Witnesses to a marriage

[stewpot72]

My GGG Grandfather Robert Sherlock married Frances Cartwright on June 7th 1821 in Prestbury. There are three witnesses listed and I wondered why this might be as I thought two witnesses was the general rule. I found the record on Find My Past

[BumbleB]

It's not unusual for there to be more than 2 witnesses.

[AntonyMMM]

The law says you have to have two - but currently you can have as many as you want, subject to the available room for signatures on the register. I have seen them with six or eight before.

Pre 1837 you do occasionally see similar entries with more than the two required witnesses.

[jonwarrn]

I found the record on Find My Past

Is this connected?
Marriage at Prestbury, Cheshire, 7 June 1821
Robert Sherlock, of Macclesfield, Colour Sergeant of the 29th Regiment of Foot
+
Frances Cartwright, of Macclesfield, Spinster and Minor
by Licence
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6QWT-5

Allegation here
Robert Sherlock, of Macclesfield, in the parish of Prestbury, Colour Sergeant, age 21 and upwards, Widower
to marry Frances Cartwright, age 17 and upwards, Spinster and Minor
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-676K-J

With consent of, and including statement from, her father James Cartwright

[stewpot72]

Many thanks for your input. In my ignorance I thought two witnesses was the legal norm. And, Yes I have found all of the documents that jonw65 mentions. It amazes me how much information I have found regarding an ancestor who lived 200 years ago