Irregular marriages

[lydiaann]

I understand about 'irregular' marriages in the Borders.  What I do not get is, why would a couple who participate in an 'irregular' marriage then have all their children baptised in the CoE?  This has happened a few times in one of my family lines in Northumberland and it seems a little strange that they would travel up to Lamberton Toll to marry and then have all their children baptised in Alnwick, where they lived and where they were - in the main - born.  Or am I missing something here?

[Tickettyboo]

If the baptisms were prior to civil registration then many people had their children perhaps baptised in the religion of their choice but also requested that they be entered in the baptism registers of the Established Church as that was the only 'official' record of their birth. (some may have fibbed and had them 'baptised' in both)

It may at some stage in their lives be essential to prove they were born within the parish or Poor Law district.

Boo

[2zpool]

The age of consent was different in Scotland than in England in the 1700-1800 I believe

Janis

[Gen List Lass]

Legally they could have their children baptised locally but before 1837 only Church of England marriages could be held. Non-Conformist marriages could only be held over the Border.

If your non-Conformists were baptising their children in the local C of E, there was probably no alternative chapel nearby.

As Ticketty Boo mentioned, if you fell on hard times and needed parish relief, you had to prove your birth or marriage parish. The only proof was usually a C of E register entry. No other parish was responsible for helping you, so you would be sent back to your original parish for poor relief.

Gen in NBL UK