By Licence or after Banns?

[LibbyW]

Whilst organising my NEW filing system I noticed that some marriage certs have 'by licence' or 'after Banns'.  Whats the difference and is there any advantage or dis-advantage to me the genealogist

Libby

[Dave Francis]

Hi Libby

The difference is explained here:
http://www.kenaud.dircon.co.uk/parish.htm

If a couple were married by licence, this might indicate several things.  One is that they were fairly well to do - licences cost money.  Another is that there was possibly a degree of urgency required.  (The alternative meant waiting several weeks by which time the bride's bump might start to show!)

Cheers
Dave

[behindthefrogs]

By banns means that banns were called in the church where the marriage took place and the home churches of the participants if different.  the banns book contains no extra information but can occasionally help with an unreadable name.

Marriage by licence means a licence was granted by the diocese for the marriage to take place in a particular church.  Usually the husband will have declared that there was no impediment to the marriage and either he or an independent person would stand surity for a specified sum that this is true.  Again no useful information except possibly the name of the person who stood surity.

The richer people who wanted to avoid banns and those wanting to get married in non standard circumstances like in a hurry used the licence.

David

[Valda]

Up to the 1820s marriage allegations (not licences which are usually lost) can be very useful.

Allegation
A marriage licence was issued only after a written allegation of intention to marry was made by the prospective bride or bridegroom (or by their representative), giving their parishes and approximate ages and stating that there was no legal impediment to the marriage. It is the allegation which should be sought when evidence of the issuing of a licence is required, since the allegations were usually retained by the issuing authority, while the licences themselves, having been shown to the person who was to conduct the marriage ceremony, were not preserved systematically and rarely survive.

If one of the parties was under age the licence will also give the name of the parent, usually the father, who was giving permission for the marriage.

Calling banns in two parishes was actually more expensive than obtaining a marriage licence. In the 1820s calling banns in one parish cost 7s 6d while a marriage licence was 10 shillings. This accounts for why so many people who got married by banns seem conveniently to be living at the same address or closeby as this meant they avoided paying the second 7s 6d.

Regards

Valda

[LibbyW]

Very interesting.

I have five by licence 1863, 2 x 1868, 1871 and 1928 (this last one in a Roman Catholic Church) and another one 1883 that says 'Catholic Church by Certificate'.

Is it worth getting hold of the licences if so who has them?

Libby

[behindthefrogs]

If you have the marriage certificate then the licence will tell you nothing more.  It does appear that the allegation, which should be in the diocese archives, probably in the appropriate record office then you might find out more information as described previously.

[LibbyW]

Thank you 'behindthefrogs'!
I won't even ask how you came by your name

Libby

[Valda]

It is unlikely that the Anglican marriage allegations will give you any further information that you don't already have from the marriage certificates. After the 1820s Anglican marriage allegations are not very informative.
I have never seen a C19th or earlier marriage licence, since the survival rate is almost non-existant, but I don't imagine they hold any significant information either. The Anglican allegations were kept by the Bishop's office and therefore have been deposited with the diocesan record offices which in the case of the Church of England are the county record offices.
The licence was given to the person who applied for it. On marriage the licence was handed over to which ever church the marriage took place in. There was no reason for the church to keep the licence once the marriage had gone ahead and so nearly all of them have been lost.
The Catholic Archives Society should be able to tell about researching Catholic marriage allegations and whether they hold more information.

http://www.catholic-history.org.uk/catharch/

Regards

Valda

[LibbyW]

Thank you Valda, I will look into that.

Libby