Complete novice question!!!

[karenjukes]

Hi everyone!

I am very new to the world of genealogy, so forgive me for the simple question!

When searching the BMD marriage records, if other names appear alongside those of the Bride & Groom in the index, am I correct in thinking that these may have been witnesses to the marriage?

Thanks in advance 

[patpat]

Depends what site you are using , do you mean FREEBMD ?

[karenjukes]

Yes, sorry. FreeBMD.

[patpat]

No the 4 names are four people on the same page in index normally 2 couples,

EXAMPLE    1871
I know  Sarah Bowler married Charles Chell So we presume that Joseph Leedman married Fanny Smith

Bowler  Sarah Ann    Derby  7b 550   
Chell  Charles     Derby  7b 550   
Leedman  Joseph     Derby  7b 550   
Smith  Fanny     Derby  7b 550   

Hope u can understand that

[millymcb]

Sometimes there may be an odd number of people on the list - and that is generally due to some kind of transcription error, difficulty reading the original etc.

On FreeBMD you have to try to work out who married whom...
There are other sites where the spouses are identified - for example the ones I use most lancashirebmd.org.uk and cheshirebmd.org.uk

You will find some useful links here: www.ukbmd.org.uk


Milly

[karenjukes]

ah thank you. I did originally think that but then I did a few marriage searches where the fathers were shown, so it made me wonder if these people may have been mentioned somewhere on the actual document. Thanks for your help 

[patpat]

Karen asked if the other 2 names on same list were the witnesses at the marraige I said they arnt. They are another couple who got married.
Hope that helps. Pat .

[karenjukes]

Thanks Milly! I mainly use the indexes found on ancestry while I am finding my feet, but I will definitely look at your link. Much appreciated!

[stanmapstone]

The GRO indexes should have 4 marriages (eight names) a page, prior to 1851, and only 2 marriages (four names) after 1851.

Stan