Hi Fizzy et al,
When transcribing parish records of marriages after 1754 when the forms arrived we see a person described in one of three ways. It is as near as we get to an address at time of marriage. Every person marrying is noted in one of these three ways in the parish register.
1. OTP - Of This Parish - The person had been residing in this parish for a period of more than 3 weeks prior to the marriage - It did not necessarily mean the person was born in the parish - they may have been. It has no bearing on whether the parish concerned has any obligation to provide relief should hard times befall. That would be looked into should the necessity arise.
2. Sojourner OTP - Short term resident of this parish - The person had resided in the parish for a short time prior to marriage - generally less than 3 weeks - The person may even have been baptised in the parish but had been away for some time and had returned to the home parish to marry - again It has no bearing on whether the parish concerned has any obligation to this person should hard times befall him or her - that would be looked into should the necessity arise
3. Of the Parish of (Parish Name) - The person is not residing in this parish at the time of marriage but is residing elsewhere (Parish Listed). It does not mean the person was born in the parish mentioned, but only that the person was residing there at the time of the marriage and had not relocated to this parish to marry.
All in all not a big help but better than we had prior to 1754
Hope it Helps............Kris
