Agnes Reid, Banffshire

[ev]

have you looked at the 1805 marriage for thomas wright ?
would it say batchelor or widower 

ev

[colincam]

Hi ev
No mention of widower or bachelor in the 1805 marriage record. I wasn't suprised because I haven't see any such nomenclature in other OPR marriage records.
colincam

[Forfarian]

would it say batchelor or widower 

I have never seen the bridegroom's marital status mentioned in a pre-1855 marriage record.

I have occasionally seen a bride described as a widow in her second marriage record, but this isn't always done. For example, the marriage of Margaret Sang, widow of Andrew Watt, was recorded in two different parishes, Arbroath and Brechin (in Angus). One noted that she was a widow, the other didn't:

"1834, 26th June. James Hay merchant in Arbroath and Margaret Sang, widow, residing in Timber Market in this parish were contracted in order to marriage and having been regularly proclaimed were married the 30th June." [Brechin Parish Register]

"1834. Contracted May 27, James Hay merchant in Arbroath and Margaret Sang in Brechin. Married June 30." [Arbroath Parish Register]

and neither mentions the name of her deceased husband.

[colincam]

Hi GR
I regret I have not responded to your earlier posting dated 4 March
I have looked through the MI's in St Mary's Kirkyard in Banff which were transcribed from the Spalding Club records. Thomas Wright and Henrietta Cameron are recorded there but sadly I have not see any reference to Agnes.
Do you know how extensive the St Mary's Kirk session records are and if they are available at the NAS?
colincam

[GR2]

Re Kirk Session minutes. Try the on-line catalogue of the National Archives of Scotland and see if it gives details of what they hold for Banff Kirk Session.

Graham.

[colincam]

Hi GR2
As you suggested I looked up the NAS online catalogue and it has the Kirk Session records for St Mary's Banff. Fortunately I will only have look through its pages for the period 1803 to 1805. Wish me luck!!
colincam

[colincam]

Hi GR2
I have now managed to visit the NAS and inspect the various documents from the Kirk Session of St Mary's Church in Banff. Unfortunately I found no mention of Agnes Reid, her "husband" or her parents in the documents I looked at. In particular amongst the many accused of fornication, there was no reference to Agnes and Thomas Wright so that suggests they were marrried after all.
Accordingly I have no idea where to look next.
colincam