIN Jane Preston 8e 934
MAYOR William Preston 8e 934


William Mayor
in the 1901 England Census
Name: William Mayor
Age: 38
Estimated birth year: abt 1863
Relation to Head: Head
Gender: Male
Spouse: Jane Mayor
Birth Place: Bretherton, Lancashire, England
Civil Parish: Preston
Ecclesiastical parish: Christchurch
Town: Preston
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England
Street address: 4 Ladyman Street
Registration district: Preston
Sub-registration district: St John
ED, institution, or vessel: 14
Neighbors:
Piece: 3954
Folio: 172
Page Number: 10
Household schedule number: 58
Household Members:
Name Age
William Mayor 38
Jane Mayor 39
Mary E Mayor 12
Ann Mayor 11
Thomas Mayor 6
Harry Mayor 5
Lily Mayor 2
William Mayor 5/12


William Mayor
in the 1911 England Census
Name: William Mayor
Age in 1911: 49
Estimated birth year: abt 1862
Relation to Head: Husband
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Bretherton, Lancashire, England
Civil Parish: Preston
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England
Street address: 13 Euston St Preston Lancashire
Marital status: Married
Occupation: Green Grocer
Registration district: Preston
Registration District Number: 476
Sub-registration district: West Preston
ED, institution, or vessel: 12
Piece: 25315
Household Members:
Name Age
William Mayor 49
Jane Mayor 50
Annie Mayor 21
Thomas Mayor 16
Harry Mayor 13
Lily Mayor 12
William Mayor 10
Ruth Mayor 8
Samuel Mayor 6