Family History Finding Aids: Jersey
No. 2: Finding 18th Century Marriages: A Shortcut

Using the Gottlieb Index

Joanne Harrison wrote ....
'Pierre Renouf b.ca 1776-1778, Jersey Isle, m.Ann LeBrun, they had a least one son that I am aware of and I am sure they had more. His name was Peter. He married a Charlotte Sarah (___?__) also of Jersey around 1800-1803. They had three children, perhaps more. But previously.....back to Pierre and Ann, they obviously stayed in Jersey ? Which parish, or how do I find out?'

You have picked two of the most common surnames in Jersey - Renoufs and Le Bruns appear in virtually every Parish! However both the Société Jersiaise and the Channel Islands FHS have copies of Dr Karen Gottlieb's Marriage Index of Jersey 1700-1799 and this would be the research tool of choice to start you off. Choose your society and drop them a line.

The range of the index is 1700-1799. The headings translate as Husband's Surname only/Husband's Parish of Baptism/Marriage Register/Location of Original Register Consulted/Wife's Surname only/Wife's Parish of Baptism. Other abbreviations - SHJ = St Helier, Jersey; MYJ = St Mary, Jersey. There is now a second index prepared by Wife's Name.

There were three possibilities.....
Year Husname Husbap. Reg Where Wifename Wifebap.
(1)730 Renouf SHJ SHJ SHJ Le Brun SHJ
(1)737 Renouf MYJ MYJ MYJ Le Brun MYJ
(1)775 Renouf SHJ SHJ SHJ Le Brun SHJ

The first two are too early and were discounted. The third looked close enough for an investigation. Now we need to go to the Marriages Indices prepared by the CIFHS. This demonstartes that the Gottlieb does not replace the indices but almost acts as a master index to them.

The entry indicates Pierre Renouf and Ann Le Brun married at St Helier Parish Church on 28.09.1775.

Now we need to look for children in the St Helier baptism index ... Pierre bap. 21.11.1777 godparents Thomas Renouf (uncle) representing William Thacker and Anne Martin. This may be the man who married Charlotte Sarah (___?__) unfortunately there are two reasons why we cannot use the Gottlieb to find their marriage.

1. The date range ends in 1799, so if he married after the age of 22 he will not appear.

2. More importantly, as we do not have his wife's surname all the Renoufs from 1797 need to be investigated as Dr Gottlieb did not use Christian names. There were no other Renoufs. But at least the first steps have been made and the shortcut taken - the need to search twelve parish indices avoided.
Comments/Additions/Corrections to: glen@itl.net
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