Bride and Groom columns Middlesex Parish Records
Hello,
I am trying my hand at Intermediate indexing. While working on UK, England, Middlesex—Parish Registers, 1539–1988 [Part D][M37P-7PS], I noticed that the bride and groom columns don't seem to be consistent. I.e., the bride is sometimes in the left column, the next record, it appears to be on the right. As a beginner, I am warned to enter it exactly as recorded. If I were to do that, I would have a groom named Sarah and a bride named Patrick.
I could use a little guidance.
Thanks
Nathan
Answers
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On this image the groom is listed in the first column and the bride is listed in the second column. You would index them in that order.
On the Project Instruction: How to Index a Marriage Register--Form2, indicates how to index this document.
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Hello,
It would seem that these are alphabetical indexes of both male and female partners in a marriage, with their spouse in the second column. There is no designation of a "Groom"or "Bride" column in either your batch or the examples. The Purple Circle example refers to the Groom's Surname (Clark) as being in the second column. The second example of the PIs has a female (Sarah Adams) listed in the first column and her groom (Giles Shaw) in the second. She is listed as the bride and he as the groom. I think you would just use your common sense, with the additional information of s. (spinster) or b. (bachelor) to help where mentioned. I suspect if we could see enough of the lists, the second partner will be listed under his/her surname further on with the spouse in the other column.
I hope this helps.
Hilary.
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Thank you for your question @nathanedwardbishop1, and for your helpful answer @DHilary2. We can appreciate your question on how to index these records where they are in alphabetical order, and include both the bride's and groom's names.
A similar question was escalated, and we have been advised that because there are fields specific to the groom and the bride, you will need to use the given name to determine which is the bride or the groom. If you are unable to determine if the name is for the bride or the groom, please index the name in the first column in the groom's fields.
You are correct that we are not to assume information. This should not be a common practice while indexing. Because the fields specifically ask for the groom and the bride, assuming is necessary so that these records are indexed correctly.
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@nathanedwardbishop1 Hi, see @DHilary2 comments and always share the Batch Code in brackets[ ] so we can be more specific in our answers/suggestions. Have a great day and thanks for tackling these records😎
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@maryellenstevensbarnes1, the project name and share batch code were included in @nathanedwardbishop1's question. UK, England, Middlesex—Parish Registers, 1539–1988 [Part D][M37P-7PS].
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Hi,
The batch code was supplied with the original question so I was able to look at the specific help (Purple circle) for both the Groom's Surname and the Bride's. In each case, the bride was in the first column and the groom in the second (each followed by b. for bachelor or s. for spinster) so the instructions are clear that the indexer should use this information to decide on the correct designation. In that case, it's not really an assumption as there is clear indication who is the man and who the woman.
Hilary.
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Backing up Hilary’s advice, I have indexed a similar batch to this one . This image comes from a set of indexes that the Society of Genealogists created. In your case, it is from the following (which I found using the image name): Index to the marriages of St Luke’s, Old Street, 1753-1764. In two alphabets, 1753-1759 & 1760-1764
As it is an alphabetical list index of names, both bride and groom (each marriage will appear twice, indexed for both bride and groom name) so the groom does not always appear in the left hand column. I can confirm this as my batch had both entries on the same page for one marriage!
Whilst we should always follow the instructions for the project we are working on as well as the general indexing instructions (don’t assume surnames, male/female etc), sometimes we do have to use some common sense and good judgement! You have an added clue here because the status of the person is indicated (b = bachelor = male, s = spinster = female); that's obviously not so clear with w for widow or widower so in those cases you will have to make a judgement about which is a male name and which is a female name.
@Mirevo, marriage example 2 is the same format but if you look at it again, you’ll see that the example marriage that has been used has the bride in the left column and the groom on the right!
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Thank You all for your help! I appreciate your patience with a beginner intermediate indexer!
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