Wedding Mystery.

For as long as I can remember, this single wedding photo has been in my possession— a well-preserved image from the early 20th century. Yet, for several generations, it has remained shrouded in mystery. Who were the newlyweds? How were they connected to my family? Why was this photo in my possession? Despite years of speculation, no one in the family could recall hearing stories about this wedding.

What I did know, however, was that my paternal grandmother and her brother – my great-uncle Henry were in the photo. Their familiar faces stood frozen in time, sadly not offering any clues.

For years, the photo lay tucked away in our family album—a silent, forgotten image of someone’s past. Until now. An unexpected coincidence finally unravelled its secrets.

Over the past 12 months, I’ve worked closely with my good friend and fellow genealogy enthusiast, Lynn Heiden. Together, we’ve uncovered countless hidden stories buried within old photos and postcards—many of which, to our surprise, turned out to be threads woven into my own family’s history.

With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, Lynn and I turned our attention to our blogs, wishing to celebrate the occasion with a special story. That’s when I pulled out the wedding photo once again—determined, this time, to finally uncover its secrets.

For days, we struggled, staring at the image, searching for any detail that might lead to answers. Lynn and I scrutinized every aspect—the setting, the attire, the faces—desperately piecing together clues about the time, place, and people. Together, we methodically ruled out family members it could have belonged to… yet no matter how hard we tried, we kept hitting dead ends.

Who are they?

At first glance, the faces in the photograph seemed unfamiliar, strangers frozen in time. I recognised my paternal grandmother, Jane Watts Holmes, sitting formally yet comfortably on the front with the other guests.

To begin I needed a date of the event, the clothing and hairstyles offered some hints. The bride’s delicate lace gown and high collar, paired with the groom’s sharply tailored suit, suggested a wedding from circa 1910s. The setting, though unfamiliar, appeared to be a formal gathering place, possibly a church or family home. These small details provided a historical context but no definitive answers.

Eureka Moment!

Then, suddenly Lynn recalled saving a newspaper article about a wedding. Digging deep into her archives, she unearthed a newspaper clipping dated June 25, 1910. 💖See the previous blog💝

The article detailed the marriage of a John Wise and Jane Watson-Smith. At first, I dismissed it! But as we read through the list of wedding guests, familiar names began to surface. Then, it hit me—the name Watson wasn’t just a passing detail; it was deeply significant to my paternal family. In fact, it was the maiden name of my great-grandmother, Harriett Holmes (née Watson).

The newspaper article was in The Sleaford and Gazette & South Lincolnshire Advertiser – Saturday 25 June 1910.

Matching Description.

The article described the marriage of Mr. John Wise and Miss J.W. Smith at St. Michael’s Church, Billinghay. The names of Jane’s parents were very familiar to Joseph and Mary Smith of the Coach & Horses, Billinghay, which had featured in my Christmas blog. Furthermore, Mary Smith was my great aunt, an immediate connection!

As I read through the detailed account, there, in black and white, were the names I had been searching for: Jane, Henry, and Arnold Holmes, plus my married great Aunt Sarah B Hewitt nee Holmes and her husband Tom Banks Hewitt, he had been the organist at the wedding.

However this did not immediately confirm this newspaper article matched my photo, more clues were needed.

A Breakthrough and Surprise.

Determined to confirm this was definitely linked to my family, I searched my own personal family tree and there was the mother of the bride,  Mary Jane Watson, my now-known great-aunt and the elder sister of Harriett Watson my great-grandmother. Mary Jane married Joseph Smith in 1879 in Billinghay, firmly placing the bride Jane Watson-Smith within my own family tree.

With this revelation, I could now confidently state that the bride, Jane Watson Smith, was my 1st cousin twice removed.

Yet, despite this compelling connection, I still wanted further evidence to solidify my findings. That confirmation came directly from the newspaper article, which listed attendees, including “Mr. H and Misses Holmes of Spalford.” This entry was a crucial piece of the puzzle—this wedding according to the newspaper took place in 1910, I did a search of the 1911 census, and. I found my grandmother, Jane Watts Holmes, she was listed as the housekeeper for her brother, Henry Holmes, and they were both residing in Spalford, Newark, Nottinghamshire—the very location referenced in the newspaper article.

