Marriage License bonds

[trachelospermum]

Hi, Can someone please explain why people had license Bonds? I have a few in the same family, but none at all on other lines! Thanks, Jo

[behindthefrogs]

If a couple were married by licence rather than banns then a third party had to enter into a bond guaranteeing that they were able to marry.  This bond would be for a large amount but only payable if they weren't actually able to marry (eg already married or brother and sister)

David

[trachelospermum]

Why did some people get married by license and not by banns?

[behindthefrogs]

The basic reasons for licences were

Pure snobbery
Couldn't wait the four weeks usually involved
Wanted to get married in a church not in one of their own parishes
Didn't want the masses attending the wedding
Pregnant wife wanted to conceal the actual date of the marriage.
Couple had been pretending marriage for some time and so married elsewhere
They were not Anglicans and the local vicar wasn't co-operating
Marriage in other than the local Anglican Church

The above of course apply at different times in history

David