The problem with parish registers
We've all had bad days at work, but what about this poor clerk at Framlingham in Suffolk who forgot the name of the bride when recording this marriage record from September 1607 in the parish registers.
For any genealogist, it is not unusual to find errors, inaccuracies or missing entries within our research, but to find only half a marriage recorded in the parish register is frustrating! William Stofer was married on 21st September, although who is wife was remains a mystery from this entry.
How to solve this?
Whilst this omission from the marriage register is unfortunate, there are ways that could help overcome this scenario. Looking for the baptisms of any children of William Stofer in Framlingham could help to identify her forename for example. The burial register of Framlingham should also be examined, with William's wife hopefully described as the wife - or widow - of William Stofer. Although in both cases, it is up to the clerk recording these events how much information they included in the register, for it was not until 1813 that pre-printed baptism and burial registers were introduced into Anglican parishes which standardised the information provided.
Another way forward here could be looking at probate records. Wills can be very helpful with family history research, and it could be that William Stofer left a will naming his wife, and perhaps even members of her family. Thus there are research options to carry out seeking to break down what looks to be a 'brick wall' within this family line.
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