Author Topic: Marriage in 1853  (Read 377 times)

Offline AudBailey

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Marriage in 1853
« on: Sunday 16 December 18 10:30 GMT (UK) »
Can anyone tell me what proof of identity was required to marry in 1853?

Or was it possible to give a false name and get married without any checks whatsoever?

Hesson M/c,
Edwardson M/c & USA,
Danbury M/c & USA,
Cartledge Salford,
Gatley Stalybridge & USA,
Murphy Ireland & M/c
Binns Yorkshire & Lancashire

Offline avm228

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Re: Marriage in 1853
« Reply #1 on: Sunday 16 December 18 10:34 GMT (UK) »
No proof was required, and if the minister/registrar didn’t know you it was really a case of anything goes.*

*Subject to the witnesses, I suppose, but there was never any requirement that they knew the parties.
Ayr: Barnes, Wylie
Caithness: MacGregor
Essex: Eldred (Pebmarsh)
Gloucs: Timbrell (Winchcomb)
Hants: Stares (Wickham)
Lincs: Maw, Jackson (Epworth, Belton)
London: Pierce
Suffolk: Markham (Framlingham)
Surrey: Gosling (Richmond)
Wilts: Matthews, Tarrant (Calne, Preshute)
Worcs: Milward (Redditch)
Yorks: Beaumont, Crook, Moore, Styring (Huddersfield); Middleton (Church Fenton); Exley, Gelder (High Hoyland); Barnes, Birchinall (Sheffield); Kenyon, Wood (Cumberworth/Denby Dale)

Offline AudBailey

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Re: Marriage in 1853
« Reply #2 on: Sunday 16 December 18 10:47 GMT (UK) »
Thanks so much but you do have to wonder why they didn’t use their own names.
Hesson M/c,
Edwardson M/c & USA,
Danbury M/c & USA,
Cartledge Salford,
Gatley Stalybridge & USA,
Murphy Ireland & M/c
Binns Yorkshire & Lancashire

Offline avm228

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Re: Marriage in 1853
« Reply #3 on: Sunday 16 December 18 10:59 GMT (UK) »
Well - without any context for your case it’s hard to suggest a reason.  In my ggg-grandfather’s case he lied on his marriage because he had a lawful wife and family already, whom he would never see again because he was about to board a ship to America with his bigamous bride! 

No doubt there were & are all sorts of other reasons for people to reinvent or rename themselves.
Ayr: Barnes, Wylie
Caithness: MacGregor
Essex: Eldred (Pebmarsh)
Gloucs: Timbrell (Winchcomb)
Hants: Stares (Wickham)
Lincs: Maw, Jackson (Epworth, Belton)
London: Pierce
Suffolk: Markham (Framlingham)
Surrey: Gosling (Richmond)
Wilts: Matthews, Tarrant (Calne, Preshute)
Worcs: Milward (Redditch)
Yorks: Beaumont, Crook, Moore, Styring (Huddersfield); Middleton (Church Fenton); Exley, Gelder (High Hoyland); Barnes, Birchinall (Sheffield); Kenyon, Wood (Cumberworth/Denby Dale)