Eleanor Havers

[PNHAVERS]

WOW WOW WOW!!!
Thank you  LLi.
You've managed a breakthrough that a lot of our family and even a geneologist (23 yrs ago) couldn't manage!!!
This is fantastic.  When I next have time, I'll sit down and try and fit that marriage in with everything else I have on that William and Mary from Westhall.
In my ignorance, the date on the marriage licence is 9th of January 1733.  But is that really 1734 ?(as until 1752, the new year didn't start till March the 25th).
Their first child was a Mary (bapt  Westhall 18th April 1734).  So their wedding was just a month or two before their first child was born?  Is that why they needed a licence rather than wait for banns?
I suppose we can assume the marriage DID take place?
Why is it not listed on Find My Past?  Why isn't the licence listed on there?
I'm sorry about all these questions.  There is so much I don't understand.
You are all very kind with your help.
Can't wait to look into it.  Maybe it will help me get further back!??
Paul

[PNHAVERS]

I've done a quick check, and there are lots of Westhall marriages listed on Find My Past for 1733/ 1734.  So it's not as if the original pages were illegible or something.
Why is the actual marriage not recorded?
PS  I'm still excited!
Paul

[PNHAVERS]

Plus, I'm not sure why he signed his name HEAVES, when he could clearly write quite well?  Or could someone else have signed it for him?

[PNHAVERS]

Is the date on the licence the same date of the actual wedding?  Or was it issued before hand?

[maddys52]

Some helpful information here describing marriage bond and allegations
https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Marriage_Allegations,_Bonds_and_Licences_in_England_and_Wales

From what I know, the date of the bond is not necessarily the date of the actual marriage. And yes, it appears the marriage was just prior to the baptism of the first child, so possibly the reason for not waiting to post banns.

Btw, it is usual genealogy practice to use the year 1733/4 (or similar) for dates prior to the change in calendar in 1752. 

Plus, I'm not sure why he signed his name HEAVES, when he could clearly write quite well?  Or could someone else have signed it for him?

I would imagine it would indicate he signed with an "x" if he didn't sign himself. Spelling of names was very fluid, perhaps with an accent "HEAVES" could be pronounced with 2 syllables, sounding closer to HAVERS? Certainly I wouldn't limit your searches to simply "HAVERS". 

[LizzieL]

Why is it not listed on Find My Past?  Why isn't the licence listed on there?

Licence is on FindMyPast indexed as Haves under Westhall, NORFOLK. But no marriage that I can see.
But if you look at all marriages at Westhall for 1733 and 1734, there don't seem to be any in the months of Jan - March which seems a bit odd, as if there were a few mislaid somewhere. The couple and witnesses didn't need to sign the register then, so marriages could be written up after the event