Welcome to The Briercliffe Society Forum

Hi,

I’m tracing my ancestors who lived in Trawden.

I know Annetta Blackburn was born in 1877 and appears on 1881 (RG11/4166), 1891 (RG12/3382) & 1901 (RG13/3888) census’ with a variety of spellings.

She had brothers Penby & James E. Blackburn.

Her father was William Blackburn born about 1858, but he died before 1891 and it would appear his brother Robert married William’s widow Rose Ann Mitchell.

I need to trace the marriage details of William & Rose Ann Mitchell around 1876 to confirm their parents.

Can anyone help?

Hi, welcome to the forum.

It looks like this could be the death for William but please make sure there are no other possibilities if you are thinking of ordering the certificate.
Deaths Mar 1882 BLACKBURN William 24 Burnley 8e 210

I found a reference for the marriage of Robert and Rose but I could not find a marriage for William and Rose within the Burnley district. As Trawden is so close to the border, is it possible that the marriage took place within Yorkshire? The birthplace on the census may give a clue perhaps?

Lancashire Marriage indexes for the years: 1885
BLACKBURN Robert BLACKBURN Rose Ann Burnley Register Office or Registrar Attended Preston RM/61/170

If Robert was Williams brother, the marriage between Rose and Robert would answer your parentage question.

I have a feeling that marrying your brothers widow was illegal but I can't remember what year the law would have started and ended. I think that this has been covered elsewhere on the site.

_________________
Mel

Searching for lost relatives? Win the Lottery!

Found it.

viewtopic.php?f=21&t=856&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=marry
Whilst it is pretty obvious that a person is not allowed to marry a parent, grandparent or sibling, in the past there were many other forbidden partnerships. For instance, until 1907 it was illegal for a man to marry his deceased wife's sister or until 1921 a woman to marry her deceased husband's brother.

_________________
Mel

Searching for lost relatives? Win the Lottery!

Got it

http://lancashirebmd.org.uk/index.html
Lancashire Marriage indexes for the years: 1876
BLACKBURN William MITCHELL Rosanna Burnley Register Office or Registrar Attended Preston RM/40/140


FreeBMD
Marriages Sep 1876 Blackburn William Burnley 8e 418 MITCHELL Rosanna Burnley 8e 418

_________________
Mel

Searching for lost relatives? Win the Lottery!

You beat me to it Mel!

Found these on Lancashire BMD

1876
William BLACKBURN married Rosanna MITCHELL at Burnley Register Office

1885
Rose Ann BLACKBURN married Robert BLACKBURN at Burnley Register Office

Annetta BLACKBURN born 1877
Penly BLACKBURN born 1878
James Ellis born 1880




Query about second marriage, on BMD it usually notes that some one has been married before, this one doesn't. Did they know it was illegal, hence why her first name is slightly changed or just a mistake do you think?

They don't always note that it's a second (or third ) marriage but I did wonder the same thing myself Patricia. Would be interesting to see what her fathers name is listed as. It's normally listed under the 2 names when there is a different surname to that of the bride (or groom for that matter).

_________________
Mel

Searching for lost relatives? Win the Lottery!

Thanks Mel & Patricia for your prompt and useful replies.

Following Mel & Pat's prompting I obtained a Marriage Certificate for William & Rose Anne (Rosanna) and they are who I thought they were!!!

The plot appears to thicken, talk about "black sheep".

Ellis Blackburn (Coal Miner) was Will's pa & James Mitchell (plumber) was Rose's pa.

James died & Ellis married his wife Mary Ann, who brought her daughters Rose Anne & Ruth to the household where William resided. Will & Rose Ann were step brother/sister - which could be why the Marr. Cert. quotes her name as Roseanna. They were married in a Register office.

Were there any laws at the time forbidding Stepchildren to marry, I can't see why there should be as they were from different blood-lines?

Thanks once again.

Crikey! How complicated is that!

I've had a good look online but cannot find any info suggestioning a marriage between step-siblings would be illegal.

_________________
Mel

Searching for lost relatives? Win the Lottery!

I have never seen anything about step-siblings marrying.

_________________
Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

I may be wrong, but I think I recall that when we studied family law we were told that step-siblings couldn't marry if they'd been brought up in the same household.

_________________
Maureen
If you can't fight, wear a big 'at

That would make sense I guess but it doesn't change the relationship regardless of how they lived

_________________
Mel

Searching for lost relatives? Win the Lottery!

?

_________________
Maureen
If you can't fight, wear a big 'at

I obviously baffled you there!

I meant that they are still step-siblings whether they had been reared under the same roof or not. Obviously this would apply to today and not decades ago - divorce being so rare, a child would not have the 'should I live with mum or dad' choice.

_________________
Mel

Searching for lost relatives? Win the Lottery!

Didn't see that one coming!