Mabel Ellen

Research findings

1. Identity: Mabel Ellen Nixon

   PROCESS LESSON: this was logged as the tree's highest-value unknown, but the maiden surname was derivable from FAMC all along. The Fencible Adam Nixon (finding adam-nixon-nz-fencible-ramillies-1847) is Mabel's great-grandfather — a direct ancestor. Always follow FAMC before flagging a surname unknown.

   • [S6]derived(derived)
   • [S45]primary(primary)
   Confidence: highDiscovered: 2026-05-30
2. Identity: Mabel Ellen Nixon's husband identified as Joseph William George Hayden

   Resolves candidate 'mabel-husband-joseph-vs-william-george-hayden'. WikiTree profile cites Find a Grave #201380210 + BDM + Ancestry collections.

   • [S52]primary(primary)
   • [S53]wikitree(wikitree)
   Confidence: highDiscovered: 2026-05-30
3. Marriage: William George Hayden m. Mabel Ellen Nixon, 18 Mar 1913 Wellington Registrar's Office

   Significantly updates the existing finding mabel-husband-joseph-william-george-hayden-resolved. Key new facts: civil marriage (not religious); groom was Labourer; both arrived in Wellington from elsewhere within 4 years (groom from Nelson 12 months prior, bride from Wanganui ~4 years prior). NAME CONFLICT RESOLVED: WikiTree Hayden-5386 cites BDM birth reg 1887/15352 (primary) showing the full legal name is 'Joseph William George Hayden'. He used 'William George' on the 1913 marriage by usage choice, not because Joseph wasn't his name. Same pattern as Henry/Harold Dibley. Existing finding mabel-husband-joseph-william-george-hayden-resolved was right. Also worth noting: a CIVIL ceremony is unusual for the era; most NZ marriages 1913 were Anglican or Methodist. May indicate the couple was either denominationally indifferent or had a reason to avoid clergy (e.g. age, family pressure, or quick civil ceremony before pregnancy disclosure).

   • [S64]https://itm.howison.co.nz/year/1913b(primary)
   • [S52]primary(primary)
   • [S65]https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Hayden-5386(primary)
   Confidence: highDiscovered: 2026-05-30