Any suggestions on differences in wording in OPR Marriages 1700's

[Jeffrey]

Is there any difference in meaning to these two entries of marriage please?

'gave up names in order to proclamation and were married'

and

'gave up their names and were married'

Old Parish Registers Marriages 839/20 26 Langholm or Staplegorton 1711

Any ideas? Thank you

Judy

[GR2]

There is no difference. The process is always the same, what is recorded can differ.

1. The couple go to the session clerk and "contract marriage", i.e. announce they intend to marry
2. They each "consign pledges", in other words put down a deposit of money or give the name or names of people who will be their cautioners for paying the money
3. The session clerk records this - and most dates in marriage registers are the dates of this initial contracting
4. The couple's intention to marry is proclaimed in church on three separate occasions
5. If there are no objections, the couple marries
6. Afterwards, they apply to the kirk session to have their pledges (see 2) returned. If there was no scandal attached to the marriage, the money is then given back to them. Scandal could include excessive delay in marrying (they are supposed to marry within forty days), "promiscuous dancing" at the wedding etc.

Sometimes the clerk adds details about the proclamations or even the date of the actual marriage. The records are very variable, where they survive.

[Forfarian]

No difference whatsoever.

[Jeffrey]

Thank you for the replies and GR2 for your explanation.

I wondered because it seems that my couple who only have 'gave up their names and were married' seemed to have had 3 children before they got married.

Judy