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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: Suzy100 on Sunday 04 February 18 14:06 GMT (UK)

Title: Question about Marriage Certificates and Banns
Post by: Suzy100 on Sunday 04 February 18 14:06 GMT (UK)
Hi

This may seem a dim question  - if you have a copy of the Banns for a marriage is it worth getting the actual marriage certificate?  The reason I am asking is I have two that I could order but there seems all the info on the Banns that I think I need. 

Thanks

Sue
Title: Re: Question about Marriage Certificates and Banns
Post by: nanny jan on Sunday 04 February 18 14:10 GMT (UK)
Marriage certificates in England/Wales will show the name and occupation of the fathers plus the names of the witnesses.

They also show the occupation, address and age of bride and groom.
Title: Re: Question about Marriage Certificates and Banns
Post by: stanmapstone on Sunday 04 February 18 14:22 GMT (UK)
The banns only show the name of the couple, parish, and the dates the banns were read. It is even possible the marriage did not take place.
This shows what information is on a marriage certificate http://home.clara.net/dixons/Certificates/marriages.htm
Stan
Title: Re: Question about Marriage Certificates and Banns
Post by: jonw65 on Sunday 04 February 18 14:41 GMT (UK)
The banns only show the name of the couple, parish, and the dates the banns were read.

Banns records can also give marital status, exact address (some later ones anyway), and even the date the marriage happened (if it did) is sometimes noted.
Not to mention the name(s) of whoever called the banns on the three successive Sundays.

On marital status, I've got a few couples who married prior to 1837 where the only record of this is on the banns. The marriage register entry did not include it.
Title: Re: Question about Marriage Certificates and Banns
Post by: GrahamSimons on Sunday 04 February 18 14:45 GMT (UK)
And of course the banns don't show whether the marriage actually took place. But an online index would probably confirm that for you.
Title: Re: Question about Marriage Certificates and Banns
Post by: ThrelfallYorky on Sunday 04 February 18 15:37 GMT (UK)
I'd get marriage certificates, each time, and forget about the banns!
Title: Re: Question about Marriage Certificates and Banns
Post by: stanmapstone on Sunday 04 February 18 16:07 GMT (UK)
Of course the individual parish, in England & Wales, can write what they like in the Banns Register, but the normal pre-printed 19th Cen. Banns Books only show what I said. There are a number of images on Google. e.g. http://www.hoadly.co.uk/hoadly2/img25852-a1-144x100_full.jpg
http://penshurst-online.co.uk/web_regimages/287-1-4_p88.jpg


The OP does not say what date the copy of the Banns for a marriage is, and what information it has.

Stan
Title: Re: Question about Marriage Certificates and Banns
Post by: Suzy100 on Sunday 04 February 18 17:16 GMT (UK)
Of course I meant the Banns with all the information on it which gives names of bride groom, sometimes age, fathers name, occupations.  Yes I agree that it does not actually mean a wedding has taken place but it does have the same info including the witnesses. 

Think I will carry on getting the marriage certificate as well.

Is it the banns I mean or the marriage register?  This is the one with all the info

Thanks
Title: Re: Question about Marriage Certificates and Banns
Post by: jonw65 on Sunday 04 February 18 17:19 GMT (UK)
The OP does not say what date the copy of the Banns for a marriage is, and what information it has.

If the OP is wondering whether to order a marriage certificate then we can presume it's after 1837!
Title: Re: Question about Marriage Certificates and Banns
Post by: josey on Sunday 04 February 18 17:22 GMT (UK)
Happy to be put right but I have never seen banns with witnesses....
Title: Re: Question about Marriage Certificates and Banns
Post by: Suzy100 on Sunday 04 February 18 17:26 GMT (UK)
Ok I seem to have confused everyone  - Do I mean the register!?  Not Banns.

This holds all the same info as the marriage certificate.

So should I spend the money and order the certificate if it holds the same info as the signed Register?

Sorry everyone!! :-[
Title: Re: Question about Marriage Certificates and Banns
Post by: iluleah on Sunday 04 February 18 17:30 GMT (UK)
A marriage bann doesn't give 'all the information' and doesn't tell you if they actually got married or even married where the bann was recorded.

I have one couple who had banns read in both their parish churches, they never married in either they got married somewhere else in another county, and several others where banns were read and never found an actual marriage anywhere.

So banns are just an indicator of intention to marry not details like on a marriage cert, if you mean the record of the marriage itself in the parish book that will be the same information as the civil marriage cert
Title: Re: Question about Marriage Certificates and Banns
Post by: Suzy100 on Sunday 04 February 18 17:44 GMT (UK)
iluleah  yes that is exactly what I mean the register in the parish book, however my question is still - If I have this document is there any other reason why I should obtain a marriage certificate because all the info would be the same wouldn't it? 

However you seem to have answered that question

Thank you so much

Title: Re: Question about Marriage Certificates and Banns
Post by: ThrelfallYorky on Sunday 04 February 18 17:59 GMT (UK)
As already stated by several others, the information on the banns would NOT be as complete.
-go for the certificates!
Title: Re: Question about Marriage Certificates and Banns
Post by: stanmapstone on Sunday 04 February 18 20:22 GMT (UK)


Is it the banns I mean or the marriage register?  This is the one with all the info

Thanks

After 1837 it is the church marriage register. This has the same details as the marriage certificate.
 Stan
Title: Re: Question about Marriage Certificates and Banns
Post by: Suzy100 on Sunday 04 February 18 20:37 GMT (UK)




After 1837 it is the church marriage register. This has the same details as the marriage certificate.
 Stan
[/quote]

Thank you Stan.  This will save me money!! 

Sue