The cost of a Somerset Marriage License in 1773

[jonwicken]

My ancestors Thomas Hopkins of Curry Rivel and Martha Hewlett married at Compton Dundon on 19 August 1773.

There is nothing unusual about that, but what does surprise me is that according to the transcription on freereg they married by licence.

Now I do not know what Thomas' occupation was, but I do know that his son Samuel baptised in 1795 became a colour man (assistant to a decorator) while his daughter Maria born in 1781 married a man who was a labourer.

I also know from the marriage that Thomas could not write his name or could she, so I deduce from this that they were not from rich families. Certainly there do not appear to be any Hopkins wills for the family for Curry Rivel.

So why did they marry by license? Does anyone know how expensive it was to get a marriage license at this time?

And does anyone know where the marriage licenses for the period are kept and if they have been published?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,
Jon

[stanmapstone]

Licences were generally provided by surrogates, there was no set fee, so the cost could vary from diocese to diocese, and surrogate to surrogate. There were four documents associated with marriage by licence; the allegation (application); the entry in the bishop's book; the bond (agreement); and the licence itself. As the original licences were generally handed to the parties concerned they will not have survived.
See https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Marriage_Allegations,_Bonds_and_Licences_in_England_and_Wales

Stan

[BumbleB]

Whilst you won't find the actual Marriage Licence, it may be that the Bond and Allegation has survived.  As Compton Dundon was in the Diocese of Bath and Wells, then any surviving Bonds should be housed at Somerset Records Office, according to my booklet from FFHS.  In my experience the Bond and Allegation will probably give you the age and occupation of the groom, and also the age of the bride.

[goldie61]

If you had a marriage licence you could get married the next day. Couples often did this so they wouldn't have to wait 3 or 4 weeks to have the Banns read in church.  Have you checked the date of their first child's birth?
Not the only reason, but that's why a lot of mine did it!

[Clarkey500]

While doing some research I came across a page in the Combe St. Nicholas parish registers with prices on. The cost of a marriage by license cost £1, 1s.
The parish isn't the only problem but the year this was written in was 1830 so 57 years later. 
So probably between 12s - £1 in 1773 for Curry Rivel it's hard to say accurately.

[stanmapstone]

 In 1819 the cost of an ordinary licence was £2 6s 6d which included £1 12s 6d for stamps plus £1 stamp duty for the bond. The actual fee for the licence was 14 shillings, which apparently had not changed for 30 years i.e. from about 1790, the Banns fee was 1 shilling. A Special Licence cost £30, with a Stamp Duty of £5, which made it prohibitory to all except the wealthy.

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

[jonwicken]

Thanks so much everyone for the replies.

Am going to see if I can a copy of the license.

Jon

[dee-jay]

I have encountered Overseers' A/cs indicating expenditure for apprehending a putative father/groom, marriage licence fee and the marriage ring!