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Archiver > GENIRE > 1998-06 > 0896723062


From: Merritt Mullen <>
Subject: Re: widows' surnames???
Date: Mon, 01 Jun 1998 10:44:22 -0700


In the US, and I suspect in Canada as well, it is usual for a widow to
retain her married name. When she remarries, her name will usually be
given on the marriage record in the form "Mrs. Susan Smith", where
"Smith" is her previous husband's name.

I would look for the marriage record of Martin and Anne and see if she
was "Mrs Anne Purcell" when she married Martin.

Of course, it is possible that Purcell and Parson are really the meant
to be the same name, and one is just a mistake.

Merritt

Earl Costello wrote:

> To All,
> My grandfather and his 3 brothers,all born in Ireland,were
> married in Montreal as the son of the late Martin Costello and
> Anne Purcell. However when Anne Purcell entered a nursing
> home in Montreal her parents were given as Ned Parson and
> Dorothie Cath. C........
> Since Anne's 4 sons were all born after she was 35,it is
> possible that she had been married to a Purcell before Costello.
> My question is whether it would be customary for a widow
> to use her married name in place of her maiden name.
> Regards,Earl.
>
> --
> * Earl Costello *

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