1911 Census for England & Wales – confirming my grandmother living in Spalford

With the names, locations, and family connections all aligning, the evidence was overwhelming. If this didn’t confirm the connection, I wasn’t sure what would. We were convinced this photo and newspaper article were recording the same wedding.

The Wedding Day Unfolds

The newspaper provides a wonderful insight into the day, describing the bride, Miss Jane Watson Smith, who was given away by her father she looked radiant in a cream silk collienne gown, trimmed with fringe, and a veil crowned with a wreath of orange blossoms. The ceremony was choral, with a choir singing Mendelssohn’s Wedding March at the conclusion of the service. The organ was played by my great aunt Sarah’s husband Thomas Banks Hewitt.

Alongside the bride stood her five bridesmaids, dressed in exquisite gowns. Among them were Miss May Wise (sister of the groom), Miss Frances Smith (sister of the bride), and three young attendants—Phyllis Knott, Irene Kelly, and Evelyn Kelly. The elder bridesmaids wore pink crystalline dresses trimmed with pink silk, net, and roses, while the younger ones donned pale blue frocks de Paris, carrying baskets of flowers tied with pink ribbons. Each bridesmaid was gifted a gold bugle and horseshoe brooch by the bridegroom as a token of appreciation.

The best man was Mr. Albert Wise, the brother of the groom, who played a vital role in the day’s proceedings.

The bride’s mother attended in a black silk dress adorned with sequin trimmings, a black hat, and a feather boa, while the groom’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wise, received an array of wedding gifts from family and friends. The article even detailed the wedding presents, which ranged from silver dessert spoons to embroidered linens, reflecting the customs and thoughtful traditions of the era.

Further Research.

Confident that this photograph captured the wedding of Mr. John Wise and Miss Jane Watson Smith at St. Michael’s Church, Billinghay. My next step was to identify other guests and bridesmaids linking them to their parents.

The five named bridesmaids were:

Miss (Harriett) May Wise – Sister of the groom. She was John Wise’s youngest sibling, May was born in 1886. She married in 1913 to farmer John William East.

Miss Frances Smith sister of the bride my 1st cousin x2 – she later married George Knott.

Miss Phyllis Knott – Younger bridesmaid – I located Phyllis on my personal family tree. Phyllis is also my 1st cousin x 2. She is the daughter of daughter of Ada Emma Watson & Charles Knott. Ada is the sister to my GGM Harriett and Mary Jane Watson. Phyllis was born in 1901, making her just 9 years old at the time of the wedding.

The other two bridesmaids Miss Irene Kelly – Younger bridesmaid. She was born in 1903, making her 6 years of age.

Miss Evelyn Kelly – Younger bridesmaid.She was born in 1905, making her 5 years of age.

They are the daughters of Fanny Kelly nee Watson, the sister to Harriett and Mary Jane. Fanny was married to Robert William Kelly. They had three children two girls and an older son William Robert Watson Kelly (b.1899), making him 10 years old at the time of the wedding.

These children can all now be identified on the wedding photo.

The Grooms Family.

It would be unfair not to mention the family of the groom, John Wise the son of farmer George and Harriett Wise nee Hoyes, they were living at the Fen, South Kyme, Lincolnshire. John was the oldest child of six children born to George and Harriett. Sadly John died aged just 51 years of motor neurone disease, he and Jane never had any children.

Family tree – Joseph and Mary Smith nee Watson

My Great grandmother Harriett and her sister Mary Jane had a joint marriage in 1879.

Researching this photograph has been an absolute delight, and I could never have uncovered its secrets alone. If not for Lynn saving that newspaper article all those months ago, I would still be searching for answers.

Thanks to this discovery, I’ve been able to identify my own family members, frozen in time within this image. Seeing them all gathered on such a joyous occasion has been truly invaluable. Now, with confidence, I can name the majority of the front row—the bride and groom, the bridesmaids, the best man, and even the parents of the happy couple. A once-mysterious photograph has finally found its place in my family’s history.

I am now looking forward to sharing this photo and information with my Billinghay family.

If you are related to anyone mentioned in this blog and would like a copy of the photo, please contact me by commenting here or by emailing jackocats2@gmail.com. It will be my pleasure to share it with you.