|
MARRIAGE INDEX SEARCH TIPS |
|
Less gives More |
|
Researchers are strongly advised to always carry out a preliminary search by specifying only the first two letters of the required person’s forename (leaving all other boxes empty and the Surname choice set as "All"). |
|
This will inevitably cause a much larger number of results to be returned but will give a considerably better indication of the overall structure of the available records, thus suggesting the parameters to be specified for a second, more targeted, search. |
|
Spouse names |
|
Since the G.R.O. (General Register Office) for England and Wales did not include the names of spouses in the national marriage index before the year 1912, all database searches which specify the name of a spouse will automatically exclude those records relating to the period before 1912 unless the Gooderson Archive’s researchers happen to have identified a spouse from their own research. |
|
Forenames |
|
It is generally unwise to search by specifying a second forename because such forenames are often either not recorded in the database or are represented by a mere initial, despite the fact that all entries contain an unabbreviated first forename. |
|
This situation has arisen because great care was taken during the construction of the Gooderson Archive to ensure that entries in the database accurately reflect the information available in the original marriage index compiled by the General Register Office, which often recorded second and subsequent forenames as initials only. |
|
Consequently, searches that specify a second forename will of course fail unless the second forename was actually recorded in full when the original GRO index was produced. |
|
[N.B. If it does become necessary to use a second initial during a very large search, it is important to realise that following such an initial by a full stop will prevent the return of all entries that include the second name in full.] |
|
Simultaneous searches |
|
The Archive’s search engines offer a facility whereby simultaneous searches may be carried out by specifying more than one parameter in each search field. This can be quite useful when it is required to compare the results of a search for alternative forms of a name (for example "Kate" or "Catherine"), for more than one spouse surname, or for more than one registration district, at the same time. |
|
All that is necessary to carry out such a search is to enter the required alternatives in the appropriate search box, separated by the horizontal line symbol, as shown in the notes on the search page. (N.B. The horizontal line symbol " | " is normally located above the backslash " \ " near the bottom left-hand corner of most computer keyboards.) |
|
The forename Gooderson |
|
All records in the database for people who have "Gooderson" (or similar) as their first forename may of course be viewed by simply entering "Gooderson" (or the similar name) in the forename box on the search-page and then conducting a search whilst leaving all of the other boxes empty and the choice of surname set to "All". |
|
Records may also be viewed of people for whom the second forename "Gooderson" (or similar) has been listed in the database. This can only be done by inserting the character "*" followed by a space and then the name "Gooderson" (or "*" followed by a space and then the appropriate similar name) in the forename box. A search should then be carried out whilst leaving all other boxes empty and the choice of surname set to "All". |
|
Supersigns |
|
Since all entries in this database are exact copies of the corresponding entries in the G.R.O. marriage index, it follows that where forenames were recorded with supersigns in the G.R.O. index, these naturally appear in the same format within the Gooderson Archive database. |
|
Searches carried out for such names will therefore fail unless their correct supersign spellings (for example André, François or Noël) are specified. |