South Africa

MollyMay

MollyMay

Knows where to find the answers!
Does anyone know where I can get any further info on a marriage that took place at Victoria Church Johannesburg on 25/12/1911?

John Parkinson b1888 (not found in 1911) married Eleanor Wilson b1889 (with parents in Blackburn in 1911 RG14 PN25169 SN113).

John is last seen in 1901 (RG13/5338/71/17) in Dalton Lancashire.
We have parents etc and the family, after their arrival home around 1914.
Can anyone find them on any passenger lists (or tell me where to look).

Thanks
 
Have you seen
Code: 
http://www.eggsa.org/
the web site of the Genealogical Society of South Africa? I don't think their transcriptions go up to 1911, but it might be worth a look to see if you can find anything.

Good luck - South African records are notoriously difficult to lay your hands on. I usually give up every time I try :(
 
Thanks Ann, this is for my cousin, so I will pass the info on. I have had a quick look on Eggsa but cannot see anything relevant.
 
Do you / your cousin already have the marriage certificate? I eventually managed to get a Johannesburg death certificate, with considerable difficulty but at little expense. If you need the marriage certificate I will see if I can dig out my notes as to how I got the death certificate, in case it helps.

Sue
 
No she does not have the marriage cert. the info was forthcoming from a grandchild of John and Eleanor (from contact through Anc.). Family lore said the couple married on the ship going to SA, but this info refutes that. If it is not too much trouble, how to get the cert would be very welcome - thank you
 
OK, I am recently returned from holiday and have an elderly relative to care for so might take a few days, hope that's OK? I will dig out the info I have and let you know. It might be that marriage records are more difficult than deaths ... don't want to raise your hopes too much!

Sue x
 
I found 'Marriage indexes, South Africa, 1893-1942, 1956-1971, 1961-1974'
on familysearch, It's a 'microfilm of original manuscripts in the State Archives, Cape Town, Republic of South Africa.' I did have a look by the date of the marriage and found nothing, but you may want to take a look MM. Go to the link below and scroll down to Film Notes. On the right hand side there is a camera icon. If you click on that it will take you to the images. It's browse only, but better than nothing.

Code: 
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/1420189?availability=Family%20History%20Library

If not maybe these people can help.

Code: 
http://www.national.archives.gov.za/
 
Last edited:
.......'However if you have sufficient information about an ancestor you can order a Birth, Marriage or Death Certificate from the South African Department of Home Affairs.' .........

Code: 
http://southafricanfamilyhistory.com/birth-marriage-and-death-records/
 
If they married on the ship, depending how far out the ship was, then wouldn't the registration be in the country of the ships registration?
 
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MollyMay said:
That is fine - whenever you get a chance - thanks again
Click to expand...

Hello Again!

To order a South African marriage certificate (or any BMD cert) from the UK you need to make an application via the South African High Commission in London. You cannot apply directly to the authorities in South Africa - they will simply ignore any such application!

The information needed is on this page of the SA High Commission website:-

http://www.southafricahouseuk.com/passports/psprt_certmar.html

(I think it's OK to post this link as it is an official government organisation, but doubtless someone will edit the post if I am wrong about that?)

Ignore the note re downloading passport application forms as I believe that is only relevant if you are applying for a passport.

I obtained a death certificate by following the process outlined on the above webpage:
  • download and complete the relevant application form (here it is BI-130, link on webpage) with as much detail as you have
  • obtain, from a post office, a postal order for £7 made out to 'SA High Commission'
  • obtain, also from a post office, a Fully paid Special Delivery envelope (Size A4) and write the applicant's name and full address in the 'From' box
  • send the completed application form, postal order and SAE to
South African High Commission
Home Affairs
Consular Section
15 Whitehall
London SW1A 2DD
  • wait six months! (yes, it did take that long)
Of course you may be unsuccessful if you do not have sufficient information. I am also a little unsure if you are meant to apply for a copy of someone else's marriage cert ... obviously this is not an issue with a death cert as no one can apply for their own!!

Hope this is of some help.

Sue
 
Thank you so much Sue for taking the time to look up this info. I will pass it all on to my cousin and wish her luck:)
 
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