Marriage by Certificate

[hiraeth]

I have a GG grandmother, Elizabeth Morgan who married Owen Thomas February 24, 1860 at the parish church of Llandegai.   The marriage certificate states that they were Married in the Parish Church by Certificate according to the Rites and Cermeonies of the Establish Church, by Certificate. 

I've just checked Barbara Dixon's site and under the heading for Rest of the Certificate it says:

"by certificate" which would be found on a marriage entry in a register office marriage register or in a non-conformist marriage register. It shows that the couple waited 3 weeks between giving notice and getting married. 

"By superintendent registrars certificate" is a very rare finding. It is issued for a Church of England marriage but instead of banns being called in the church, notice of marriage has been given to the superintendent registrar.......Later on it was sometimes used as an expedient if for some reason the vicar did not want to make the forthcoming marriage in the church public knowledge and have the entry in his banns book which anyone can look at.

I have my G grandfather's birth certificate.  Elizabeth Morgan mother - No father indicated.  She named him John Thomas.  He was born January 25, 1860 - 30 days before the marriage      The birth was registered by Elizabeth herself on January 28th.   

By all accounts she was a very pretty young lady - maybe she charmed the Vicar??? There's also a family rumour that Owen was not John's real father because John was brought up by Elizabeth's parents.

Does anyone else have "marriage by certificate" conducted in a parish church?  Or is it possible to check the Superintendent's Register to enquire as to the circumstances of the Certificate?

[Comosus]

I haven't come across any marriages by certificate but they seem to be involved in civil weddings.  Maybe someone else can give more detail, but for now you could have a look at these:

http://www.royalgenes.biz/soc.genealogy.britain/thread784.html
http://www.webwedding.co.uk/articles/ceremonies/civil/certificate.htm (this is about modern day weddings though, but presumably the same)

[hiraeth]

Thanks for the links Cosmosus   Very interesting - especially the first one. 

I've been having a better look at more of my Caernarfon marriage certificates. 
Have found three more written out this way

1853 by  sup't registrar certificate  (Parish Church of Llanddeiniolen)
1856 by  certificate  (Parish Church of Llandegai)
1883 by "superintendent registrar's certificate" (Parish Church of Llandegai)

None of my Denbighshire marriage certs mention "Certificates" except for later Non-conformist ones.

Perhaps this was just something in practice in this area - certainly not unique to my Elizabeth Morgan as I thought originally.   Her situation is so odd - she was clever enough to give the child the second name Thomas.  But wouldn't his correct legal name have been John Thomas Morgan since there is no father on the certificate?  Perhaps she thought that the certificate wouldn't need to be changed after she married Owen.   So perhaps this does prove that Owen was not the biological father.  Hmmm - have to think more about that one.  Not likely to be able to prove anything either way.   Bit late to get DNA testing done

[stanmapstone]

A Superintendent Registrar was empowered to issue a Superintendent Registrar’s Licence only seven days after the couple’s details had been entered in the Marriage Notice Book. This was effectively a Superintendent Registrar’s Marriage Licence, printed in red ink with ‘Licence’ as a watermark. The subsequent ceremony could take place in any licensed building apart from an Anglican Church or Chapel.
This is not to be confused with the Ordinary Certificate, printed in black ink, and issued by the Superintendent Registrar; twenty one days after the couple’s details had been entered in the Marriage Notice Book. This enabled the couple to get married within three months by taking the Certificate to their priest and which gave him the authority to conduct the ceremony by the rites of their faith, in any place where prior to the Act marriages could have taken place by banns.This is what is in the Act.
An Act for Marriages in England. [17 August 1836] 6 & 7 Will. IV. c.85
Marriages may be solemnized on Production of Registrar's Certificate
.........Provided always, that where any Law or Canon in force before the passing of this Act it is provided that any Marriage may be solemnized after Publication of Banns, such Marriage may be solemnized in like Manner on Production of the Registrar's Certificate as herein-after provided; ........

Stan

[Mean_genie]

Marriages by Registrar's Certificate in the Church of England are indeed pretty rare, and the system ran into trouble early on. A couple could obtain a Registrar's Certificate, valid for three months, and then present it at a church without necessarily fulfilling the Church's own residence requirements. It was pointed out by some of the clergy that performing a marriage under such circumstances could be in breach of the rubric of the Church of England.

The Law Officers' opinion was sought, and their conclusion was that the law was ambiguous on this point! The law was not changed, but it was recognised that clergy could not be compelled to comply with a law that was in conflict with Church law, and Registrars were advised of the potential problems.

Mean_genie

[hiraeth]

Thank you for the explanations stanmapstone and Mean_genie.   So if I understand you correctly  the Certificate route -  i.e. giving notice 21 days prior in the Marriage Notice Book with the Registrar meant that Banns or a Licence were not required - providing this was acceptable to the clergyman. 

I appreciate your help.

[stanmapstone]

I should have added;
 There is also provision made for a Church of England wedding to take place on the authority of a Superintendent Registrar’s Certificate, but only if the minister concerned is willing to accept this. In such a case, banns are not called and a licence is not required.

Stan

[Trees]

Having just received a marriage certificate stating "by certificate" The marriage was conducted by the registrar and also signed by theSuperintendent registrar
So was this type 1 in Stans explanation ? what cost was encrued in obtaining the certificate? The marriage was far from the couples home would the certificate have been issued in their home town or in the place where they eventually married?
Trees

[stanmapstone]

what cost was encrued in obtaining the certificate?

From the Report of the Royal Commission on the Laws of Marriage, 1868.
Marriage at Registrar's Office by Licence.
Registrar's Licence         £1 10s 0d
Government Stamp         £0 10s 0d
Registrar's Fee            £0 10s 0d
Total                £2 10s 0d
The above sums are supposed to be fixed.

Marriage at Church by Licence.
Surrogates Licence         £1 15s 6d
Fee to Surrogate         £1  1s  0d
Fee to Clergyman         £1  1s  0d
Fee to Clerk            £0 10s 6d
Total               £4   8s  6d
The above sums are variable
The cheapest form of marriage by banns in most churches is 1s 6d or 2s more than at a registrar's office; often much more.


Stan