David Liddel & Helen Tenant (MARRIAGE - BO'NESS)

[kjmck]

Hi all,

'6th March 1774..
.. David Liddel workman & Helen Tenant had their marriage confirmed having been irregularly married at Edr. 11th Dec 1773'

This is a marriage record for my potential 6x Great Grandparents. I have read it and don't quite understand what it means, if anyone could clear it up for me that would be great!

Thanks,

Keelan

[Little Nell]

It means that the couple married in Edinburgh without complying with some of the legal requirements, perhaps residence or other formalities.  However, this did not make it an illegal marriage and the minister at Linlithgow Bo'ness confirmed that they were married.

Nell

[kjmck]

Okay thanks for that.

As they married in Edinburgh, would you take that to mean that one or both of them might have been from Edinburgh? As I have thought that the family were from Bo’ness.

[Little Nell]

Not necessarily.  Bo'ness is not far from Edinburgh.  They may both have been working there.  Or they ran away from home to get married.

Nell

[Forfarian]

An irregular marriage is one performed without reference to the minister(s) of the parish(es) where the couple resided. The usual way to avoid having your parish minister conduct your wedding was to go somewhere else and get married by declaration, that is, declaring in front of witnesses that you are married. This was perfectly legal and in the eyes of the law such a marriage was every bit as valid as a ceremony performed by a minister or priest.

When you got home you would be taken to task by the kirk session (the committee of minister and elders) and would have to endure being scolded for what the kirk, but not the law, regarded as a misdemeanour. You would probably be obliged to make a donation towards the parish fund for the poor.

The kirk really had little option but to approve or confirm or give its blessing as the law recognised the marriage, so after scolding and payment the slate was wiped clean and you got on with your life quite normally.