"of this parish" - marriage

[Jang]

The marriage of Francis TAYLOR and Mary DEWING in East Raynham on 25 April 1782 by licence says that both the bride and groom were "of this parish". Does that simply mean they were living there at the time and not their place of birth?

I know Mary Dewing was born in Burnham Westgate in 1754. It's Francis Taylor's birth I'm trying to find. He was apprenticed to Charles Pettifer, West Rainham as a blacksmith, on 14 Feb 1767 so it seems likely he was a local lad.

Jan

[wozzle]

i believe they had to reside in the parish for a certain length of time not actually be born there
probably 3 weeks during the time the banns were read

[Jang]

Thanks Wozzle. I wonder if the same thing applied if they were married by licence?

[wozzle]

the 3 most common reasons for marrying by license were
1/so that they could do away with the reading of the banns and marry quickly for this you had to pay a fee and swear that there was no just cause or impediment why the marriage should not take place
2/ so that they could marry away from their parish
3/ it was a status symbal because you had to pay a fee to marry by license

[Jang]

Thanks, I guess any of those three reasons could apply in this case.  Their first child was born 9 months later so I guess there wasn't any hurry in that regard.

[The Yokel]

Hi Jang

It took a little while, but I found it

Here is their marriage bond, it  indicates that Mary was born c1758 and Francis c1755

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-11020-95653-7?cc=1824690&wc=6893105

the above is image No.236 click to the next image to see the second page of the bond

regards
yokel

[Jang]

Wow, yokel, thanks heaps - a great find!

The age discrepancy for Mary is interesting. Her burial in 1811 says she was 50 so a birth date ca 1761 and the marriage bond says she was 24 so a birth date ca 1758.

Yet her baptism is 24 Jan 1754 in Burnham Westgate, daughter of Charles and Joice Dewing. I'm almost 100% sure that I have the right baptism as she had two daughters Joice Taylor and two sons Charles Dewing Taylor and other children were named after her sisters. Plus one of the witnesses to her marriage was her cousin. She must have lied about her age - I guess being 28 and unmarried wasn't all that desirable back then.

Now to find Francis Taylor. At least his birthdate, ca 1754, is consistent on all documents. There were two Taylors buried at East Raynham who could be his parents:

Overing Taylor buried 16 Mar 1774
Elizabeth Taylor of West Rainham buried 13 10 1791 aged 75

But I can't find any other info about them.

Regards
Jan