Sunday, February 10, 2013

Marriage in Durban 1903

Due to the wonderful assistance of Deryn on the British-Genealogy South African Genealogy Forums, an image of the marriage record for Emily Griffith and Hugh Owen was located in Family Search.  

This is the search path, starting by clicking on the location "Africa":

South Africa, Church of the Parish of South Africa Registers, 1850-2004 > South Africa > Natal > Natal, Durban, St Paul > Marriages 1849-1923

Now that I think of it, I'm not sure how  Deryn located the marriage, as there does not appear to be an index, but with 1902 as a starting point, the marriage turned up in the records of St Paul's Parish Church, Durban, Natal on 2 June 1903.

The groom was Hugh Owens, of full age, Bachelor, Carpenter, residing at Potchefstroom, Transvaal.  The bride was Emily Francis (sic) Griffith, of full age, Spinster, residing at Durban. 

The marriage was by Banns, which indicates that they were not rushing into the marriage after Emily arrived.  

A good perusal of the wedding photo indicates that the wedding was not a grand affair.  None of the attendants were wearing matching outfits.  There were flowers, ribbons and button-holes, but the bouquets are not elaborate. Emily is not wearing a wedding gown, but a good frock which will see her through many Sundays at church. 

The witnesses do not strike me as being family members of the Griffith family, so they are possibly friends or family of Hugh Owen.  One of the witnesses is H Thomas, and the other is less easy to read.  There is a flourish of squiggles at the beginning, but I am inclined to read the name as H Thompson, with possibly a middle initial.



If anyone would like to have a go at deciphering the first signature, please get in touch, or leave a comment.  Especially so if you know either witness.

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