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Author Topic: marriages  (Read 162 times)
jane k
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Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
marriages
« on: Friday 23 October 09 15:14 UTC (UK) »
Please could someone explain why on marriage certificates  some marriages  by `banns` and some by `licence`, and what the reasons might be for a couple choosing one way instead of the other.  I`ve read various explainations but still can`t get my head round it!

Many thanks,         Jane
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stanmapstone
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Re: marriages
« Reply #1 on: Friday 23 October 09 15:43 UTC (UK) »
If a marriage was by licence, it was either a Common Licence or a Special Licence.

Common/Ordinary Licence - This could be obtained from any bishop or archbishop, Chancellor or Surrogate, and meant the Banns need not be read - and so there was not the delay of two weeks. A sworn statement was given that there was no impediment [parties were not related to one another in the prohibited degrees, proof of deceased spouse given]. The marriage was required to take place in church or chapel where one party has already lived for 4 weeks. It was also good for 3 months from date of issue.

Special Licence - Obtained from Doctors Commons in London, from the Archbishop of Canterbury or his representative. The difference between this and the Ordinary licence was that it granted the right of the couple to marry at any convenient time or place. All other requirements were the same. Names of both parties were given at the time of the application.

If a marriage was by Banns then the Banns had to be read in an audible manner, on  three Sundays prior to the wedding, the banns are read out in the parish church (or churches) of the future bride and groom. Although it is not legally necessary for the Sundays to be consecutive, they usually are, and banns are effective for three months after publication.


Stan
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Mapstone, Mapston. Sunderland, Somerset
Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
stanmapstone
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Posts: 6600


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Re: marriages
« Reply #2 on: Friday 23 October 09 15:45 UTC (UK) »
A Licence was popular because it had the advantage of relative speed and secrecy, and facilitated a marriage in Lent when banns should not have been called. It was also favoured by those with rude surnames in order to avoid titters when the banns were read out.

Stan
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Mapstone, Mapston. Sunderland, Somerset
Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
jane k
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Posts: 132


Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Re: marriages
« Reply #3 on: Friday 23 October 09 16:12 UTC (UK) »
Thanks Stan, I think I`ve got it now.
Do you know when Registry Offices started to used for weddings and why?

Jane
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stanmapstone
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Re: marriages
« Reply #4 on: Friday 23 October 09 18:01 UTC (UK) »
Hi Jane,
Civil Marriages were from the start of Civil Registration on 1st July 1837, from when all marriages had to be registered, by law.
To summarise;
Marriages in England and Wales could be by:
1)   Banns
2)   Surrogate’s or Common Licence
3)   Special Licence
4)   Superintendent Registrar’s Certificate
5)   Superintendent Registrar’s Licence

Under (1) (2) and (3) marriages may be solemnized by a Clergyman of the Established Church of England in a licensed Church or Chapel of the Church of England, or, if by Special Licence, in any place and at any time.
Under (4) they may, as in cases (1) and (2), be solemnized by a Clergyman of the Established Church of England subject to his being willing to accept the Certificate in lieu of Banns; and under (4) and (5) by or before a Registrar of Marriages in a building of Roman Catholic or other denomination duly registered by the Registrar-General; before a Registrar of Marriages and a Superintendent Registrar in the District Register Office; or after the 1898 Act .(Marriage; Nonconformist Places of Worship),  before a person duly authorised under the Act. Under this Act Roman Catholics and Nonconformists were not required to have a civil Registrar present.


Stan
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Mapstone, Mapston. Sunderland, Somerset
Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
stanmapstone
RootsChat Marquessate
********
Posts: 6600


My answers only refer to England and Wales


WWW
Re: marriages
« Reply #5 on: Friday 23 October 09 18:09 UTC (UK) »
You can see the 1836 Act for Marriages in England at
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~framland/acts/1835Act.htm

Stan
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Mapstone, Mapston. Sunderland, Somerset
Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
jane k
RootsChat Member
***
Posts: 132


Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Re: marriages
« Reply #6 on: Sunday 25 October 09 09:27 UTC (UK) »
Blimey Stan - they don`t make it simple do they?!  Thanks very much indeed for your abridged version.

Jane
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