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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Lancashire => Topic started by: AudBailey on Sunday 16 December 18 10:30 GMT (UK)
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Can anyone tell me what proof of identity was required to marry in 1853?
Or was it possible to give a false name and get married without any checks whatsoever?
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No proof was required, and if the minister/registrar didn’t know you it was really a case of anything goes.*
*Subject to the witnesses, I suppose, but there was never any requirement that they knew the parties.
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Thanks so much but you do have to wonder why they didn’t use their own names.
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Well - without any context for your case it’s hard to suggest a reason. In my ggg-grandfather’s case he lied on his marriage because he had a lawful wife and family already, whom he would never see again because he was about to board a ship to America with his bigamous bride!
No doubt there were & are all sorts of other reasons for people to reinvent or rename themselves.