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The Common Room / Re: Marriage licences, why they were obtained, and their cost
« on: Thursday 15 February 24 11:50 GMT (UK) »
Couple of interesting Victorian books on the subject of marriage, and licences, although noting both would be aimed at the middle-upper class reader:
'Etiquette: what to do, and how to do it' by Lady Constance Eleanora C. Howard · 1885
https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Etiquette_what_to_do_and_how_to_do_it/m4gIAAAAQAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=fees%20%22vicar%20general%22%20marriage%20licences&pg=PA278&printsec=frontcover
"People are either married by 'banns', or by 'licence', whichever they please; it is often decided by the fact of the engaged couple holding 'High Church' views or otherwise.
The latter prefer 'banns', so that as many marriages are now celebrated by 'banns' as by 'licence'. I think, however, as a rule, people in good society prefer a marriage by licence.
...
The fees for a special marriage licence, stamp, etc., average twenty nine pounds three shillings.
They are granted by the Archbishop of Canterbury (after application at the Faculty Office, Doctor's Commons, through a Proctor), under special circumstances, to marry in a particular church, without previous residence in the district, by the reasons assigned must be such as to meet his Grace's approval.
Marriage licences can be obtained in London by application at the Faculty Office, at the Vicar-General's Office, and at the Bishop of London's Registry, all in Doctor's Commons, between ten and four, by one of the parties about to be married.
Licences procured at the Faculty Office or Vicar-General's Office, are available for London or the country."
And from 'The Etiquette of Courtship and Matrimony: with a Complete Guide to the Forms of a Wedding' 1852
https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Etiquette_of_Courtship_and_Matrimony/P8hYAAAAcAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=fees&pg=PA53&printsec=frontcover
"The special licence is about twenty eight or thirty guineas - whereas that of an ordinary licence is but two guineas and a half; or three guineas where the gentleman and lady are minors"
https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Etiquette_of_Courtship_and_Matrimony/P8hYAAAAcAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=fees&pg=PA51&printsec=frontcover
"the fees for marriage by banns range from eleven shillings and sixpence to thirteen shillings and sixpence and fifteen shillings and sixpence, according to the parish or district where the marriage might take place"
I think there may be some confusion about what a special licence is in the first book - as far as I understand it from the second's description, a special licence was very unusual and allowed people to marry at any church by any Bishop, Vicar etc. whereas I think most ordinary licences specified one or sometimes two churches.
'Etiquette: what to do, and how to do it' by Lady Constance Eleanora C. Howard · 1885
https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Etiquette_what_to_do_and_how_to_do_it/m4gIAAAAQAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=fees%20%22vicar%20general%22%20marriage%20licences&pg=PA278&printsec=frontcover
"People are either married by 'banns', or by 'licence', whichever they please; it is often decided by the fact of the engaged couple holding 'High Church' views or otherwise.
The latter prefer 'banns', so that as many marriages are now celebrated by 'banns' as by 'licence'. I think, however, as a rule, people in good society prefer a marriage by licence.
...
The fees for a special marriage licence, stamp, etc., average twenty nine pounds three shillings.
They are granted by the Archbishop of Canterbury (after application at the Faculty Office, Doctor's Commons, through a Proctor), under special circumstances, to marry in a particular church, without previous residence in the district, by the reasons assigned must be such as to meet his Grace's approval.
Marriage licences can be obtained in London by application at the Faculty Office, at the Vicar-General's Office, and at the Bishop of London's Registry, all in Doctor's Commons, between ten and four, by one of the parties about to be married.
Licences procured at the Faculty Office or Vicar-General's Office, are available for London or the country."
And from 'The Etiquette of Courtship and Matrimony: with a Complete Guide to the Forms of a Wedding' 1852
https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Etiquette_of_Courtship_and_Matrimony/P8hYAAAAcAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=fees&pg=PA53&printsec=frontcover
"The special licence is about twenty eight or thirty guineas - whereas that of an ordinary licence is but two guineas and a half; or three guineas where the gentleman and lady are minors"
https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Etiquette_of_Courtship_and_Matrimony/P8hYAAAAcAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=fees&pg=PA51&printsec=frontcover
"the fees for marriage by banns range from eleven shillings and sixpence to thirteen shillings and sixpence and fifteen shillings and sixpence, according to the parish or district where the marriage might take place"
I think there may be some confusion about what a special licence is in the first book - as far as I understand it from the second's description, a special licence was very unusual and allowed people to marry at any church by any Bishop, Vicar etc. whereas I think most ordinary licences specified one or sometimes two churches.