How does English Marriage Banns work?

[KitHannay]

Hi all,

I've just come across 5x great-grandparents marriage banns. Their names were William Johnson and Margaret Foster and their marriage was announced over three Sundays - 14 March 1802, 21 March 1802, 28 March 1802 - but they didn't get married until 7 January 1803 (their first baby was born a month later!)

What does all this mean? They lived in Wigan. Would they have had to give that much notice before they married?

[Pennines]

As far as I know banns had to be read on 3 Sundays before the marriage - but not necessarily on the 3 Sundays immediately prior to the marriage.

You will find other marriages where there is a gap between the 3rd lot of banns and the actual marriage.

[stanmapstone]

After 1823 the marriage had to be solemnised within three months after publication, otherwise the banns had to be republished..
An Act for amending the Laws respecting the Solemnization of Marriages in England. [18th July 1823]
IX. And be it further enacted, That whenever a Marriage shall not be had within Three Months after the complete Publication of Banns, no Minister shall proceed to the Solemnization of the same until the Banns shall have been republished on Three several Sundays, in the Form and Manner prescribed in this Act, unless by Licence duly obtained according to the Provisions of this Act.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~framland/acts/actind.htm
Stan

[Maiden Stone]

Suggestions:
One of them got cold feet.
Margaret told William she was pregnant in March 1802 but in April it turned out she wasn't. William decided that they weren't getting wed until Margaret was very definitely pregnant.
Wiliam had to go away suddenly. (There was a war on.)
He lost his job and couldn't support a wife.
Someone objected to the wedding.

Have you checked for re-issue of banns?

[lancsann]

Interestingly there were these as well

Banns: St Aidan, Billinge, Lancashire, England
William Johnson - this parish [Wigan]
Margaret Foster - Spinster, this parish [Wigan]
    Banns Read: 2 Jun 1799, 2nd: 9 Jun 1799, 3rd: 16 Jun 1799
    Register: Marriages 1799 - 1837, Page 8, Entry 31

[KitHannay]

Yes, Banns were published on 2, 9 & 16 June 1799 at the Chapel of Billinge for William Johnson and Margaret Foster, but where there is a space for the info on the marriage, it is blank.

Then Banns were published on 14, 21 & 28 March 1802 in Hindley, All Saints for the couple.

They actually got married on 7 January 1803 at Hindley, but I can't find any Banns before this except for the ones in March 1802.

Their first child, Isabella, was born on 23 February 1803. 

[Maiden Stone]

Was Margaret the same Margaret Foster of Frog Lane who had 2 illegitimate daughters baptised at All Saints, Wigan, Ann, 9th Dec. 1798 and Grace 9th March 1800? Grace was buried 26th August 1801.
Some baptisms of children of William Johnson & Margaret note mother's parents Thomas & Grace Foster.
2 baptisms for Margaret Foster to parents William & Grace, abode Frog Lane, 1775 & 1777.
Burial 1776 Margaret Foster, abode Hallgate.
More baptisms of children of Thomas & Grace, abode Frog Lane and Hallgate + several burials including a baby named Grace who lived only  1 hour.
(Lancashire Online Parish Clerks)
More speculation: If Margaret Forster who married William Johnson was the same woman who was mother of "base" daughters, Ann and Grace, she was very persistent in trying to get a reluctant William to the altar. If the banns at Billinge were theirs, it was between births of Ann and Grace.   

[KitHannay]

Oh! I hadn't come across the illegitimate children! Margaret's parents were Thomas Foster and Grace Leyland. And yes, Frog Lane is correct.

[Maiden Stone]

Yes, Banns were published on 2, 9 & 16 June 1799 at the Chapel of Billinge for William Johnson and Margaret Foster, but where there is a space for the info on the marriage, it is blank.

Then Banns were published on 14, 21 & 28 March 1802 in Hindley, All Saints for the couple.

They actually got married on 7 January 1803 at Hindley, but I can't find any Banns before this except for the ones in March 1802.

Their first child, Isabella, was born on 23 February 1803.

I know register said they were married by banns but have you looked for a marriage licence? If Margaret was pregnant with yet another potentially illegitimate child and the father of future child had form in backing out of weddings, the Poor Law Guardians might have become involved and paid for a licence and arranged a quick wedding before either bride or groom could have second thoughts  again.