maiden name mystery?

[apowell]

Hi everyone,

I would welcome some advice because this is baffling.

My ancestor:

Sarah Brookes/Hunt??? married Joseph Homer
1870 Moxeley, Staffordshire

Sarah Brookes, born abt 1851, who appears with her parents, Edward & Ann Brookes, 1861 census in Tipton, Staffordshire and 1881 census with her husband, mother Ann and brother Edward Brookes

The problem is that on her marriage certificate, it states:
Sarah HUNT, Spinster, but gives her father Edward Brookes (miner) ???
Her brother Edward Brookes is a witness, and she also appears on his marriage certificate. She's the only sibling to use Hunt, and I couldn't find any family connection to Hunt.

Her parents were Edward Brookes, married to Ann Haywood
1837 Tipton, Staffordshire

Edward's father is unknown on his marriage certificate.

I've no idea where Hunt fits into this family, or is it just a mystery?

Kind regards
Adrian

[HarrysMum]

Have you found Sarah’s birth? does she have a place of birth on her census? I am useless at English geography. There are quite a few Sarah Brookes in Staffordshire around 1851.

[HarrysMum]

There’s a Sarah Ann Brookes born 1852 West Bromwich. She would fit nicely.
No idea on the Hunt yet, unless it is a mistake by whoever wrote it.

[HarrysMum]

And just to muddy the waters there is a Sarah Hunt born early 1853 in West Bromwich. Have you followed her through? I think the Brookes one should be yours though.

[Katarzyna]

Maybe a bit off the wall but could she possibly have been adopted?

The 1861 census
Sarah Brookes b 1853 West Bromwich?

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcr...56853&tab=this

There is this birth:
HUNT, SARAH JANE mmn POWELL
GRO Reference: 1853 M Quarter in WEST BROMWICH Volume 06B Page 582


Other Sarah Brookes in W Brom:

Name: Mother's Maiden Surname:
BROOKES, SARAH ANN LIGHTFOOT
GRO Reference: 1852 S Quarter in WEST BROMWICH Volume 06B Page 498
BROOKES, SARAH JANE -
GRO Reference: 1851 M Quarter in WEST BROMWICH Volume 18 Page 647
BROOKES, SARAH JANE WARD
GRO Reference: 1851 D Quarter in WEST BROMWICH Volume 18 Page 639

[Olde Crone]

This is far out but has happened in my tree.

Edward didn't name his father at marriage but that doesn't mean he didn't know who he was. Perhaps Sarah knew her grandfather was called Hunt and decided to use that as her official surname.

OC

[Phoenix]

My local FHS had a talk given by a former registrar who said that your maiden surname didn't have to be the name you were born with, but was the name you were using at the time of your marriage.

[kiterunner]

She made a mark (X) on the marriage certificate, rather than sign her name, as did Joseph and both witnesses, so they most likely couldn't read and wouldn't have noticed any mistakes. But the surname is Hunt on the banns register too, which presumably means her name was read out as Hunt three times in church and nobody corrected it then. Her maiden name is Brooks or Brookes on the children's birth registrations that I could find.

[apowell]

Originally Posted by kiterunner

She made a mark (X) on the marriage certificate, rather than sign her name, as did Joseph and both witnesses, so they most likely couldn't read and wouldn't have noticed any mistakes. But the surname is Hunt on the banns register too, which presumably means her name was read out as Hunt three times in church and nobody corrected it then. Her maiden name is Brooks or Brookes on the children's birth registrations that I could find.

Thank you
Adrian

[apowell]

Originally Posted by Phoenix

My local FHS had a talk given by a former registrar who said that your maiden surname didn't have to be the name you were born with, but was the name you were using at the time of your marriage.

Thank you

It's possible, but oddly, I can't find anything to suggest a link with the surname Hunt.

Adrian