Did a spider crawl over the parish register?

[Timbottawa]

It really does look like "booked" to me!  It may be some strange Scottish term!

Also, I think it is "given back".  Some entries seem to have something about "to the poor" in them, and others seem to have a date assoicated with them.  Was it the custom to charge for a marriage, but then to return the charges to poor couples and for richer couples to donate some or all of the charges to the poor?

So ... "booked" on a certain date, "consigned" a certain amount, "married" on a certain date, and then "given back" some money?  Hmmm! 

[Gadget]

Hi

It was  basically the same with all marriages in C of S  - Banns were proclaimed (on 2-3 Sundays) (and booked) in the parishes of both parties; money was levied in case they didn't turn up etc.; they were married; and the money was returned or given to the poor, etc.


Gadget

[Timbottawa]

Thanks Gadget.  And Jen ... yes, it does look like August, doesn't it?  But that was 8 months after the marriage.  Surely there wouldn't be such a delay?

[Little Nell]

To tie up loose ends, I checked my (Scots) dictionary and it gives this definition for 'book':

to record names of a couple for proclamation of banns of marriage.

The fee may have been payable because the proclamations all took place on one day, rather than three successive Sundays.

Nell

[Timbottawa]

Rootschatters strike again!  Thanks to everybody for turning what looked to me this morning like an indecypherable mess into a clear story!

I had been hoping that in amongst that indecypherable mess might be the name of a father, or an occupation, or something, but then again, if everything was handed to you on a plate it wouldn't be half as much fun!

Cheers
Tim

[JenB]

I think it's great that what I thought was

Gibson Carle.

actually turns out to be

'given back'  

[Timbottawa]

"Gibson Carle" is a fine name - I'm sorry he wasn't involved   

[Emmeline]

Yes, far more likely to be confirmed or consigned  rather than my conjoined 

Very well done everyone.........