HELP!!!! HAMILTON/HUNT/ELLIOT......DUKE?

[rubeaz]

Back again with more information re my Hamilton/Hunt/Elliot ancestors but probably more confused that ever

I found marriage information for Thomas Hunt and Margaret Duke (or Margaret Elliot or Margaret Hamilton ) 1850 in Cavan on an IGI Ireland Marriages Index James Elliot is listed as father of Margaret Duke .

They are aged 39 so probably Thomas Hunt was married before. Margaret was previously married to William Hamilton dec. 44th Regiment of Foot) see my other posts - trying to find what happened to him is like looking for a needle in a haystack

I have Margaret Hunt's DC1874 Scotland which states 1st husband William Hamilton dec and thomas Hunt dec.

This is where I'm confused

My ggg grandmother Mary Ann Hunt born in Belturbet Cavan according to the IGI 1844 (submitted) Parents Thomas Hunt and Margaret Elliot

Is it possible that Mary Ann was Thomas Hunt's daughter and Margaret raised her as her own child Or, could she have been a Hamilton child ?

Thomas and Margaret had a son born 1851 in Cavan who died in Scotland 1856 and I have his DC stating Thomas Hunt (chelsea pensioner) and Margaret Elliot parents.

I know Hamilton/Elliot had a son William Hamilton born Gibraltar about 1840 according to 1881 England Census and yet on Scotland Census states born Ireland and is using the Hunt surname on 1861 census but on his marriage certificate in 1864 states William Hamilton.

I hope someone maybe able to help be unravel this mystery. Not sure what my ancestors were thinking.



Posts: 68
Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 10:01 am
Location: Australia
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[paddyscar]

Hi rubeaz:

As you point out, confusing, indeed.

For my part, I'd lean toward the information given by the person themselves - marriage certificate is not always, but usually the most correct of many documents. A death certificate (always) and census (often) are completed by someone who may not always be correct in the information given.

As for the IGI submissions - while often helpful, they can be quite mixed in their accuracy, so I would want to go on until I could verify using original documents - or at least transcriptions of the original church records.

Others may have additional suggestions where you might go from here, or be better able to solve the puzzle.

All the best,
Frances