Looking for the Islington Register Office (1839)

[Old Mother Reilly]

In 1839 my gt-gt grandparents married before the Registrar and Superintendent Registrar in Islington. I should like to find out where the Registry Office was.  Does anyone know, or know how to find out, please?

Rachel

[ShaunJ]

The registrar of marriages for Islington at that time was John Watts, 17 Felix Terrace, Liverpool Road.

[Old Mother Reilly]

Thank you Shaun.  Both the Registrar (Mr John Watts, Felix Terrace) and the Superintendent Registrar (Mr William May, Prospect Cottages) lived in Islington.  Mr Watts was an "clerk and accountant" on the 1841 Census return and Mr May was an accountant - perhaps senior to Mr Watts?  In 1851 Mr Watts declared "Registrar" as his full-time occupation. 

What I was wondering was, where did registrars conduct their business in 1839 (only 2 years after General Registration)?  Did people wishing to register BMDs go to the local registrars usual place of business?  If that were the case, then my gt-gt grandparents place of marriage was likely an accountancy office!  How very unromantic 

[Comberton]

I don't know if this helps.

[Old Mother Reilly]

Comberton, that's a good find!  However, the Marrriage Certificate I'm looking at says they were married "in the Register Office in the District of Islington", definitely no religion involved!  What I'm trying to find out is: was there a dedicated office somewhere (and, if so, the address), or did professional people who took on the role of registrar use their own place of business as the Register Office, or, indeed, a room in their own home?

[ShaunJ]

If that were the case, then my gt-gt grandparents place of marriage was likely an accountancy office!  How very unromantic

Per this letter in the North London News in 1870, the Islington register office was originally located at the workhouse (as most were) in the 1830's but moved away circa 1840.

[Old Mother Reilly]

Thank you, ShaunJ  So in 1839 they may in fact have married in an office at Islington Workhouse?  Just when I thought this marriage couldn't get any more dismal!  That's a real surprise!