Marriage Licence Query

[Sasha]

Hi,  

Can anyone tell me what information I can expect to find from copies of marriage licences?

I've found references to copies of four marriage licences held at my local Archives Office which I believe relate to members of my family, and I'm thinking of ordering copies of them.

The dates of the licences are 1730/29, 1803, 1873 and 1921.

Regards,
Sasha.

[peterbennett]

Hi Sasha

 if you go to this link on this site you should get all the info you need

http://www.rootschat.co.uk/forum/index.php?board=46;action=display;threadid=2877;start=msg5937#msg5937

peterbennett

[Sasha]

Hi,

Thanks for the response, but the link you gave me just seems to refer to marriage certificates and it is marriage licences that I'm interested in.

The four marriages were by 'licence' rather than 'by banns', and I was just curious as to whether the licence would give me any information additonal to that on the certificate or parish register.

Sasha.

[peterbennett]

Hi again
    I was sure this info is there.

Marriage Licence Bonds normally include:
The name of the bridegroom, his age, occupation, place of residence, marital state (bachelor or widower);
The name of bride, age, place of residence and marital state;
The name of the bondsman or bondsmen, one of whom might be the groom or in a few cases the bride, with occupations and place of residence;
And, in many cases, the parish church or churches where the marriage could take place.
The fact that a licence was issued does not necessarily mean that a marriage took place - some may have had second thoughts, but also, it is believed, that in some cases, having got the licence, the couple thought it not necessary to get married.

If a marriage did take place, it may not be in the parish named in the bond, or the register and bishops transcript may be missing.

I am assuming that the info on the licences remained virtualy the same through the years


peterbennett

[Sasha]

Hi,

Thank you for the info.  I was hoping that the fathers name would be included, especially for the two earlier licences, however I suppose he could possibly be the bondsman.

I'll go ahead and order photocopies of these now.

Thank you,
Sasha.